Media Planner / Media Strategist

Company Description

Swanson Russell is the Nation’s Leading Agency for Brands That Work and Play Outdoors. Our crew of big thinkers, go-getters and team players uncover insights that unleash new possibilities for our clients. It’s how we build genuine trust that strengthens over time, it’s how we Make Belief™ in the brands we represent. If that passion for great ideas, good people and creating work that makes brands stand out interests you, apply today. Role Overview Are you a strategic thinker who loves turning data into actionable media plans? We are looking for a Media Planner to join our team. In this role, you will be the architect behind our clients' media presence—developing, negotiating, and implementing high-impact recommendations across various channels. You’ll bridge the gap between creative strategy and technical execution, ensuring every dollar of our clients' budgets is working toward their goals. More experienced candidates will play a larger role in setting media strategy, guiding junior team members, and shaping cross-channel investment decisions. While our preference is for candidates local to our Lincoln or Omaha offices for in-person collaboration, we are open to remote candidates who possess the right experience.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Planning: Develop, maintain, and optimize comprehensive advertising media plans and schedules across a diverse client portfolio.
• Platform Execution: Set up, manage, and optimize campaigns across major paid media platforms.
• Data Analysis: Analyze budgets, performance, and research data to inform short- and long-term media strategies.
• Relationship Management: Build and maintain strong partnerships with media vendors and collaborate closely with internal account teams to ensure seamless execution.
• Client Communication: Present media recommendations and performance insights to senior leadership and clients, translating complex data into clear, concise narratives.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Analytical Mindset: Proven ability to analyze budgets and research data to forecast trends and prepare long-term plans.
• Communication Excellence: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills. You should be able to write clearly, concisely, and persuasively, foster relations with media contacts and present recommendations clearly to clients.
• Strategic Connector: The ability to foster meaningful relationships with media representatives and act as a trusted advisor to our clients.
• Adaptability: Comfortable navigating evolving platforms, algorithms, and media best practices.
• Collaboration: Works effectively across disciplines—account, creative, analytics, and leadership.
• Strategic Curiosity: Naturally asks “why” and seeks deeper insight behind performance trends and audience behavior.
• Time & Priority Management: Able to manage multiple accounts, timelines, and deliverables without sacrificing quality.
• Business-Minded: Understands how media performance ladders up to broader business and brand objectives.

Platform Expertise Preferred Paid Media Platforms:

• Google Ads & Google Campaign Manager
• Meta Ads Manager, LinkedIn Campaign Manager, TikTok Ads Manager, X Ads
• Programmatic platforms (e.g., StackAdapt, AdDaptive, Azira, Division-D)

Analytics & Reporting:

• Google Analytics (GA4)
• Basic data visualization and reporting (e.g., Google Looker Studio)

Planning & Buying Tools:

• Strata (broadcast planning and buying)

Nice-to-Have

• Microsoft Advertising
• Amazon DSP
• Workflow & Project Management: Asana or similar project management tools

Preferred Platform Certifications

• Google Ads Certifications (search, display, video)
• Meta Blueprint Certification
• X Ads Academy Badge
• Tik Tok Media Buying Certification
• LinkedIn Ads training or certification

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Advertising, Journalism, Marketing, Communications, or a related field. 4+ years of experience in a related field may be considered in lieu of a degree.
• A minimum of 2 years of media planning experience is required. Candidates with 5+ years of experience in media planning and integrated strategy are preferred and may be considered for a Media Strategist title.
• Advertising agency experience is a plus.

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