Associate Director, Media Planning & Buying (Fundraising)
Associate Director, Media Planning & Buying (Fundraising)

Associate Director, Media Planning & Buying (Fundraising)

London Full-Time 52000 - 78000 ÂŁ / year (est.) No home office possible
Blue State

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead innovative media campaigns for top NGOs and brands, driving impactful results.
  • Company: Join Blue State, a creative agency transforming how brands inspire action for social change.
  • Benefits: Enjoy unlimited time off, professional development funds, and remote work flexibility.
  • Other info: Diversity is key; we encourage applications from all backgrounds and experiences.
  • Why this job: Be part of a passionate team making a real difference in the world through strategic media.
  • Qualifications: 6-8 years in paid media planning with a strong grasp of digital channels and analytics.

The predicted salary is between 52000 - 78000 ÂŁ per year.

Deputy Director, Talent Acquisition @ Blue State | Talent Acquisition ExpertWhat to know

Execute innovative marketing strategy through a diverse channel mix, for leading NGOs, charities and brands. As an Associate Director in the Paid Media Team, you’ll oversee the execution of digital advertising campaigns across clients ranging from leading UK and global charities and UN bodies, to global brands and their CSR programmes.

You will know how to drive strong performance metrics for clients, whilst thinking holistically about the brand and how these metrics contribute to wider conversation about marketing budgets and long‐term growth objectives. You will be a senior member of our media practice in London, supporting the Media Director in shaping processes and innovating our client channel mix to drive results.

This may be the right role for you if you’re someone who is equally strategic, creative, and analytical. Switching seamlessly from a client presentation to writing an insightful analysis of campaign performance, and rolling up your sleeves to launch advertising campaigns in new platforms are no big deal for you. You’re used to spending most of your day speaking in acronyms — terms like CPA, DSP, VTR, and ROAS are a natural part of your vocabulary — and you know how to explain them to clients and colleagues.

You will use your depth of experience to inform your work but also use your curiosity to keep ahead of the changing sector in order to ensure we’re innovating for our clients wherever possible.

The company

Blue State is the purpose‐driven creative and tech agency for brands and causes looking to inspire people to take action and drive create real change. With clients including the UNHCR, Google, Amnesty International, UNICEF, Medicines Sans Frontiers (MSF) and Oxfam, Blue State cultivates and mobilises communities, raises money and influences policy, builds platforms, and transforms how organisations engage their most important people. Led by some of the most creative and analytical minds from the political, nonprofit, and brand worlds, Blue State is an independent agency with 150+ employees in the US and London.

A day in the life

Translate clients’ strategic visions into media objectives and KPIs to accomplish a wide range of client objectives including direct response (lead gen and fundraising), awareness, persuasion, and advocacy.

Analyse ongoing and historical performance data to identify opportunities for improvement, make strategic recommendations, and generate reporting and insights to drive optimisation.

Have a strong POV on measurement, attribution, and conversion tracking and apply that knowledge to strategic recommendations and ongoing campaign management.

Participate in (and frequently lead) client‐facing interactions — you’ll be the subject‐matter expert for the platforms you manage.

Plan, build, manage, and optimise media campaigns across multiple platforms, and oversee others in the team across multiple accounts to ensure media buying is efficient, effective and compliant.

Work collaboratively with other internal or external teams, including media planners, strategists, account directors, designers, and analysts, to produce campaigns, creative ideas, audience and target recommendations, and experimental designs.

Be an internal and external thought leader and help keep us up to date with the latest digital media trends by maintaining relationships with media partners, and engaging in media R&D projects, writing blog posts, and participating on panels.

The team

As part of the Media team, you’ll work closely with a cross‐disciplinary group of Blue State employees on various projects. London is a small and close‐knit team, where everyone has an opportunity to shape new approaches, grow and learn from their colleagues, and take advantage of a personal development fund to stretch their skills even further. You’ll have the opportunity to work with some of the most inspiring charities, ambitious brands and passionate advocacy and social change campaigns.

What we offer

Unlimited time off (inclusive of sick, personal and vacation days)

$1,000 annual in professional development funds (local equivalent)

Fully subsidised health and dental insurance for employees (subject to tax)

Generous pension match via salary sacrifice

Parental leave policy for up to 32.5 week of coverage at full pay, inclusive of all genders and supporting a range of family structures

Group Income Protection (GIP)

Group Life Assurance (GLA)

Optional holiday travel insurance

Pre‐tax season ticket loans

Cycle to work (up to ÂŁ2000)

Remote work flexibility

We approach in‐office working with a hybrid model, with presence in our office required at two days per week.

Some things we’re looking for

6‐8 years experience in a hands‐on paid media planning and buying role using a mix of digital channels (Social, Search, Display, Video, Audio, etc)

Demonstrated experience translating client business goals into cohesive media strategies and specific KPIs, and a record executing campaigns that delivered on those goals.

