Media Planner

Planning | The Architects
Location: Irvington, NY

We are a 1,000-piece puzzle. Each of us is essential, interconnected, and intentionally designed. Together, we create something powerful: media that matters, growth that lasts, and a culture we are proud to build.

As part of our Planning team, The Architects, you turn audience understanding and business objectives into intentional media strategies that drive measurable growth. You connect insights, creativity, and data to build thoughtful plans that reach the right people at the right moments. Your work brings clarity to complexity, ensuring every media decision has a purpose and every investment has the opportunity to make an impact.

As a Media Planner, you'll play a key role in developing, managing, and optimizing integrated media plans that connect client objectives with audience insights and measurable outcomes. You'll take ownership of day-to-day planning deliverables, collaborate across disciplines, and use research and performance data to make informed recommendations.

You'll bring both strategic thinking and attention to detail to your work, ensuring plans are thoughtfully developed, accurately executed, and continuously refined to drive stronger results.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Media Planning & Development

• Develop and maintain integrated media plans aligned with client business objectives, target audiences, budgets, and performance goals.

• Evaluate and recommend media channels, tactics, and placements based on audience behavior, market research, campaign objectives, and historical performance.

• Build media flowcharts, budget allocations, reach and frequency analyses, and supporting planning documentation.

• Apply media math and audience research to evaluate opportunities and develop sound, data-informed recommendations.

• Translate strategic direction into actionable plans that connect media investments to intended business outcomes.

• Support the development of client presentations and planning recommendations, clearly communicating the rationale behind media decisions.

Research, Insights & Optimization

• Leverage Nielsen, syndicated research, competitive intelligence, and other audience measurement tools to inform media recommendations.

• Analyze audience trends, competitive activity, marketplace dynamics, and campaign performance to identify opportunities for improvement.

• Monitor campaign pacing, delivery, and key performance indicators to ensure alignment with approved plans and client objectives.

• Recommend optimizations based on performance trends, audience insights, and established budget parameters.

• Partner with Research, Analytics, and Activation teams to translate campaign learnings into stronger future planning decisions.

• Stay informed on evolving media channels, measurement approaches, and industry trends.

Campaign Stewardship & Operational Excellence

• Manage day-to-day planning deliverables from initial development through activation, optimization, and post-campaign analysis.

• Maintain accurate media plans, budgets, campaign details, and documentation across agency systems.

• Prepare and complete Authorization to Buy (ATB) forms, ensuring alignment with approved media plans and budgets.

• Review campaign setups, media schedules, and supporting documentation to identify discrepancies before activation.

• Coordinate with buying, broadcast, and activation teams to ensure plans are executed accurately and on schedule.

• Assist with budget reconciliation, invoice discrepancies, and campaign-related financial documentation.

• Review work prepared by Associate Media Planners, providing guidance and feedback to maintain accuracy and quality.

Reporting, Communication & Collaboration

• Analyze daily and weekly campaign reporting to identify meaningful performance trends, opportunities, and potential challenges.

• Translate complex data into clear, actionable insights that help internal teams and clients make informed decisions.

• Collaborate with Account Services, Research, Analytics, Activation, and Project Management to maintain alignment throughout the campaign lifecycle.

• Communicate planning updates, deliverable status, and potential risks proactively.

• Contribute to client-facing presentations, campaign recaps, and performance discussions.

• Share knowledge, support junior team members, and contribute to continuous improvement of planning processes and best practices.

Experience & Technical Expertise

• 2 to 4 years of experience in media planning, preferably within a media agency or integrated advertising environment.

• Working knowledge of media planning principles across traditional and digital channels, including television, streaming/CTV, digital video, display, audio, and other relevant media.

• Proficiency in media math, including CPM, CPP, GRPs, TRPs, reach, frequency, impressions, and audience composition.

• Hands-on experience with Nielsen measurement tools and syndicated audience research platforms.

• Experience developing media plans, flowcharts, budget allocations, and campaign performance reports.

• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including formulas, pivot tables, data analysis, and budget tracking, as well as PowerPoint for presentations.

• Understanding of campaign performance metrics, pacing, optimization, and media measurement methodologies.

• Experience working with media planning, buying, and reporting systems, with the ability to learn proprietary agency technology.

• Familiarity with media authorization processes, campaign reconciliation, and budget stewardship.

Capabilities

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify patterns and translate data into practical recommendations.

• Excellent attention to detail and commitment to producing accurate, reliable work.

• Ability to manage multiple campaigns, priorities, and deadlines in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

• Clear written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to simplify complex information.

• Sound judgment and growing confidence in making recommendations and explaining the thinking behind them.

