Media Director

You will conduct deep audience research to understand where our audiences consume media, develop differentiated channel strategies by demographic, manage vendor and platform relationships, collaborate closely with our Creative team to optimize ad creative and landing pages, and mentor a direct report (Performance Marketing Manager) as you build out the media function. Continuously research audience consumption trends and recommend placements that reach our audiences where they naturally engage.Architect full-funnel media plans that sequence audiences from awareness through consideration to conversion, with clear KPIs and measurement frameworks at each stage.Lead annual and quarterly media planning, including budget allocation across channels, pacing strategies, and scenario planning for seasonal and campaign-driven spend shifts.Digital Platform Management and OptimizationOversee campaign execution and optimization across Google Ads, YouTube, Meta, TikTok, Snapchat, The Trade Desk, and other programmatic DSPs.Develop platform-specific strategies that leverage premium ad formats and placements, including high-attention units such as TikTok TopView, YouTube Mastheads, and premium content adjacency programs (e.g., TikTok Pulse Premiere for placement next to premium entertainment, sports, and lifestyle content).Manage social media advertising with differentiated approaches by audience: prioritizing YouTube, Instagram, and X for the male demographic; Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube for the female demographic.Drive continuous A/B testing of ad copy, creative formats, audience segments, bidding strategies, and landing pages to maximize ROAS, reduce CPA, and increase customer LTV.Implement and maintain robust tracking, attribution, and reporting infrastructure across all channels using tools such as Google Analytics, Looker, Tableau, and platform-native analytics.Leverage AI-powered tools and platforms to enhance campaign optimization, audience targeting, bid management, predictive analytics, and creative performance analysis. Stay current on AI advancements in programmatic buying and media planning, and integrate relevant tools into daily workflows to drive efficiency and performance gains.Premium Publishing and Branded ContentPlan and execute media buys across premium digital and print publications that align with our audience’s media consumption, including titles such as WSJ, NYT, The Atlantic, Condé Nast Traveller, Architectural Digest, GQ, Men’s Health, Wired, Vogue, and Vanity Fair.Develop sponsorship and high-impact display placements within relevant editorial sections and features.Coordinate with the PR and editorial teams to ensure paid media placements align with and amplify the earned media strategy.Explore branded content distribution partnerships that extend Seeking’s editorial voice and thought leadership into premium storytelling environments.Audio, Podcasts, and StreamingDevelop and execute audio and podcast advertising strategies, including host-read integrations, sponsorships, and programmatic audio buys across platforms such as Spotify, YouTube Music, SiriusXM, iHeartRadio, and podcast networks.Identify high-affinity podcast content pillars for each audience segment and negotiate sponsorships with relevant shows and networks in categories such as finance, comedy, sports, dating, career, and health.Plan and buy advertising across streaming platforms with ad-supported tiers, including Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video, Paramount+, Peacock, and Discovery+, with audience-appropriate platform selection.Evaluate addressable audience sizes on each platform, accounting for the fact that premium subscribers often opt out of ad-supported tiers.Premium Travel and Contextual AdvertisingDevelop contextual media strategies that reach our affluent male audience throughout the travel journey: travel research and planning sites, premium airport lounge screens, in-flight entertainment (first and business class), and luxury hotel TV and digital displays.Partner with travel media vendors, airline media networks, and hospitality digital advertising platforms to build contextually relevant campaigns.Explore partnerships with travel booking platforms (e.g., Airbnb, Expedia) for targeted placement opportunities.Sports Sponsorships and IRL ExperientialIdentify and negotiate sponsorships of premium sports programming and properties that align with audience passions, including Football, Golf, Tennis, and F1.Develop in-real-life (IRL) media strategies that place the brand in physical environments where our audiences spend time: golf courses, ski resorts, premium gyms, high-end yoga and pilates studios, and lifestyle events.Plan and execute out-of-home media buys including billboards, transit advertising, digital displays, and experiential activations, measuring impact on digital lift and branded search volume.Evaluate sports and IRL opportunities as both standalone brand-building investments and as part of a multi-touchpoint strategy that reinforces digital campaigns.Vendor and Platform RelationshipsServe as the primary point of contact with all media platform representatives, ad network partners, podcast networks, premium publishers, streaming ad sales teams, sports properties, travel media vendors, and OOH partners.Negotiate rates, secure added-value opportunities, resolve account and policy issues, and ensure Reflex Media receives priority-tier support and access to emerging ad formats and beta programs.Evaluate and onboard new media partners and technologies as the landscape evolves.Creative PartnershipCollaborate closely with the Creative team to provide data-informed input on ad creative, messaging, and landing page design, tailored to each platform, audience segment, and funnel stage.Translate performance insights into actionable creative briefs that specify what is working, what is not, and what to test next.Advise on creative format requirements for premium placements (high-impact display, video pre-roll, podcast host-read scripts, OOH specifications) and ensure assets meet platform standards.Champion a culture of rapid creative iteration, ensuring that media performance data feeds directly into the creative development cycle.Use AI tools to accelerate creative workflows, including AI-assisted copywriting and ad variation generation, AI-driven creative performance prediction, and automated creative testing at scale. Guide the Creative team on how AI can enhance (not replace) the creative development process.Leadership and Team DevelopmentDirectly manage and mentor the Performance Marketing Manager, providing coaching on platform execution, analytical skills, and career development.Set clear goals, conduct regular performance reviews, and create development plans that grow your team member into a future media leader.Build the case for team expansion as media spend and channel complexity grow.Reporting and Executive CommunicationPresent high-level media performance reports to senior leadership, translating complex data into clear narratives about what is driving results and where to invest next.Develop dashboards and automated reporting that provide real-time visibility into spend pacing, performance, and ROI across all channels.Proactively surface audience insights, media consumption trends, and competitive intelligence that inform broader marketing and business strategy.Apply AI tools to automate reporting, generate data summaries, identify performance anomalies, and produce scenario-based forecasts that enable faster and more informed decision-making. QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCERequired10+ years of progressive experience in media planning, buying, and strategy across both digital and traditional/offline channels, with at least 3 years in a Director-level or equivalent leadership role.Demonstrated experience managing annual media budgets of M or more.Hands-on expertise with major digital advertising platforms: Google Ads, Meta Ads Manager, TikTok Ads, Snapchat Ads, YouTube, and programmatic DSPs (The Trade Desk preferred).Proven experience planning and buying across premium publishing (digital and print), audio/podcasts, streaming platforms (ad-supported tiers), sports sponsorships, OOH, and experiential/IRL channels.Strong proficiency with audience research and media planning tools such as MRI Simmons, Comscore, Nielsen, or equivalent platforms.Deep understanding of full-funnel media strategy, including top-of-funnel brand awareness, mid-funnel consideration, and bottom-of-funnel direct response, with the ability to architect integrated plans across all three.Strong analytical skills with proficiency in Google Analytics, Looker, Tableau, or equivalent reporting and visualization tools.Experience with A/B and multivariate testing frameworks for ad creative, landing pages, and audience segmentation.Track record of working at Fortune 500 companies or equivalent large-scale enterprise organizations, with a career history that reflects longevity (3+ years at key employers) and consistent upward progression (successive title promotions within organizations).Experience managing and developing direct reports, with a clear philosophy on coaching and team building.Demonstrated proficiency with AI tools in a professional marketing or media context.