Ability to effectively manage multiple clients and projects on time, within budget, and meet performance goals.

High proficiency with digital advertising platforms — you’ve demonstrated a level of mastery of paid social, paid search, and/or programmatic trading — as well as Google Analytics and other measurement platforms

Exceptional attention to detail, especially with regards to campaign setup and trafficking, QA, and reporting.

Ability to adapt to new situations, solve problems on the fly, and communicate with those around you.

A shared passion and curiosity for delivering change. This includes comfort with ambiguity, a restlessness that resists the status quo, and a commitment to quality that ensures we’re always making progress.

At Blue State, diversity is a necessity, not a nice‐to‐have. We encourage those from underrepresented communities — women, people of colour, LGBTQIA+, immigrants, those with disabilities and people at all the intersections in between — to apply. Even if you don’t think your current skill set checks every box, but this role seems to align with your strengths, we want to hear from you.

Blue State is committed to creating an inclusive and accessible application and interview process. If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation for a disability, including the use of AI tools throughout the hiring process, please contact us at recruiting@bluestate.co with the subject line: Accommodation Request to get started.

Your privacy is important to us. You can find out more information on how we handle your data for recruiting purposes in our Privacy Policy for Recruitment.

Seniority level

Mid‐Senior level

Employment type

Full‐time

Job function

Strategy/Planning, Advertising, and Other; Industries: Advertising Services

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Associate Director, Media Planning & Buying (Fundraising) employer: Blue State

Blue State is an exceptional employer that fosters a collaborative and innovative work culture, where employees are encouraged to grow and develop their skills through a generous professional development fund. With a commitment to meaningful causes and a diverse client base, including leading NGOs and global brands, the London team enjoys a supportive environment that values creativity and strategic thinking, alongside benefits like unlimited time off and flexible remote work options.
Blue State

Contact Detail:

Blue State Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Associate Director, Media Planning & Buying (Fundraising)

✨Tip Number 1

Familiarise yourself with the latest trends in digital media and advertising. Being able to discuss recent developments or case studies during your interview will show that you're not only knowledgeable but also passionate about the industry.

✨Tip Number 2

Prepare to demonstrate your analytical skills by bringing examples of how you've used data to drive campaign performance. Be ready to discuss specific metrics and outcomes from past projects, as this role requires a strong focus on performance metrics.

✨Tip Number 3

Network with professionals in the media planning and buying space. Attend industry events or webinars where you can meet people from Blue State or similar organisations. This could give you insights into their culture and expectations.

✨Tip Number 4

Showcase your ability to manage multiple projects effectively. Prepare anecdotes that highlight your organisational skills and how you've successfully juggled various clients or campaigns in the past, as this is crucial for the role.

We think you need these skills to ace Associate Director, Media Planning & Buying (Fundraising)

Digital Advertising Expertise
Media Planning and Buying
Campaign Performance Analysis
Client Relationship Management
Strategic Thinking
Data-Driven Decision Making
Knowledge of Digital Marketing Metrics (CPA, ROAS, VTR)
Cross-Channel Campaign Management
Google Analytics Proficiency
Attention to Detail
Problem-Solving Skills
Adaptability to New Platforms
Collaboration and Teamwork
Creative Thinking
Communication Skills

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in paid media planning and buying. Use specific examples that demonstrate your ability to translate client goals into effective media strategies, as this is crucial for the role.

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for working with NGOs and charities. Discuss how your strategic, creative, and analytical skills align with the responsibilities of the Associate Director position, and mention any relevant campaigns you've successfully managed.

Showcase Your Knowledge of Digital Advertising: Use industry-specific terminology like CPA, DSP, and ROAS in your application. This will demonstrate your familiarity with digital advertising platforms and your ability to communicate effectively with clients and colleagues.

Highlight Collaborative Experience: Emphasise your experience working collaboratively with cross-disciplinary teams. Provide examples of how you’ve contributed to successful campaigns by working alongside media planners, strategists, and analysts, as teamwork is essential in this role.

How to prepare for a job interview at Blue State

✨Know Your Metrics

Familiarise yourself with key performance metrics like CPA, ROAS, and VTR. Be prepared to discuss how these metrics impact campaign success and how you can leverage them to drive results for clients.

✨Showcase Your Strategic Thinking

Be ready to demonstrate your ability to translate client goals into actionable media strategies. Prepare examples of past campaigns where you successfully aligned media objectives with broader business goals.

✨Demonstrate Collaboration Skills

Highlight your experience working with cross-functional teams. Discuss how you've collaborated with media planners, strategists, and designers to create effective campaigns, showcasing your ability to lead and support others.

✨Stay Ahead of Trends

Research the latest trends in digital media and advertising. Be prepared to discuss how you keep up with industry changes and how you can apply innovative strategies to benefit the company and its clients.

Associate Director, Media Planning & Buying (Fundraising)
Blue State
Location: London

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