Connections Manager (Media Planner)

Who We Are:

At VML, we are a beacon of innovation and growth in an ever-evolving world. Our heritage is built upon a century of combined expertise, where creativity meets technology, and diverse perspectives ignite inspiration. With the merger of VMLY&R and Wunderman Thompson, we have forged a new path as a growth partner that is part creative agency, part consultancy, and part technology powerhouse.

Our global family now encompasses over 30,000 employees across 150+ offices in 64 markets, each contributing to a culture that values connection, belonging, and the power of differences. Our expertise spans the entire customer journey, offering deep insights in communications, commerce, consultancy, CRM, CX, data, production, and technology. We deliver end-to-end solutions that result in revolutionary work.

Who we are looking for:

The Connections Manager (Media Planner) will be responsible for planning, negotiating and executing Omnichannel performance media strategies, as part of the Omnichannel Media Team. You will be able to manage daily planning and analysis, while maintaining strong relationships with internal teams, publishers and partner agencies.

What you’ll do:

• Assist in media strategy development and execution for Fortune 500 client
• Assist in the development and execution of omnichannel media strategies
• Manage the daily oversight of campaign activities
• Manage campaign authorizations, budgets, reconciliations
• Act as a liaison between the media and account team to ensure that project milestones, timelines, and deliverables are met
• Interact daily and maintain rapport with media publishers
• Analyze research data and media/marketing information; shares information with clients
• Monitors and assess ongoing campaign performance; assist in strategic analysis of campaigns
• Monitor and track media spend, compare against client budget, and alert team of any discrepancies

Who you are:

• Strong communication skills, both verbal and written
• Keen attention to detail with strong mathematical and Microsoft Excel skills; able to identify and understand anomalies in large data sets
• Knowledge of and competence in working with media buying software, DDS preferred
• Able to build relationships across the internal team & department, and external vendors & clients 
• Proactive approach, demonstrated by:
  • Providing regular project timeline and budget updates to team/manager
  • Anticipating potential problems and obstacles to project success, communicating concerns and potential solutions with team
• Able to review results and performance of paid media campaigns based on predetermined success indicators and determine effectiveness

What you’ll need:

• 1-3 years of media experience in an agency setting; digital, traditional and/or direct response experience
• Experience with media reporting
• Knowledge and experience with media-related research, planning and buying tools.
• Certifications are a plus

What we offer:

• Passionate, driven people | We champion a culture of people that do extraordinary work.
• Consciously cultivated culture | We aim to embody the behaviors to build an inclusive community that is in it together, bringing both positivity and active listening into the workplace as we simultaneously strive to empower creative bravery.
• Competitive benefits | What we offer full time hires ranges from the full spectrum of group health coverage options (medical, dental, vision) to a generous 401k match (100% dollar-for-dollar match, up to 5% of salary contribution), and a variety of paid time off offerings that reflect our investment in all aspects of your overall life balance and wellness.
• Growth-minded opportunities | We aim to nurture a culture of real-time feedback, growth-oriented mindset, and plenty of training opportunities through VML and WPP, so you can continue to grow personally and professionally.

VML is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, religion or belief, sex, age, national origin, citizenship status, marital status, military/veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical or mental disability, or other protected group status. We believe in creating a dynamic work environment that values diversity and inclusion and strives to recruit a diverse slate of candidates to help us achieve that goal.

The base salary range for this position at the time of this posting is indicated below. Individual compensation varies based on job-related factors, including location, business needs, level of responsibility, experience, and qualifications. We offer a competitive benefits package, click WPP Benefits for more details.

_$45,000—$90,000 USD

At VML, we are committed to fostering an all-inclusive work environment that is both rewarding and career-forward. Our Inclusion, Equity & Belonging initiatives, alongside the VML Foundation, reflect our dedication to giving back and making a positive impact in our communities and beyond. Our people are the heartbeat of our organization—creators, doers, innovators, makers, and thinkers—who drive not just marketing, but meaningful experiences that resonate in every action and interaction.

VML is a WPP Agency. For more information, please visit our website, and follow VML on our social channels via Instagram, LinkedIn, and X.

When you click "Submit Application", this will send any information you add below to VML. Before you do this, we think it's a good idea to read through our Recruitment Privacy Policy. California residents should read our California Recruitment Privacy Notice. This explains what we do with your personal data when you apply for a role with us, and, how you can update the information you have provided us with or how to remove it.