Strategic Media & Marketing Partnerships Lead

Sterling Kohler

Wisconsin

On-site

USD 135,600 - 211,000

Full time

14 days+

Get a reply from this employer

Your resume and cover letter, tailored to exactly what they’re hiring for.

Get past ATS filters

Benefits offered by this job

Day 1 benefits

Job summary

Kohler Co. is seeking a Sr. Category Leader in Marketing & Communications to shape media investments and partnerships.

This onsite role in Kohler, WI partners with Marketing, Finance, Legal, and Analytics to drive sourcing strategies and contract governance, delivering measurable ROAS and value across paid media and related services. The role requires 8+ years in strategic sourcing for marketing, with strong Excel/Power BI skills, contract management, and stakeholder collaboration.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in marketing, supply chain, business, finance, communications, or related field required; advanced degree preferred.
Minimum of 8+ years of combined experience in strategic sourcing focused on marketing categories, category management, media procurement, media agency management, marketing operations, or related roles.
Experience managing media, marketing, agency, communications, or technology-related contracts and sourcing projects with $1M-10M+ in annual spend.
Proficiency with supplier management, contract management, eSourcing, spend analytics, Microsoft Excel, Power BI, Microsoft Copilot, and related procurement or analytics tools.

Responsibilities

Lead media procurement strategy and sourcing execution for Kohler’s marketing organization, including paid media, digital, programmatic, social, search, retail media, agency services, measurement, and related marketing technology.
Partner with marketing, brand, finance, legal, privacy, analytics, and agency stakeholders to translate business needs into sourcing strategies, scopes of work, contract requirements, performance expectations, and supplier governance plans.
Lead competitive sourcing events, supplier evaluations, bid analysis, negotiations, award recommendations, renewals, and contract changes for media agencies, platforms, and related suppliers.
Analyze spend, supplier proposals, rate cards, agency fees, media pricing models, contract terms, market dynamics, and performance data to support fact-based decisions and total value recommendations.
Manage supplier relationships and governance routines, including scorecards, business reviews, issue resolution, escalation paths, performance commitments, renewal planning, and continuous improvement actions.
Deliver category value through cost avoidance, savings, risk reduction, improved transparency, supplier accountability, and stronger return on marketing investment including Return on Ad Spend (ROAS).
Provide media procurement expertise on agency models, fee structures, commercial terms, brand safety, content rights and evolving media market trends.
Communicate sourcing activity, supplier performance, risks, value delivered, and recommended improvements to procurement, marketing, and senior business leaders.