Explore National Media Strategy & Planning Manager jobs and discover a pivotal career at the intersection of brand storytelling, media investment, and data-driven performance. Professionals in this senior marketing role are the strategic architects behind national campaigns, responsible for ensuring that a brand's message reaches the right audience, through the right channels, at the right time, and with maximum impact. They serve as the critical link between high-level marketing objectives and tactical media execution, overseeing substantial budgets to drive brand growth and market share on a national scale. The core responsibility of a National Media Strategy & Planning Manager is to develop, implement, and optimize comprehensive media plans. This involves deep audience analysis, channel selection (spanning digital, social, video, programmatic, and often traditional outlets like TV or print), and budget allocation to maximize return on investment. They lead the briefing process for creative assets, ensuring that the messaging is perfectly tailored for each media platform and resonates with target demographics. A significant part of the role is managing agency and vendor partnerships, negotiating premium placements, and staying ahead of media trends and innovations to test new formats and platforms. On a day-to-day basis, these managers oversee campaign trafficking, quality assurance, and launch, while continuously monitoring performance metrics. They are adept at pacing budgets, reconciling spends, and providing data-backed optimization recommendations to improve campaign efficacy throughout its flight. Their work requires a constant balance between creative brand-building initiatives and performance-driven direct response tactics, often aligning upper-funnel awareness activities with lower-funnel conversion strategies. Typical skills and requirements for these leadership jobs include a bachelor’s degree in marketing, advertising, or a related field, with 5-7 years of progressive experience in media planning, preferably within an agency or a large brand-side marketing department. Expertise across major digital platforms (e.g., social media, video, programmatic) is essential, as is proficiency with media analytics and tracking tools. Successful candidates possess a unique blend of strategic thinking, financial acumen, and creative sensibility. Strong communication and presentation skills are non-negotiable, as the role involves articulating strategies and results to senior leadership. For strategic thinkers passionate about shaping brand presence at a national level, National Media Strategy & Planning Manager jobs offer a challenging and rewarding career path.
