📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Director, Media Planning
🔹 Company: Blue State
🔹 Location: NY, DC, Oakland
🔹 Job Type: Full-time, Hybrid
🔹 Category: Advertising Services
🔹 Date Posted: April 7, 2025
🔹 Experience Level: 10+ years
🔹 Remote Status: On-site (NY, DC) and Hybrid (Oakland)
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Leadership of a team of digital ad experts
- Overseeing the development and implementation of paid media strategies
- Guiding clients and ensuring high-quality media programs
- Fostering collaboration across teams
- Contributing to campaigns that drive positive change in the world
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strategic mindset, strong leadership skills, and a deep understanding of paid media technology and political media programs.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Shape and standardize Blue State's offerings across capabilities
✅ Scale operations through new talent, infrastructure, and platforms/partners
✅ Set expectations with media teams and project teams for deliverables, quality of work, and skill sets required
✅ Guide clients at a high level as they build out their organization and programs for sustainable growth
✅ Oversee a portfolio of key partners with accountability for program performance and client satisfaction
✅ Lead business development opportunities, shaping responses to client challenges, driving upsell opportunities, and differentiating Blue State from other agencies
✅ As the ads world shifts, identify new markets and experiment with new approaches for paid media services, specifically exploring a model that unites TV with digital
✅ Oversee, mentor, and train staff to ensure execution of high-quality media programs
✅ Identify processes, templates, and tools to help the team become more efficient and deliver its best work
✅ Foster points of collaboration between Media Teams and other teams to strengthen deliverables and programs
✅ Build team culture and camaraderie
✅ Be a role model and inspire others to do their best work
ASSUMPTION: This role involves a mix of strategic planning, team management, and hands-on media planning and execution.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Advertising, or a related field (or equivalent experience)
Experience: 8+ years of experience in paid media, with a focus on political media programs and managing multi-million dollar media budgets
Required Skills:
- Expert understanding of paid media technology (paid social, SEM, DSPs, DMPs, ad servers, and verification tools)
- Experience managing paid media programs, including acquisition, awareness, and persuasion
- Familiarity with political campaign media programs and emerging media platforms
- Strong analytical and data interpretation skills
- Exceptional verbal and written communication skills
- Strong presentation skills
- Ability to both think strategically and execute tactically
Preferred Skills:
- Experience with digital research tools such as Global Web Index and Statista
- Fluency in additional languages
ASSUMPTION: Candidates should have a strong background in paid media, political campaigns, and data analysis, with a proven track record of managing teams and driving results.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $130,000 - $165,000 per year
Benefits:
- Unlimited time-off (inclusive of sick, personal, and vacation days)
- $1,000 annually in professional development funds
- Competitive health, dental, and vision insurance
- Flexible and health savings accounts
- 401K & employer match
- Generous paid holiday schedule
- 12-week fully-paid parental leave for all parents-to-be
- Short-term and long-term disability insurance
- Pre-tax commuter benefits
- Remote work flexibility
Working Hours: Full-time, with a hybrid work arrangement (on-site in NY or DC, or hybrid in Oakland)
ASSUMPTION: The salary range is competitive for the role and experience level, and the benefits package is comprehensive and generous.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: Advertising Services, specializing in digital media for political campaigns, nonprofits, and brands
Company Size: 201-500 employees, with a flat and collaborative company culture
Founded: 2004, with headquarters in Brooklyn, New York
Company Description:
- Blue State partners with leading causes, campaigns, and brands to create real change
- The company transforms how brands and causes raise money, influence policy, build platforms, and grow communities of supporters
- Blue State is led by creative and analytical minds from the political, nonprofit, and brand worlds
Company Specialties:
- Audience Insights
- Data & Systems Integration
- CRM Strategy
- Community Growth & Activation
- Technology & Data Strategy
- Fundraising
- Branding
- Content Marketing
- Website design and development
- Video and Photography
Company Website: http://www.bluestate.co/
ASSUMPTION: Blue State is a purpose-driven agency that values diversity, inclusion, and making a positive impact on the world.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: Senior-level role with significant leadership and strategic responsibilities
Reporting Structure: Reports directly to the Head of Media or another senior leader within the agency
Work Arrangement: Hybrid work arrangement, with on-site presence required for US staff within commuting distance of the NY or DC office
Growth Opportunities:
- Potential to grow into a more senior role within the agency, such as Head of Media or another leadership position
- Opportunities to expand the paid media team and take on additional responsibilities
- Chance to shape the future of paid media services at Blue State
ASSUMPTION: This role offers significant growth potential for the right candidate, with opportunities to expand the team and take on additional responsibilities.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: Hybrid work environment, with on-site presence required for US staff within commuting distance of the NY or DC office
