Media Planner

About the role

As a Media Planner, you will be responsible for supporting the development, implementation, and optimization of cross-channel media plans that drive commercial impact for our pharmaceutical and biotech clients. Working closely with senior media strategists and integrated teams, you’ll translate brand goals into well-structured media tactics that are audience-centric, compliant, and performance-oriented. This role is ideal for a detail-oriented team player who's familiar with digital and traditional media channels, understands the basics of pharma regulations, and thrives in a collaborative environment that values precision, creativity, and accountability.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop tactical media plans across digital, social, endemic, point-of-care (POC), and traditional media channels.
• Analyze audience behaviors and media consumption habits to inform media plans and recommend effective tactics and partners.
• Aid in identifying appropriate publishers, partners, and platforms based on brand-specific targeting needs (HCP and/or DTC).
• Serve as a key point of contact for media vendors and publishers, managing relationships to stay informed on offerings, targeting capabilities, and channel innovation relevant to pharmaceutical media.
• Evaluate media partner proposals for strategic fit, value, and innovation—bringing recommendations to internal stakeholders for review.
• Collaborate closely with media strategy leads and specialized activation teams to refine plan recommendations and incorporate client feedback.
• Partner with creative, client services, omnichannel, digital activation, and analytics teams to ensure seamless campaign development and launch.
• Work within planning tools (e.g., Prisma, media research platforms) to build plans that are structured, budget-accurate, and fully documented.
• Coordinate and issue requests for proposals (RFPs) for campaign briefs.
• Facilitate partner kickoff calls, trafficking coordination, and campaign setup to ensure accurate and timely launches.
• Maintain up-to-date plan documentation, including flowcharts, media buy authorizations, budgets, vendor specs, and timelines to ensure flawless media handoff and trafficking.
• Partner closely with Media Finance to ensure all buys are accurately documented, executed, and reconciled across internal systems and client contracts.
• Maintain clear records of plan updates, insertion orders (IOs), budget allocations, and publisher confirmations to ensure financial accuracy.
• Track and report on delivery pacing and budget utilization throughout the campaign lifecycle, flagging risks and assisting with resolution.
• Support invoice validation and campaign reconciliation processes by cross-referencing performance reports, media plans, and vendor billing.
• Help coordinate and prepare for client status meetings and participate in discussions on media plan updates.

Qualifications

• 1-2 years of experience in media planning or buying, preferably within a healthcare, pharmaceutical, or agency setting.
• Familiarity with both traditional and digital media channels; experience with endemic HCP platforms (e.g., Medscape, Doximity, M3) is a plus.
• Proficient in Microsoft tools including Excel and PPT.
• Strong organizational and communication skills; able to juggle multiple timelines, vendors, and review cycles.