Senior Digital Media Planner - Lead Data-Driven Campaigns

Meerkat; Minneapolis (MN); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible time off

Competitive benefits package

Job summary

Meerkat, based in Minneapolis, seeks a Senior Media Planner to drive data-driven, multi-channel digital media strategies and own end-to-end campaign management. You will work across programmatic, search, social, video, and display while translating metrics into actionable client insights.

Ideal candidates bring 5+ years in paid media, strong analytical skills, and experience with major platforms. This role offers hybrid work with growth opportunities and a collaborative team environment.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of paid media experience, with a heavy emphasis on digital channels; 3+ years at an ad agency is preferred.
• Advanced understanding of the fundamentals of digital advertising, programmatic ecosystems, and paid search/social platforms.
• Exceptional analytical skills with proven experience analyzing, interpreting, and storytelling with complex data.
• Strong hands-on experience with digital marketing platforms including: Meta, Google Ads/PMax, Google Analytics, Google Sheets, Gemini/ChatGPT, TikTok and demand-side platforms such as The Trade Desk or StackAdapt.
• Knowledge of dashboarding solutions such as Power BI, Tableau, Data Studio or Datorama
• Expertise with spreadsheets, including functions like pivot tables and complex formulas
• Strong interpersonal, verbal and written skills as well as proven ability to develop clear and concise communications, documents and presentations
• Excellent problem-solving skills and ability to remain cool under pressure
• Strong organizational skills and ability to prioritize workload and multiple projects in order to meet tight deadlines in a fast-paced and dynamic work environment
• Natural curiosity and a desire to learn and apply new skills
• Experience and desire to work in a collaborative environment based on open communication, listening and exchange of ideas
• Potential for future leadership role, supervising and mentoring media team members

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement data-driven, multi-channel digital media strategies (including programmatic, paid search/SEM, paid social, digital video, and display) that align with client KPIs and business objectives.
• Own day-to-day in-platform campaign management across media channels, including campaign setup, pacing, optimization, QA, audience management, budget allocation, and performance monitoring to ensure delivery against client KPIs and business objectives.
• Lead the full lifecycle of media activities — from authoring briefs and issuing RFPs to negotiating with digital publishers and securing buy authorizations.
• Analyze campaign datasets to uncover trends, translating digital performance metrics into actionable insights and visual presentations for client meetings.
• Proactively manage, monitor, and optimize live campaigns, holding inventory and platform partners accountable to performance benchmarks and pivoting tactics to maximize ROI and exceed expectations.
• Oversee the digital "paper trail"—managing flowcharts, spend summaries, billing, and reconciliation (via Advantage Software) to ensure 100% financial transparency.
• Partner closely with the analytics and ad ops teams for robust tagging, tracking, and pixel implementation, and collaborate with Creative teams to provide technical ad specs and asset alignment.
• Conduct deep-dive competitive research, digital landscape audits, and industry trend analyses to keep the agency and clients ahead of emerging ad technologies.
• Supervise and train Assistant Media Planners, overseeing their workflow and professional development.
• Maintain and update essential planning artifacts, including media flowcharts, tactical recommendations, and comprehensive measurement plans.
• Work fluidly across Account, Analytics, and Creative departments to ensure a unified agency approach to client challenges.

Skills

Data-driven strategies

Campaign management

Lifecycle management

Data analysis

Campaign optimization

Billing & reconciliation

Analytics collaboration

Competitive research

Team leadership

Planning artifacts

Cross-functional collaboration

Tools

Meta

Google Ads

PMax

Google Analytics

Google Sheets

Gemini/ChatGPT

TikTok

The Trade Desk

StackAdapt

Power BI

Tableau

Data Studio

Datorama

Job description

Meerkat, based in Minneapolis, seeks a Senior Media Planner to drive data-driven, multi-channel digital media strategies and own end-to-end campaign management. You will work across programmatic, search, social, video, and display while translating metrics into actionable client insights.

Ideal candidates bring 5+ years in paid media, strong analytical skills, and experience with major platforms. This role offers hybrid work with growth opportunities and a collaborative team environment.