• Ability to work independently on assigned responsibilities while recognizing when to ask questions, collaborate, or escalate challenges.

• Strong organizational skills, follow-through, and accountability.

• A collaborative mindset and willingness to support colleagues across teams and disciplines.

• Curiosity about audiences, media innovation, emerging technology, and new ways to improve performance.

• Ability to provide constructive feedback and guidance to junior team members.

At Attention Arc, how you work is just as important as what you deliver. Our core competencies define the skills and behaviors that drive strong performance and meaningful impact:

• Credibility: You build trust through your media expertise, curiosity, and attention to detail. You ground recommendations in research, data, and sound judgment, delivering work that others can confidently act on.

• Clarity: You turn complex media information into clear plans, insights, and next steps. You communicate the thinking behind your recommendations and make it easier for others to understand what matters and why.

• Connection: You recognize that great media planning is a team effort. You collaborate openly across disciplines, share information proactively, and build strong working relationships that help everyone deliver better results.

• Care: You take pride in the quality of your work and understand the impact your decisions have on clients and colleagues. You follow through on commitments, own mistakes, and approach challenges with professionalism, empathy, and integrity.

• Culture & Character: You show up with ownership, curiosity, and a willingness to grow. You live The Arc Code by going All In, working with No Sidelines, Moving With Curiosity, and communicating with Truth With Heart. You contribute to a team where people support one another, challenge ideas thoughtfully, and celebrate shared success.

Together, these behaviors define what it means to do great work here, building trust, driving impact, and creating a culture where people and ideas thrive.

We're a media agency built for brands that value intention. At Attention Arc, we combine deliberate media craft with technology designed to amplify it. We build trusted partnerships so every decision stays aligned with what matters most.

Media doesn't fail because of technology. It fails when intention is missing. That's why we exist.

To restore intention to media.

At 160 people across four offices in Phoenix, Durham, Irvington, and New York City, we occupy a deliberate sweet spot: big enough to handle major brands and complex business, nimble enough to actually move, make decisions, and drive impact. No unnecessary layers. No slow-moving bureaucracy. Just sharp thinking, fast execution, and technology built to make better decisions possible.

We believe media starts and ends with people. Our media experts bring the strategy, our technology creates the reach, and our human touch helps brands connect with audiences in meaningful ways.

Our culture is shaped by our values:

• All In: We show up with intensity and ownership.

• No Sidelines: We collaborate without ego or boundaries.

• Move With Curiosity: We ask why, explore boldly, and learn fast.

• Truth With Heart: We communicate with honesty and empathy.

At Attention Arc, we believe people do their best work when they feel they belong. Inclusion isn't just about representation, it's about creating an environment where people feel seen, supported, and comfortable showing up as themselves.

We value different lived experiences and perspectives, and actively create space for those voices to shape our work. We're committed to building an agency where everyone has a genuine seat at the table and is trusted to step in and contribute, fostering collaboration, encouraging curiosity, and creating opportunities for people to take ownership and make an impact.

Because when people feel heard, respected, and confident to step forward, we all move forward together.

Compensation: The estimated salary range for this role is $60,000 to $75,000. Compensation packages are based on the skill level and experience each candidate brings to the role.

We're committed to rewarding our people fairly and supporting their growth with intention. Our salaries are competitive, thoughtfully benchmarked, and designed to ensure equity across roles, experience, and impact. Growth at Attention Arc isn't tied to a calendar, it's driven by performance, progress, and potential. We continuously invest in our people through ongoing feedback, development, and opportunities to take on more, so you can keep building your career in meaningful ways.

We know that great work starts with people who feel genuinely supported, inside the office and out. Our benefits are designed with your whole self in mind: your health, your family, your financial future, and your wellbeing day to day. We're committed to making sure that everyone at Attention Arc has what they need to thrive, not just professionally, but personally.

Here's what you can expect:

• Flexible Paid Time Off

• Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision plans

• Competitive Parental Leave that gives you time to bond with your family

• Hybrid work model with in-office collaboration

• Mental health support

• Annual agency contribution to 401(k)

• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) and Healthcare FSA

• Commuter benefits and corporate discounts

• Carrot Fertility and family-building support

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

• Casual work environment, team building, and other social events

We operate on a hybrid, in-office model designed to foster collaboration, mentorship, and hands-on learning. Employees are expected to work from the office three days per week (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday) to fully experience the energy of our teams and build meaningful connections.

This position is based in Irvington, New York. Candidates must reside within commuting distance and be able to work from the Irvington office three days per week.

You must be authorized to work in the United States for any employer. At this time, we are not sponsoring or providing assistance with obtaining work authorization.