Office Location(s): 41 Flatbush Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11217, US; 406 7th Street NW, 3rd Floor, Washington, DC 20004, US; 711 Atlantic Avenue, Boston, MA 02111, US; Second Home, 68-80 Hanbury Street, London, UK E1 5JL, GB; 3780 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 601, Los Angeles, CA 90010, US
Geographic Context:
- New York and Washington, DC offices are located in urban areas with access to public transportation
- Oakland office is located in a suburban area with easy access to major highways
- All offices offer a collaborative and inclusive work environment
Work Schedule: Full-time, with a hybrid work arrangement (on-site in NY or DC, or hybrid in Oakland)
ASSUMPTION: The hybrid work arrangement allows for flexibility and work-life balance, while the on-site presence requirement ensures collaboration and team cohesion.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Phone or video screening with the HR team
- First-round interview with the hiring manager or a member of the media team
- Second-round interview with additional team members or senior leaders
- Final-round interview with the Head of Media or another senior leader
- Background check and reference check
Key Assessment Areas:
- Strategic thinking and problem-solving skills
- Leadership and team management skills
- Expertise in paid media technology and political media programs
- Communication and presentation skills
- Cultural fit and alignment with Blue State's values
Application Tips:
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills for this role
- Be prepared to discuss your experience with paid media technology, political media programs, and data analysis
- Showcase your leadership and team management skills, as well as your ability to think strategically and execute tactically
- Demonstrate your passion for making a positive impact on the world and driving real change
- Prepare questions to ask the interviewers about the role, the team, and the company
ATS Keywords: Paid Media, Political Media, Digital Media, Team Leadership, Strategic Planning, Data Analysis, Communication Skills, Presentation Skills, Hybrid Work Arrangement
ASSUMPTION: The interview process at Blue State is thorough and designed to assess the candidate's skills, experience, and cultural fit for the role.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Paid media technology (paid social, SEM, DSPs, DMPs, ad servers, and verification tools)
- Digital research tools (Global Web Index, Statista)
- Project management tools (Asana, Trello, JIRA)
- Data visualization tools (Tableau, Power BI)
- Office suite (Microsoft Office, Google Workspace)
ASSUMPTION: The required tools and technologies for this role are industry-standard and widely used in the advertising and media industries.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Make good trouble
- Be curious
- Put people first
- Drive real change
- If you need it, build it
- Walk the walk
Work Style:
- Collaborative and inclusive
- Data-driven and results-oriented
- Adaptable and flexible
- Passionate about making a positive impact on the world
Self-Assessment Questions:
- How do you challenge the status quo and drive progress in your work?
- Can you provide an example of a time when you used data to inform a strategic decision?
- How do you foster a collaborative and inclusive work environment?
ASSUMPTION: Blue State values diversity, inclusion, and making a positive impact on the world, and candidates should be prepared to demonstrate their alignment with these values.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Managing a team of digital ad experts and overseeing the development and implementation of paid media strategies across multiple clients
- Balancing strategic planning and hands-on media planning and execution
- Adapting to a fast-paced and evolving media landscape
- Managing a hybrid work arrangement and ensuring team cohesion and collaboration
- Driving results and meeting client expectations in a competitive and dynamic industry
ASSUMPTION: This role presents significant challenges and opportunities for growth and development.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- This role is unique in its focus on political media programs and emerging media platforms
- Compared to other media planning roles, this position requires a deeper understanding of political campaigns and a broader range of media channels
- Career path comparison: This role offers significant growth potential, with opportunities to expand the team and take on additional responsibilities
ASSUMPTION: This role is distinct from other media planning positions due to its focus on political campaigns and emerging media platforms.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing and executing a multi-million dollar media budget for a political campaign
- Launching a targeted digital advertising campaign to raise awareness for a social cause
- Conducting a comprehensive audit of an organization's paid media strategy and implementing improvements
ASSUMPTION: These sample projects illustrate the range of responsibilities and the strategic and tactical nature of the role.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- Can you describe the team structure and dynamics of the media team?
- How does Blue State support the professional development and growth of its employees?
- What are the biggest challenges facing the paid media team currently, and how can this role help address them?
- How does Blue State approach diversity, equity, and inclusion in its hiring and workplace practices?
- What are the key priorities for this role in the first 90 days?
ASSUMPTION: These questions are designed to help candidates better understand the role, the team, and the company, as well as to assess their fit for the position.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through this link
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills for this role
- Prepare for interviews by researching Blue State, the role, and the industry
- Prepare questions to ask the interviewers about the role, the team, and the company
- Follow up with the hiring manager or HR team after each interview to express your appreciation and reiterate your interest in the role
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
