Associate Paid Media Strategist (MIA)

You’ll be part of a client‑facing team of media investment storytellers—turning complex data into clear narratives and action plans. You’ll interface with principals internally, external partners and clients to keep plans sharp, budgets on track, and clients meeting their marketing goals.

The Media Strategist will work across client teams and media channels, supporting the development of media strategies, audience recommendations, channel plans, market analyses, competitive reviews, campaign reporting, and post-campaign learning.

Because our work frequently crosses markets, cultures, languages, and media environments, multilingual candidates and candidates with international experience are especially encouraged to apply.

Support the development of media strategies that connect business objectives, audience behavior, geography, channel roles, investment levels, and measurement.

Conduct research into audiences, markets, competitors, media consumption, platforms, publishers, and emerging opportunities.

Help translate research into clear strategic implications and recommendations.

Assist with media mix development, budget allocation, scenario planning, reach and frequency considerations, and geographic investment decisions.

Create and maintain media plans, flowcharts, planning documents, budget trackers, and supporting strategic materials.

Develop media POVs and research briefs on new channels, platforms, technologies, audiences, and market developments.

Work with activation and analytics teams to understand campaign results and identify meaningful patterns.

Contribute to campaign reporting that explains what worked, what did not, why performance changed, and what should happen next.

Develop clear charts, tables, summaries, and written insights for client-facing materials.

Compare performance across markets, channels, audiences, placements, formats, and time periods.

Help distinguish useful evidence from incomplete or misleading signals.

Work closely with senior account, strategy, performance, buying, and ad operations teams.

Participate actively in internal planning sessions and client meetings.

Prepare meeting materials, document decisions, and help ensure that agreed next steps are completed.

Coordinate with media vendors and partners as needed to gather research, specifications, inventory information, proposals, and campaign documentation.

Help maintain quality and accuracy across budgets, timelines, plans, presentations, and reports.

Take increasing ownership of defined workstreams as experience and capability grow.

Minimum of 3 years of full-time experience at a media agency, advertising agency with substantial media responsibilities, or comparable media planning organization.

Experience supporting or developing paid media strategies and plans.

Understanding of the major media channels, including several of the following: paid search, paid social, programmatic, CTV, digital video, display, OOH, television, audio, print, sponsorship, or retail media.

Strong analytical skills and comfort working with campaign data and spreadsheets (INDEX/MATCH/XLOOKUP, pivots; bonus: basic SQL) plus fluency with marketing metrics (reach, freq, CPx, ROAS), incrementality, etc.

Strong PowerPoint or Slides or AI-based presentation-development skills. The format matters less than the skill.

Excellent writing, editing, and communication abilities: tight subject lines, clean decks, precise next steps.

High attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple assignments simultaneously. 

Curiosity about business, consumer behavior, culture, technology, and media.

A desire to understand why a media recommendation makes sense—not simply how to complete the planning template.

Experience with international campaigns or multi-market planning is strongly preferred.

Professional proficiency in a language other than English is highly valued.

You ask good questions.

You notice inconsistencies.

You are interested in what the numbers mean, not simply whether the spreadsheet balances.

You like learning about unfamiliar industries, markets, audiences, and business models.

You can take direction, but you also begin thinking independently about the problem behind the assignment.

You write clearly, work carefully, and take deadlines seriously.

Most importantly, you want to become genuinely good at media strategy—not simply move through agency titles as quickly as possible.

Criterion Global is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees, which means we are committed to creating and celebrating diverse thoughts, cultures, and backgrounds throughout our organization.

Employment at Criterion Global is based on substantive ability, objective qualifications, and work ethic—not an individual’s race, creed, color, religion, sex or gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin or ancestry, alienage or citizenship status, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, status as a victim of domestic violence or sex offenses, reproductive health decision, or any other characteristics protected by applicable law.

Base pay is based on market location and may vary further depending on individualized factors such as job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and other objective business considerations. Depending on these same considerations, the total compensation package may also include other elements, including bonuses or additional awards, along with healthcare, educational, and/or other benefits (subject to eligibility criteria such as 401(k) participation). Details of any benefit plans will be provided if an offer is extended.

If hired, employment will be at-will, and the company reserves the right to modify base salary and any discretionary compensation or benefits programs at any time based on individual performance, department performance, company performance, or market factors.

Fake job scams are increasingly common, and scammers may impersonate personnel to seem more convincing. Criterion Global does not use instant messaging to contact prospective employees or conduct interviews. We never require prospective employees to send personal information or incur fees as part of our recruiting process.

If you believe you have been the victim of a scam, please call +1 646 330 4673.