Our client is an independently owned omnichannel marketing agency focused on driving shopper conversion and sales lift through insight-led and data-driven marketing. Our client is seeking an experienced media planner who combines strategic thinking, analytical rigour and confident client communication with hands‑on delivery discipline. You will strengthen their planning and media team, support a major beverage account and lead the day‑to‑day media work for other assigned clients.

The role may provide functional direction and coaching to execution specialists. Under senior leadership, you will drive media planning and performance for a major beverage account while owning day‑to‑day briefs, planning, and reporting for other agency clients. Collaborating across client, creative, and media teams, this is an active campaign‑ownership role rather than a coordination position or full‑time DSP trader.

Strategic

Planning & Channel Management Connect paid social, search/SEM, programmatic, retail media networks (RMNs), and online video to pre‑shop, retail, and foodservice/on‑premises journeys. Apply regional and linguistic market dynamics, recommending channels based strictly on brief requirements.

Media

Planning & Buying Manage partner delivery against approved media plans. Own media workback schedules, asset specifications, trafficking handoffs, tracking briefs, and launch‑readiness checklists. Coordinate deliverables alongside assigned Account Directors and Project Managers.

Obtain partner quality‑assurance evidence to confirm campaigns reflect approved dates, budgets, targeting, and creative. Data Analysis & Reporting Monitor pacing, delivery quality, and results, investigating discrepancies and turning partner data into actionable client recommendations. Bring media implications into strategy and creative planning early, aligning pre‑shop media with retail and on‑premises activation.





Coordinate media requirements and handoffs while creative production and physical rollout remain with designated owners. Maintain planned, committed, and actual spend across media, data, technology, and service fees to flag variances early. Support project scoping and fee estimates, identifying potential scope, budget, or resourcing implications before additional work proceeds.

Keep estimates, actual hours, dependencies, decisions, and approvals current in project management systems. Maintain reusable planning and reporting templates. Verify brand, privacy, category, and platform requirements with appropriate owners prior to campaign launch.

Occasional business travel within Canada and USA may be required for client or partner meetings. You must be able to develop the strategic recommendation, direct execution specialists and explain performance. it is not a default channel for every account.

Strategic Planning: Define campaign objectives, audience strategies (prospecting/remarketing), supply/format choices, flighting, and reach/frequency models, integrating Amazon DSP with broader search and commerce plans. Oversee setup checks, pacing, and audience/supply performance, providing clear optimization direction and escalating issues promptly.

Measurement & Verification: Set success metrics, validate data availability pre‑launch, and evaluate reach, media quality, and conversion while questioning attribution windows and reporting gaps. Demonstrated ownership of Amazon DSP planning and performance is required; 6+ years of media, shopper‑channel,



or integrated planning experience at the manager level within an agency or specialist partner environment. ~ Deep understanding of media, retail‑media, and shopper landscapes across grocery, convenience, liquor, and foodservice/on‑premises occasions, including regional/linguistic nuances and major retail‑media buying models, inventory, and measurement. ~ Strong planning skills across paid social, programmatic, search/SEM, and retail media, backed by a solid grasp of shopper insights, CRM, and e‑commerce funnels. ~ Confidence leading day‑to‑day client media discussions, building persuasive recommendations, and exercising sound independent judgment within approved boundaries. ~ Advanced Excel and PowerPoint skills, accurate budget management, vendor‑cost scrutiny, and insightful performance reporting. ~ Disciplined project management across concurrent briefs, live campaigns, and deadlines, with the ability to estimate effort, prioritize, and flag capacity/scope risks early. ~ Degree in marketing, communications, or a related field or equivalent experience. Sector experience across CPG, beverage‑alcohol, foodservice, or on‑premises channels.

S. market exposure. Familiarity with Amazon Marketing Cloud (ability to brief specialist analysis) and experience coaching activation specialists. $Our recruitment consultants are committed to inclusive recruitment and selection practices and will not discriminate based on age, colour, ability, national origin, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation.

Posted Salary: Actual compensation within this range will be determined based on job‑related skills, relevant experience, education, and training. This range reflects base salary only and does not include eligibility for bonus program or other benefits. For the most accurate and up‑to‑date details on this role, please refer directly to AIP Connect’s careers page, as third‑party sites may not reflect current information. #

📌 Media Planning Manager (Sunderland)
🏢 Lever
📍 Sunderland