The Johnson is hiring: Director, Media Planning in Chattanooga

Overview

The Facts: Johnson Group helps brands slay the giants that stand in the way of their success by blending fresh ideas with proprietary direct-response tools to forge deeper brand connections and more profitable conversions. We provide full-funnel marketing and advertising from brand positioning, research, data science and full-stack development to video/photo content, strategy, and creative.

The Gist: If you are looking for a team instead of a holding company and dream about the perfect blend of collaboration and autonomy, keep reading. Johnson Group is a place where every person is truly a part of building what the future of the agency looks like. Everyone is empowered to Dig for Big. This means we are looking for big skills, big outside-the-box thinking, and big passion.

Summary

The Summary: The Director, Media Planning plays a key leadership role within the agency, driving innovative, strategic, and results-driven media planning across our portfolio of clients. This role oversees the planning process from inception to execution, ensuring all media strategies, channels, and tactics align with client objectives. The Director, Media Planning serves as a partner to the internal Strategy and Media teams, as well as the Account Service, Data Analytics and Interactive teams, to ensure we are aligned on business objectives, media channel mix, KPIs, and performance metrics that will deliver efficient and effective media campaigns.

Strategy & Planning

• Develop and oversee media planning across digital, traditional, and emerging platforms to achieve client business objectives.
• Guide the media team in translating marketing objectives to media KPIs and comprehensive, multi-channel media plans.
• Lead competitive and audience analyses to inform planning decisions.
• Collaborate with clients and internal cross-functional teams to create data-driven strategies that leverage insights from performance analytics.
• Work in tandem with the Strategy, Data & Analytics, and the Media Team to guide media channel strategy, tactics, media mix allocation, and reporting, ensuring seamless connections between client input, strategy development, media activation, and reporting.

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead new media thinking and approach, thought leadership in integrated media tactics, target audience development, customer journey mapping, and media mix analyses.
• As staffing allows, manage, mentor, and lead media planners to foster professional growth and performance excellence.
• Promote cross-team collaboration, ensuring alignment between strategy, media, creative, data analytics, and account services teams.
• Advocate for innovation, ensuring the team adopts new tools, platforms, research resources and approaches in media planning and buying.

Client Partnership

• Serve as the primary media planning contact for client stakeholders and partner with the Account Service and Strategy team in clarifying and confirming business objectives and media KPIs.
• Present media strategies, plans, and performance insights to clients, along with the strategy and media leadership teams, with confidence and clarity.
• In partnership with internal leads, build and maintain strong client relationships through proactive communication and strategic thinking.

Execution & Optimization

• Oversee media plan development and implementation, ensuring flawless execution and budget adherence.
• Partner with the media team to ensure campaigns are executed according to strategy and error-free in setup and activation.
• Monitor campaign performance, identify optimization opportunities, and help provide actionable recommendations.

Industry Expertise & Innovation

• Stay ahead of industry trends, emerging technologies, and consumer behavior changes to integrate into planning strategies across all clients.
• Cultivate relationships with media vendors and platforms alongside the media team to explore innovative solutions and opportunities for clients.
• Represent the agency at industry events, conferences, or in agency communications and new business as a media thought leader.
• Provide integrated media POVs and thought leadership internally and with clients.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, advertising, communications, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in multi-media planning and strategy, with at least 2 years in a leadership role within an agency or brand environment. Previous client-facing work is preferred.
• Proven success in developing and managing integrated media plans across digital, traditional, and emerging platforms.

Skills & Competencies

• Deep knowledge of media platforms, including paid social, programmatic, OTT/CTV, search, and traditional media.
• Proficiency in media research and planning tools such as Comscore, Nielsen, MRI, Google Analytics, and ad-serving platforms.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret complex data into actionable insights.
• Exceptional communication, presentation, and client relationship skills.
• Leadership and team management expertise, with the ability to inspire and develop high-performing teams.
• Highly organized, with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines effectively.

Preferred

• Experience planning performance marketing campaigns.
• Familiarity with audience segmentation and full-funnel media strategies.

Benefits

• Flexibility to work from home with optional hybrid work environment for locals in our beautifully renovated downtown office (with paid parking).
• 100% employer-paid health, dental, and vision insurance for employee and two family members.
• 401k with company match.
• PTO, sick days, and paid holidays.
• Wellness stipend.
• Professional development opportunities.
• Company-wide social events like an annual lake day, team-specific retreats.
• Summer Fridays.

Hiring Restrictions

We can only hire from these states based in the US: TN, GA, AL, FL, NC, SC, NV, NH, TX, MN, VA, and IL.