Senior Media Manager - Paid Media & Performance

The ChallengeMost agencies staff senior roles with people who are good at managing up and delegating down. We need someone who's good at the actual work. Our clients need a strategist who can build the plan, defend it to a skeptical CMO, and optimize it when reality doesn't match the forecast. You'll own accounts end-to-end with real P&L accountability—not "support" them from the sidelines.What You'll OwnFull P&L accountability for 4-6 accountsStrategic media planning: channel mix, budget allocation, testing roadmapsDirect client relationships—you're the face of performance for your accountsMentorship of Media Coordinators and Specialists on your accountsIdentifying scaling opportunities and when to pump the brakesComplex problem-solving: when attribution breaks, compliance flags campaigns, or performance craters—you fix itHow You'll Know You're WinningYour book of business hits or exceeds client KPIs consistentlyClients renew and expand because of your strategic leadershipYou've developed at least one Coordinator into a Specialist within 12 monthsYou can present to a CMO and make them smarter about their businessThe Media Director is pulling you into new business pitchesYou're building playbooks and processes that make the whole team betterDay-to-Day Impact35% - Strategy and optimization across your accounts (channel mix, budget allocation, scaling decisions)25% - Client leadership (weekly calls, QBRs, strategic planning)20% - Team development and QA oversight for junior team members15% - Reporting and analysis that drives decisions, not just documents results5% - New business support and pitch developmentReal example: Monday you're restructuring a client's Meta account after iOS changes tanked performance. Tuesday you're presenting a quarterly plan to a CMO. Wednesday you're coaching a Coordinator through their first solo client call. Thursday you're troubleshooting a complex pixel setup with our tech partner. Friday you're in a pitch meeting for a new prospect.Our Operating Style - We're ex-founders who built and sold our own companies, so we operate differently. No bureaucracy, no hand-holding, no "that's not my job" attitudes. You'll have real ownership of client relationships and business outcomes. Small team, high standards, real impact on client growth.RequirementsYour Background4-6 years managing paid media, with at least 2 years owning accounts end-to-endYou've managed meaningful budgets and can speak to resultsDeep Meta expertise is non-negotiable; strong Google skills requiredYou've built media strategies, not just executed someone else's planExperience presenting to clients and stakeholders who ask hard questionsYou understand incrementality, MMM concepts, and why last-click attribution liesBonus: You've managed or mentored junior team membersBenefitsThe Role & Growth PathTitle: Senior Media ManagerBand: $75-95KDepartment: Paid Media & PerformanceReports to: Media DirectorGrowth path: Success here leads to Media Director ($100-125K) within 18-24 monthsBenefits: Health, dental, vision, and 401K matchLocation: In-office, NYC Garment DistrictStart: Q1 2026

Salary : $135,100 - $140,600