Senior Specialist, Video/Audio

Kelly Scott Madison; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Kelly Scott Madison is seeking a confident Senior Specialist, Video/Audio/OOH to negotiate and manage local investments across designated markets and accounts. This role builds smart media buys for clients ranging from hometown brands to national marketers, leveraging buying expertise, vendor relationships, and disciplined budgeting.

As a market expert, you’ll evaluate opportunities, stretch budgets, and partner across teams to strengthen each buy and maximize impact.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of local media buying experience.
• Existing relationships with station representatives and local media partners.
• Experience with Spectra and Prisma media buying systems.
• Strong familiarity with media buying and research tools.
• Strong math skills and attention to detail; ability to evaluate rates and delivery.
• Proficiency with Microsoft tools and clear recommendations.
• Ability to manage tight deadlines in a fast-paced agency environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead local buying execution: Strategize, evaluate, negotiate, craft, and purchase local video, audio, and OOH media across assigned markets and clients.
• Stretch client budgets: Secure competitive rates, premium inventory, and meaningful value opportunities.
• Bring marketplace intelligence forward: Share market insight, vendor intelligence, audience trends, pricing context, and competitive considerations.
• Ensure stewardship accuracy: Follow the stewardship path to support accuracy, accountability, and delivery against client KPIs.
• Evaluate added value: Partner with the promotions team to assess proposals and identify opportunities that strengthen client plans.
• Build trusted relationships: Nurture strong connections with media reps and internal teams.

Skills

Local media buying

Vendor relationships

Media buying systems

Research tools

Math skills

Microsoft Office

Deadline management

Tools

Spectra

Prisma

Job description

Kelly Scott Madison—KSM—is a leading, independent media and advertising agency that futureproofs brands and fuels business growth. Our team of strategists, solutionists, technologists, and data analysts work united alongside incredible brand partners, helping them connect with customers in more meaningful ways today and positioning them to move with the customers of tomorrow. It’s always an amazing and transformative time at our growing media agency.

At KSM, it’s about more than just a passion for our industry and craft. It’s about the impact we make on the lives and livelihoods of those around us, and the highly personal experience we have here. Being an independent, mid-size agency—not too big, not too small, and proudly entrepreneurial—you’ll be empowered, recognized, and challenged to grow here. We’re adding new Bold Builders and uncommon perspectives to our community and can’t wait to learn more about you.

We are seeking a confident, detail-oriented Senior Specialist, Video/Audio/OOH to negotiate and manage local video, audio, and OOH investment across designated markets and accounts. This role is central to building smart, efficient media buys for clients ranging from hometown brands to national marketers.

As Senior Specialist, you’ll serve as a trusted market expert—using buying expertise, negotiation strength, vendor relationships, and operational discipline to deliver strong client outcomes. You’ll evaluate opportunities, stretch budgets, and partner across teams to strengthen each buy and maximize its impact.

Why The Role Is Great

• You’ll shape local video, audio, and OOH strategies that directly impact client performance.
• You’ll collaborate with smart colleagues across investment, planning, promotions, and client teams.
• You’ll strengthen media partner relationships while staying close to marketplace trends and opportunities.

Key Responsibilities and the Ways You’ll Make an Impact

• Lead local buying execution: Strategize, evaluate, negotiate, craft, and purchase local video, audio, and OOH media across assigned markets and clients.
• Stretch client budgets: Secure competitive rates, premium inventory, and meaningful value opportunities.
• Bring marketplace intelligence forward: Share market insight, vendor intelligence, audience trends, pricing context, and competitive considerations.
• Ensure stewardship accuracy: Follow the stewardship path to support accuracy, accountability, and delivery against client KPIs.
• Evaluate added value: Partner with the promotions team to assess proposals and identify opportunities that strengthen client plans.
• Build trusted relationships: Nurture strong connections with media reps and internal teams.

Qualifications And Experience Required

• 5+ years of local media buying experience across local video and audio; OOH experience is a plus.
• Existing relationships with station representatives and local media partners.
• Experience with media buying systems; Spectra and Prisma experience a plus.
• Strong familiarity with media buying and research tools.
• Strong math skills, attention to detail, and comfort evaluating rates, delivery, efficiencies, and posting results.
• Proficiency with Microsoft tools and the ability to organize information and communicate recommendations clearly.
• Ability to manage tight deadlines, multiple priorities, and detailed execution in a fast-paced agency environment.

What Success Looks Like

• Within 3 months, you’ve built familiarity with assigned markets, client expectations, workflows, vendor relationships, and KSM buying standards.
• By 6 months, you’re confidently leading buys across assigned markets and bringing forward meaningful marketplace insights.
• By year one, you’ve strengthened client outcomes through smart negotiations, trusted relationships, and strong operational follow-through.

Benefits We Offer

We've got you covered -- and we’re not just referring to robust health insurance. To us, coverage is about supporting your full experience and whole self, from inclusive benefits, flexibility, and an appreciation for time away, to recognition, professional development, and growth opportunities.

• Talent Enablement: Career pathing, integrated learning ecosystem, mentorship, and employee recognition
• Financial: Competitive compensation, 401(k) with company match, pre-tax programs, referral rewards, and a remote work reimbursement
• Wellness: Comprehensive health insurance (medical, dental, vision, pet, and life), onsite fitness center covered 100%, discounted membership rates at partner gyms and access to virtual fitness classes, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and curated opportunities to nurture your breaktime
• Balance: Personalized Paid Time Off (i.e., “Unlimited PTO”), remote work flexibility, paid parental leave (maternity, paternity, and adoption), and a variety of Employee Resource Groups
• Giving Back: Volunteer opportunities and corporate donation matching through KSM Cares Outreach, our Corporate Social Responsibility program