Media & Account Strategist

In business for over 30 years, Allied has built upon its roots in film advertising and publicity to become a global leader in entertainment, culture, and lifestyle marketing. Allied’s award-winning team of specialists, over 400 strong across 23 global offices, create campaigns that drive conversion for some of the world’s biggest brands in film, TV, sports, gaming, live entertainment, cultural institutions, hospitality, and consumer brands. Our teams provide best-in-class marketing solutions across a range of services including integrated paid, owned, and earned media, creative solutions, and strategic consulting.

Media & Account Strategist

Location: Chicago, IL (hybrid)
Department: Client Solutions / Media
Reports to: VP, Client Solutions
Salary: $55,000

Position Overview

Allied Global Marketing is seeking a Media & Account Strategist to join our Chicago team. This hybrid role combines client account management and marketing strategy with hands-on traditional media planning and buying across a variety of entertainment, lifestyle, attractions, hospitality, and location-based clients.

The ideal candidate is a strong client partner with traditional media expertise who can independently manage assigned accounts, develop strategic recommendations, and execute media campaigns across television, radio, out-of-home, print, and other relevant channels.

Working closely with the VP, Client Solutions and internal teams, this person will lead day-to-day client relationships, translate business objectives into actionable marketing and media plans, and ensure campaigns are executed effectively. The role requires someone who can balance client leadership, strategic thinking, organization, and hands-on media execution.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Client Leadership, Account Management and Strategy

• Serve as the day-to-day lead for assigned client accounts, building strong relationships, managing expectations, and ensuring timely follow-through on priorities and deliverables.
• Independently manage assigned accounts while supporting the VP, Client Solutions on larger or more complex client relationships and initiatives.
• Lead client and internal meetings, manage communications, coordinate deliverables, and ensure clear ownership of next steps.
• Oversee account timelines, budgets, reporting, and day-to-day operations, proactively identifying challenges and recommending solutions.
• Develop a strong understanding of client business objectives, audiences, markets, and marketing priorities in order to contribute strategic recommendations and identify opportunities.
• Collaborate with media, creative, PR, promotions, digital, and other internal teams to ensure campaigns are aligned with client goals and broader marketing efforts.
• Prepare and present client updates, campaign results, and recommendations, translating performance and market insights into clear, actionable next steps.
• Coordinate account billing, budget tracking, and other operational needs in partnership with internal teams.
• Maintain organized and accurate account documentation, timelines, budgets, and communications across multiple client relationships.

Traditional Media Planning and Buying

• Research, develop, recommend, and execute traditional media plans aligned with client objectives, target audiences, markets, and budgets.
• Manage the planning and buying of television, radio, out-of-home, print, and other traditional media placements across assigned accounts.
• Evaluate media proposals, audience data, competitive research, geographic considerations, and market insights to inform media recommendations.
• Negotiate rates, placements, sponsorship opportunities, and added-value opportunities with media partners to maximize client investment.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with media vendors, station representatives, outdoor companies, publishers, and local market partners.
• Oversee media schedules, campaign delivery, optimizations, makegoods, and post-buy analysis to ensure campaigns deliver against objectives.
• Present media plans, buying rationale, performance results, and recommendations to clients and internal stakeholders.
• Maintain accurate media budgets, flowcharts, schedules, buying documentation, and campaign records.
• Coordinate with internal teams on billing, reconciliation, invoice review, and campaign financial management.
• Use geographic and market research to evaluate media placement opportunities, audience reach, proximity to client locations, and local market dynamics.

Skills, Knowledge and Abilities

• Strong understanding of traditional media planning and buying, including television, radio, out-of-home, and print.
• Ability to negotiate media rates, placements, sponsorships, and added-value opportunities.
• Strong client relationship management skills, with the ability to independently lead day-to-day account activity.
• Strategic thinking and an understanding of how traditional media, digital media, and other marketing channels work together within an integrated campaign.
• Familiarity with media research and audience measurement tools such as Nielsen and Scarborough.
• Ability to analyze campaign performance, identify trends, and communicate actionable recommendations.
• Strong spreadsheet skills for developing media plans, managing budgets, tracking campaign activity, and reconciling expenses.
• Ability to use Google Maps for geographic research, evaluating media placement locations, understanding market coverage, and assessing proximity to client locations and target markets.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate clearly with clients, media partners, and internal teams.
• Strong presentation skills and the ability to clearly explain strategy, recommendations, media rationale, and campaign results.
• Excellent organization, attention to detail, and project management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple accounts, budgets, deadlines, and priorities simultaneously while collaborating effectively across teams.
• Ability to work independently, take ownership of assigned responsibilities, identify potential issues, and recommend solutions.
• Strong judgment and problem-solving skills, particularly when managing changing client priorities, media availability, budgets, or campaign needs.

Required Education and Experience

• 3 to 5 years of relevant experience in traditional media planning and buying, account management, or integrated marketing, preferably within an agency environment.
• Demonstrated hands-on experience planning, negotiating, buying, and executing traditional media campaigns.
• Hands-on experience using STRATA/FreeWheel and STraffic is required. Candidates must be comfortable working independently in these platforms as part of day-to-day media planning, buying, trafficking, billing, and reconciliation responsibilities.
• Professional experience and proficiency with Google Workspace are required, including Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, Drive, Gmail, and Calendar for collaboration, document management, presentations, scheduling, and account coordination.
• Experience using Google Maps for location and market research is required, including researching venues and client locations, reviewing geographic coverage, evaluating proximity between locations, and informing media recommendations.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel is required, including formulas, sorting and filtering, pivot tables, and lookup functions to support media planning, budget tracking, reporting, and reconciliation.
• Proficiency in Microsoft PowerPoint and Apple Keynote is required for client presentations, proposals, and media recommendations.
• Experience managing client relationships, leading client communications, presenting recommendations, and coordinating multiple projects simultaneously.
• Strong working knowledge of media budgets, campaign schedules, billing, reconciliation, and related financial processes.
• Bachelor's degree in marketing, advertising, communications, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Experience working with entertainment, attractions, hospitality, lifestyle, arts and culture, or other location-based businesses is a plus.

Details

• The annual salary for this full-time position is $55,000.
• This position will be eligible to participate in the standard benefits offered to full-time employees of Allied Global Marketing (medical, dental, vision, short-term and long-term disability and life insurance as well as 401k and Flexible PTO). We also offer 10 company paid holidays.

Allied Global Marketing is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state or local law. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements.