Demo

Associate Media Director

criticalmass
Chicago, IL Full Time
POSTED ON 4/3/2026
AVAILABLE BEFORE 6/1/2026

We are seeking an Associate Media Director to be hands-on in planning and activation for both online and offline strategies for a new client in the B2B space. The Associate Director is responsible for driving media strategy and ensuring the program meets client objectives and KPIs. The Associate Director will partner with clients and agency partner teams to develop strategy and tactical plans to execute media most effectively across core digital media tactics including search, social, display, programmatic video as well as integrate and execute strategy for key offline channels as needed. The Associate Director is accountable for working with the team to ensure performance is hitting KPIs and meeting client goals, providing oversight as necessary. Proven excellence and experience in digital media required.


You Will:

  • Responsible for gathering the research and data needed to formulate strategic plans that will grow client business
  • Lead client relationship as day-to-day contact and partner agencies (where applicable) by ensuring a seamless communication process
  • Coordination of streamlining omni-channel strategies with key partners
  • Responsible for presenting strategic recommendations, soliciting feedback and ensuring team can execute on strategy to effectively hit goals
  • Reports to Media Director, but acts as key day-to-day account lead over team
  • Actively contribute to account strategy, including annual budget development, KPIs, partner selection, new tactics, and tracking industry developments.
  • Develop skills by participating in ongoing training, workshops, etc.
  • Support in any new business pitches and related work as required
  • Mastery of all relevant tools for reporting, analytics and competitive analysis
  • Responsible for timely response to daily communication regarding campaign level inquiries (client, vendors, internal)
  • Maintain professional, productive rapport with sales representatives/media vendors

You Have:

  • Bachelor’s Degree required
  • Strong Understanding of media landscape
  • 5 years of hands-on media management experience in online advertising with a focus on performance
    • In-depth experience with Search, Social, and/or Programmatic channels is a must
    • Understanding of activation & optimization techniques across self-serve performance platforms a must
  • 2 years of demonstrated success in managing and leading people
  • Proven ability to lead and manage teams
  • Technically strong quantitative skills, including analytical abilities and math proficiency
  • Demonstrated critical thinking and problem solving abilities
  • Solid verbal and written communication skills, with polished presentations skills a must
  • Ability to work successfully with teams on multiple projects under tight deadlines
  • Desire to work in an industry which is constantly evolving and presenting new and unique challenges
  • Ability to sell ideas clearly and deliver values
  • Knowledge of offline media planning is a plus
  • Experience in marketing for both brand-building and direct response initiatives

What We Offer: 

  • Global maternity and parental leave 
  • Competitive benefits packages
  • Vacation, compassionate leave, wellness days, and flex days
  • Access to online services for families and new parents
  • Early Dismissal Friday’s (off at 3:00 PM local time every Friday)
  • 13 affinity groups
  • Internal learning and development programs
  • Enterprise-wide employee discounts 

The Talent Team at Critical Mass is focused on ensuring we provide the best training, onboarding, and employee experience possible! Our new hires & employees are the future of our organization, and we want to set you up for long-term success. In an effort to do so, we expect our team to work from an office a minimum of 3 days a week.

We continually review ranges to address skills, experience and markets. Base salaries are determined during our interview process, by assessing a number of factors that include, but aren’t limited to, a candidate’s experience and skills relative to the scope and responsibilities of the position. For current CM employees, tenure will also be a consideration.

Salary Range

$110,000 - $140,000 USD

Critical Mass is an equal opportunity employer. 

Critical Mass uses artificial intelligence in our recruitment process to enhance job postings, filter keywords during the review of prospective candidates, and, in some cases, transcribe interviews with our recruiters. Human review remains central to the process, and all hiring decisions are ultimately made by our team.

The Critical Mass Talent Acquisition team will only communicate from email addresses that use the URLs criticalmass.com, omc.com and us.greenhouse-mail.io. We will not use apps such as Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, or Google Hangouts for communicating with you. We will never ask you to send us money, technology, or anything else to work for our company. If you believe you are the victim of a scam, please review your local government consumer protections guidance and reach out to them directly.

If U.S. based: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/job-scams#avoid
If Canada based: https://www.canada.ca/en/services/finance/consumer-affairs.html
If U.K. based: https://www.gov.uk/consumer-protection-rights
If Costa Rica based: https://www.consumo.go.cr/educacion_consumidor/consejos_practicos.aspx 

Salary : $110,000

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