Senior Media Planner

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

What do you want from your career? Did you get into this industry to spot unseen opportunities, push boundaries, and move as one? At Meerkat, we are a fiercely independent, employee-owned agency built on the belief that when the pack runs together, we win together. We turn a brand's authentic edge into its sharpest competitive advantage—rallying teams and markets through original ideas, a sharp perspective, and a relentless commitment to driving real business results, not pleasing Wall Street. We surround ourselves with curious, brave people with wide eyes and sharp teeth who want to make work with an edge that commands attention and creates undeniable impact. If you're ready to act like you own the place—because you do—the Senior Media Planner could be a perfect fit.

What we need from a Senior Media Planner

As a senior-level media planner, you are the technical and strategic heartbeat of our client accounts across the media landscape. We’re looking for a self-starter who brings cutting-edge, digital-first thinking to the table and has a restless desire to push for the best work possible. You’ll oversee the full spectrum of digital media activities—strategy, execution, optimization, reporting, and billing—with a level of precision that makes our entire agency stronger. Beyond the day-to-day, you are a data-driven thinker who can translate complex performance metrics into actionable insights for our teams and clients alike. If you are a detail-oriented professional with an entrepreneurial spirit and a strong desire to continuously expand your skills and grow your career within a thriving team, you’ll find plenty of room to lead and innovate here.

• 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.

Ideal experience

• 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

What makes Meerkat special

• A Pack Culture That Empowers: Employee-owned and fiercely independent, we give everyone equity in the outcome—no waiting for permission or hiding behind titles.
• Award-Winning Workplace: Proud 2024 & 2025 Ad Age Best Places to Work winner.
• Independent & Autonomous: We make decisions based on what’s right for our pack, our agency, and our clients—not Wall Street.
• Fueled by What We’re Made Of: Guided by wide eyes (curiosity), sharp teeth (originality), open ears (diversity), full heart (passion), strong backbone (bravery), and restless feet (drive).
• Sharp & Relentless: Built for brands on the move, constantly scanning for hidden opportunities and delivering ideas with a real edge.
• Collective Energy & Mutual Support: A workplace where fun travels fast, everyone takes the work seriously (not the meeting), and the pack rallies together to win.
• Balance & Momentum: A healthy, high-energy environment built on mutual trust, shared ownership, and having fun along the way.
• Purpose-Driven Impact: A commitment to doing the right thing for our clients, our community, and our environment.

What it looks like to be a pack member at Meerkat

• Location: Based in Minneapolis.
• Hybrid Flexibility: We operate on a hybrid model, with three collaborative days in the office (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday) and two remote days (Tuesday, Friday).
• Benefits & Time Off: Flexible time off and a comprehensive, competitive benefits package.
• Inclusion & Belonging: We move forward as a pack when every voice is heard. Regardless of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age, or disability, we thrive when everyone brings their true, authentic self.
• Title: Senior Media Planner
• Department: Media
• Reports to: Associate Media Director
• Position: Non-exempt, full-time at 40 hours/week
• Travel expectations: From time to time your job will require travel