Media Planner

Location: Chicago, Illinois, United States; Nashville, Tennessee, United States; Remote

Department: IMS Media

 The Role 

As a Media Planner, you are a key team member helping drive our advertising campaigns, bridging the gap between client business objectives and consumer behavior. You will conduct deep market research and analyze audience data to build precise personas, translating these insights into actionable media plans across a full mix of digital, social, programmatic, traditional, and emerging channels.

This fast-paced role requires strong analytical skills to interpret media consumption data, competitive activity, and campaign results. You will bring a collaborative mindset to building strong relationships within the agency and directly with clients. Additionally, you are comfortable leveraging AI tools (like ChatGPT or Gemini) to optimize workflows, sharpen audience segmentation, and uncover deeper insights.

What You’ll Do

• Work directly with the manager to develop and manage comprehensive media plans for all assigned clients, owning the process from initial strategy through execution.
• Conduct deep target audience and competitive research using traditional tools (e.g., Nielsen, Comscore, MRI-Simmons) paired with modern AI research tools to build precise personas and identify consumer habits.
• Translate research insights into actionable media strategies, determining the optimal mix across traditional, digital, programmatic, and social channels to achieve client goals.
• Allocate the advertising budget across different platforms and timeline schedules to maximize reach and frequency, while developing and maintaining the master campaign flowchart for agency and client teams.
• Review and evaluate emerging partner opportunities and media vehicles, crafting clear, client-facing POVs (Points of View) and recommendations.
• Ensure the timely creation, organization, and implementation of all essential campaign paperwork, including flowcharts, authorizations, buying goals, IOs (Insertion Orders), and briefs.
• Partner closely with internal programmatic, social, traditional buying, and trafficking teams to ensure strategic plans are executed effectively and ad space is purchased at competitive rates.
• Leverage AI tools where applicable to enhance data analysis, uncover unique audience insights, streamline repetitive planning tasks, and contribute to innovative media solutions.

What You Bring

• 1–2+ years of experience in media planning, preferably within an agency environment.
• Proven experience planning and managing both traditional and digital media landscapes, with a solid grasp of industry terminology.
• A strong understanding of client business objectives, with the ability to conduct competitive data analysis and interpret target media consumption data.
• Solid command of media planning processes and tools such as Guideline, Resonate, SQAD, and Vivvix, alongside experience pulling Reach & Frequency (R/F) analyses.
• Advanced skills in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and a high level of comfort leveraging AI tools (such as ChatGPT, Gemini, etc.) to enhance efficiency and strategy.
• Ability to establish priorities, work independently, and drive objectives forward with minimal supervision in a fast-paced environment.
• Healthcare experience and/or a distinct passion for the healthcare industry is highly preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Advertising, or a related field.

Perks and Benefits

• Competitive Salary
• Health, Dental and Vision benefit packages to fit all types of lifestyles
• Life, Short- and Long-Term Disability Insurance paid 100% by the company
• FSA / HSA Options
• 401(K) with a generous company match program
• Flexible Paid Time Off (aka- unlimited)
• Paid Parental Leave
• Hybrid and Remote work schedules available
• Employee Assistance Program (unlimited free telephonic counseling for a variety of issues such as mental health, financial support, and legal advice)
• Employee Referral Program