Media Buyer / Planner

Onward Search is a specialized staffing and talent solutions company that helps professionals find top jobs with the nation’s leading brands.

We are looking to expand our client's team by adding a digitally focused Senior Media Buyer / Planner who will play a key role in driving the success of their paid digital media campaigns.

This individual will be responsible for developing and executing digital strategies across various channels, including PPC, paid social media, programmatic display, and video. They will also be accountable for planning, buying, trafficking, and managing campaigns end-to-end, ensuring the successful execution and optimization of digital media efforts to meet client objectives.

The ideal candidate is highly experienced in digital media, with a passion for staying ahead of industry trends, creating innovative campaigns, and leveraging data-driven insights to optimize performance.

This is a hybrid, contract-to-hire role (estimated at 90 days) paying $40–$50/hr, with weekly pay and benefits eligibility during the contract phase.
 

Media Buyer / Planner Responsibilities:

• Digital Media Strategy Development: Lead the creation and execution of digital media strategies across PPC, paid social, programmatic display, and video. Align strategies to meet client objectives and deliver on key performance metrics.
• Campaign Planning & Execution: Manage all aspects of campaign planning, from setup to trafficking and reporting. Ensure timely launches and accurate delivery.
• Optimization & Performance Analysis: Monitor and analyze campaign performance, using data insights to recommend optimizations that improve ROI.
• Collaboration & Reporting: Work closely with the digital team to align paid and organic strategies. Provide performance reports and deliver insights to stakeholders and clients.
• Client & Partner Relations: Manage relationships with external media partners and vendors. Coordinate with creative teams to manage assets and ad rotations.
• Quality Assurance & Troubleshooting: QA all campaign setups pre-launch. Troubleshoot technical issues and lead kick-off calls to identify and resolve potential challenges.
• Innovation & Industry Trends: Stay informed on emerging tools, platforms, and best practices in digital media. Integrate fresh ideas into evolving campaign strategies.
• Brand Safety & Fraud Mitigation: Ensure brand safety using tools like MOAT, IAS, and DoubleVerify. Implement fraud mitigation and viewability standards.

Media Buyer / Planner Requirements:

• 2+ years of experience in digital media planning and buying
• Proven ability to develop and implement paid digital media plans
• Broad understanding of paid media channels, including CTV, OLV, Social, Audio, Display, DOOH, and emerging AI trends
• Experience setting up UTMs, pixels, and event tracking mechanisms
• Fluency in social media platforms (Meta, LinkedIn, Reddit, Snap)
• Experience with contextual data providers (Peer39) and brand protection tools (MOAT, IAS, DoubleVerify)
• Ability to manage partner relationships and creative asset workflows
• Strong QA skills and ability to debug issues before campaign launches
• Knowledge of pacing and performance across all platforms and devices
• Effective communication of specs, deliverables, and media needs to account teams
• Willingness to assist with vendor communication and support team collaboration
• A proactive contributor with strong problem-solving capabilities
• Thrives in a fast-paced environment (both virtual and in-person)
• Analytical, organized, and detail-oriented
• Strategic thinker and strong communicator
• Curious about new platforms and technologies
• Driven, dependable, resourceful, and relationship-focused

Preferred Qualifications:

• Offline media planning and buying (Print, OOH, Broadcast)
• PPC campaign development, especially keyword research
• Performance dashboard development (Looker Studio)

Perks & Benefits: 

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Life Insurance
• 401k Program
• Commuter Benefit
• eLearning
• Education Reimbursement
• Ongoing Training & Development
• *To qualify for our benefits package, you must work over 30 hours per week and the length of assignment must be a minimum of 10 weeks.

To learn more about this opportunity, apply now. Our recruitment team will be in touch, guide you through the interview process, and advocate on your behalf.

There is no deadline to apply.

Employer Details:

• Onward Search is an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to a policy of non-discrimination in an employment with regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status or any other classification protected by federal, state and local laws and ordinances. Candidates must be at least 18 years old to be considered for employment. EOE/M/F/D/V/SO.
• In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification document form upon hire.
• Onward Search is unable to support 1099 / Corp-to-Corp or Independent Contractor arrangements at this time. All freelancers will be paid as W2 employees.
• Onward Search offers medical, dental, vision benefits, as well as a 401k program, for all eligible full time temporary assignments.
• Onward Search is a drug-free workplace.
• Onward Search is a nationwide staffing agency and talent solutions provider specializing in creative, marketing and technology. Our clients are continuously turning to us to fill their open positions. Therefore, there is no application deadline for this position, as we are seeking candidates for this type of role across all our clients on an ongoing basis.