OVERVIEW 

As the performance marketing center of excellence within VML, our goal is to create and execute media strategies that are accountable to a defined outcome.  We are different than other agencies that take a channel-first approach.  Instead, we develop strategies with an objective-first mindset – becoming true partners with our clients in understanding the business, competitive landscape, and ultimately, their goals and objectives.  We also define audiences based on these objectives, which are then activated in channels across the paid, owned and earned landscape.   

Our team holds three key principles at our core: 

• Media plans built to flex 

• Insightful audiences  

• Boldly accountable to results 

To help us succeed, VML is seeking a Media Strategist to deliver media campaigns from start to finish for our clients.  This capability is responsible for operationalizing digital media strategies within specific media platforms. A Channel Media Strategist is responsible for advising account setups that play a role in meeting the objective of our clients. Responsible for creating and maintaining digital campaigns across a single or multiple channels (Search, Social, Display, Video, Native & More) with a primary focus on Google Search Ads. This role is dedicated to identified client accounts to fulfil strategic media setups and operations within the VML standards of digital media.   

The role’s primary responsibilities are as follows: 

• Understand client industry, business offering and related products/services/brands  

• Feed channel insights to media plan and media strategy 

• Deep understanding of how to activate in specific channel(s) 

• Define channel segmentation within platforms in order to achieve the objectives that is set out by the media plan 

• Development of Trafficking briefs from an existing media plan /strategy 

• Campaign check ins and ensure that all required campaigns are live/paused/ended 

• Management of media budget pacing process, including frequent check-ins with Connections Manager, as well as oversight of the vendor invoice process. 

• Develop Platform Trafficking Sheet development from Requirements Brief 

• Upload/edit digital campaigns within Media Platforms (Facebook Business Manager, DV360, Google Ads, SA360, Bing ads, LinkedIn & More) with a primary focus on Google Search Ads 

• Utilize and understand large data-dumps to upload/change/ create campaigns through bulk processes   

• Navigate through all media platforms required to service a client 

• Identify in-platform optimization needs and implement changes to level set performance 

• Keep log of changes through optimization entries 

• Integrate paid media capability across other service lines:  SEO, Development, Reporting, Client Services and Strategy 

ADDITIONAL ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES 

• Understanding a client's business, industry and related products/brands/services 

• Understand integration between Paid Media and other departments - Analytics, SEO/Content, Strategy, Accounts, Tech and Project Managements 

• Approve Media invoices against media platform spends 

• Explore operations in additional channels and continue development of digital media knowledge 

• Provide Insight to operational changes in platform 

• Navigate through all channels required to service a client 

• Follow instructions from the Meda Account lead to deliver on a campaign 

• Implement best practices within digital media channel operations 

DESIRED SKILLS/EXPERIENCE 

• 4 - 5 Year Related Media Work Experience  

• Expert in media operations across Search, Paid Social and Display with an understanding of how offline media functions and can drive results 

• Experience in develop paid media plans that align to an overarching strategy 

• Ability to utilize data to inform audience segmentation 

• Understanding of how paid media is measured for success 

• Fluent in mathematical concepts with an ability to translate data into well-articulated ideas 

• Ability to conceptualize big-picture and long-term, be results-focused and think creatively for clients 

• Experience interacting with all levels of clients on behalf of an agency 

• Proven experience producing strong digital innovation and business results 

• Strong grasp of tools and platforms, including:  SA360, DV360, Google Ads, Bing Ads, The Trade Desk (and various DSPs), Facebook Business Manager, Google Merchant Center, various analytics suites, etc.