Media Buyer & Planner (Digital and Traditional Media) at The Digital Monkeys

Role Purpose

The Media Buyer & Planner will lead planning, buying, placement, optimization and reporting of media campaigns across both digital and traditional channels. The role covers paid social, search, display, programmatic, online video and other digital platforms, while also managing traditional media such as TV, radio, print, outdoor, digital out-of-home, cinema and other offline placements. The role must ensure that media budgets are converted into measurable client results through insight-led planning, disciplined buying, placement verification, performance optimization, cost control, supplier management and clear post-campaign reporting.

Key Responsibilities

• Translate campaign objectives, target audiences, budgets and client priorities into integrated media strategies, channel recommendations, flighting plans and media schedules.
• Prepare media plans covering digital and traditional channels, including audience rationale, budget allocation, reach/frequency assumptions, expected outcomes, buying approach and reporting metrics.
• Negotiate media rates, discounts, value-adds, bonus spots, placements, packages and supplier terms while protecting TDM's commercial margins and client value.
• Book and manage traditional media placements including TV, radio, print, outdoor, digital out-of-home, cinema and other offline media, ensuring approved schedules, insertion orders and placement confirmations are properly documented.
• Set up, monitor and optimize digital media campaigns across relevant platforms, including budget pacing, targeting, creative trafficking, tagging, optimization, frequency control and performance reporting.
• Coordinate with Creative, Digital, PR, Client Service and Data Analytics teams to ensure briefs, assets, tracking links, campaign timelines, approvals and reporting inputs are complete before media goes live.
• Maintain media supplier records, rate cards, placement records, campaign files, proof of performance and reconciliations between approved plans, booked media and actual delivery.
• Track live campaign performance and recommend practical optimizations to improve reach, engagement, conversion, cost efficiency, brand safety and client results.

Skills & Competencies

• Degree or diploma in Marketing, Media, Advertising, Communications, Business, Statistics or a related field.
• Recommended 4+ years' media planning/buying experience covering both digital and traditional media.
• Hands-on experience planning, setting up, optimizing and reporting paid campaigns across platforms such as Meta, Google, YouTube, TikTok, LinkedIn, programmatic/display and other relevant digital channels.
• Strong understanding of TV, radio, print, outdoor, digital out-of-home, cinema and other offline media buying, including schedules, rate cards, insertion orders, proof of performance and make-good processes.
• Comfortable with reach, frequency, GRPs/TVRs where applicable, impressions, CPM, CPC, CPV, CTR, CPA, ROAS, pacing, variance analysis and post-campaign performance interpretation.
• Strong negotiation, budget management, supplier management, documentation, margin awareness and reconciliation discipline.
• Advanced Excel/Google Sheets, platform ad managers, Google Analytics/GA4 familiarity, Looker Studio or dashboard tools, media monitoring/reporting tools, project tracking tools and responsible AI- assisted planning or analysis.
• Analytical thinking, negotiation, attention to detail, speed, accountability, problem-solving, collaboration, client-facing confidence and ability to explain media decisions in simple business language.
• Demonstrates excellence through accuracy, innovation through better planning, courage through clear recommendations, authenticity in reporting and empowerment through collaborative execution.