Media Planning Associate Manager

Departmental Summary:

The Media Planning Team at ESPN develops innovative media plans that drive awareness, consumption, subscriptions, and brand affinity across all properties and platforms to affect the ESPN business.

Position Summary:

The Associate Manager of Media Planning will focus on supporting the holistic media strategy of the ESPN Marketing portfolio across owned and paid media, plus TWDC networks. The Associate Manager will be responsible for contributing to development of media plans for assigned ESPN properties, supporting projects that blur the lines between marketing, research, and creative. This role provides foundational experience in how the world of media operates in the fast-paced environment of multiplatform live sports and content. This role reports to the Director Media Planning. This role is based in New York, NYC.

Responsibilities:

• Responsible for contributing to the development and execution of the strategic approach and tactical plans across multiple sports
• Work closely with cross-functional teams and play a consultative role by offering media insights to inform strategy, best practices, targeting recommendations, optimization suggestions and recaps where necessary
• Responsible for end-to-end tracking of campaigns and multi-variant testing across media initiatives, driving measurable business outcomes
• Monitor trends, tools, opportunities and applications within digital environments, and appropriately apply that knowledge to inform campaign strategy
• Have foresight and understanding of projects to maintain and adjust timing of deliverables for team at large, communicating changes to managers and leadership
• Support team with data & tagging needs; implementation, reporting and measurement
• Stay on top of sports industry trends, ad products, consumer and viewing behaviors to inform Media plans; provide point of view on relevant marketing campaigns and how ESPN can incorporate new technologies and partners into our campaigns

Qualifications:

• Minimum of 2 years of relevant professional experience in media planning or media buying
• Understanding of all media channels and experience coordinating across media disciplines with a focus on TV/CTV/Social/Digital for full funnel marketing plans
• Comfortable with complex, cross-functional projects across teams and leagues
• Strong collaborative and interpersonal skills with the ability to work dynamically across departments as well as manage internal and external partners
• Extremely organized and motivated, with the ability to effectively prioritize and multi-task in a very fast-paced, deadline-driven environment
• Proficient analytical skills
• Knowledge of industry planning and research tools
• Strong entertainment industry knowledge, preferably in sports
• Self-motivated and comfortable working independently with minimal supervision and direction
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Works with urgency, strong time management, problem solving skills and a critical thinker

Preferred Qualifications:

• Strong entertainment industry knowledge, preferably in sports
• Multi-platform paid media experience
• Interest in data-driven marketing and experience with devising effective strategies based on true insights
• Experience in media tagging and reporting framework a plus
• Self-motivated and comfortable working independently with minimal supervision and direction
• Ability to prioritize and multi-task
• Outstanding interpersonal skills (verbal and written)
• Curiosity and passion for understanding the “why” underneath the surface

Required Education:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Marketing, Media or a related field

#ESPNMedia

The hiring range for this position in New York, NY is $67,500 to $90,400 per year. The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate’s geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors. A bonus and/or long-term incentive units may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to the full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered.