Media Strategist in Manchester

At IDHL, we’re more than a digital agency; we’re a strategic partner to ambitious brands, helping them accelerate growth in the digital economy. Our expertise is delivered through three core divisions: Performance, Web & eCommerce, and Intelligence – all working closely together to create impact across channels.

Your role as Media Strategist:

As a Media Strategist, you will support the delivery of insight‑led, multi‑channel media strategies across a portfolio of performance and brand‑led clients. Working closely with the Media Strategy Director, channel specialists, client services teams, and external partners, you will help translate data, audience insight, and client objectives into actionable media plans that drive measurable growth. This is a collaborative and hands‑on role that sits at the centre of strategy, planning, and activation. You will contribute to strategic thinking while also supporting the successful delivery and optimisation of campaigns across multiple digital media channels. The role requires strong organisational skills, commercial awareness, and a proactive mindset, alongside a solid understanding of paid media and campaign delivery fundamentals.

Main Accountabilities

• Planning & Strategy Support: Support the development of integrated, multi‑channel media strategies aligned to client objectives and the IDHL Framework. Build and maintain detailed media plans including budgets, phasing, channel recommendations, and forecasting. Conduct audience, competitor, market, and channel research to inform strategic planning and identify growth opportunities. Translate strategic recommendations into actionable activation plans for specialist channel teams. Contribute ideas and insights that support innovation and improved media effectiveness across client accounts.
• Campaign Activation & Delivery: Coordinate campaign launches across multiple channels, ensuring assets, tracking, measurement, and data inputs are in place prior to launch. Work closely with internal specialists and external partners to support smooth campaign activation and delivery. Ensure tracking frameworks, pixels, tagging, and measurement requirements are implemented and validated correctly. Troubleshoot delivery or setup issues proactively, escalating risks where required.
• Performance Monitoring & Optimisation: Monitor campaign performance and collaborate with channel teams to identify optimisation opportunities. Support reporting, campaign reviews, and performance analysis by pulling insights and identifying actionable recommendations. Track campaign pacing, delivery, spend, and KPIs, flagging risks or opportunities early. Contribute to test‑and‑learn approaches that improve media efficiency and effectiveness.
• Client & Stakeholder Management: Act as a day‑to‑day contact for campaign delivery, planning support, and media queries. Support the preparation of client reports, presentations, strategic updates, and review documents. Build strong working relationships with media owners, suppliers, and platform partners to unlock opportunities and added value. Communicate confidently with both internal and external stakeholders.
• Commercial & Operational Support: Support budget management, financial tracking, and campaign reconciliation processes. Ensure media plans align with agreed commercial targets and client budgets. Contribute to new business opportunities through research, planning support, and proposal development. Support the continuous improvement of planning processes, templates, and operational ways of working.
• Collaboration & Culture: Work collaboratively with internal channel specialists across Paid Search, Paid Social, Programmatic, Video, TV/CTV, and other media channels. Champion consistency, attention to detail, and quality across all outputs. Contribute positively to team culture, knowledge sharing, and cross‑functional collaboration.

Core Knowledge & Skills

Essential: Strong understanding of digital media channels including Paid Search, Paid Social, Programmatic, Display, Video, and TV/CTV. Experience supporting media planning, campaign activation, or digital marketing delivery across multiple channels. Ability to interpret audience, competitor, and performance data to support strategic recommendations. Strong organisational skills with excellent attention to detail across planning, budgets, and campaign delivery. Analytical mindset with the ability to identify insights and optimisation opportunities. Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities in a fast‑paced environment. Proactive, collaborative, and solutions‑focused approach.

Desirable: Experience using audience insight and research tools such as Similarweb, TGI, or Canvas8. Understanding of attribution, analytics, and measurement frameworks. Exposure to new business pitches or proposal development. Awareness of wider media channels including audio, native, and OOH. Experience working within a digital agency or integrated marketing environment.

Qualification/Experience Requirements

Essential: 1–3 years’ experience in media planning, paid media, digital marketing, or campaign management. Experience working across multiple digital media channels and campaign delivery processes.

Desirable: Agency‑side experience within a media, digital, or integrated marketing environment. Experience supporting strategic planning or multi‑channel campaign recommendations. Exposure to media buying platforms, tracking implementation, or campaign reporting tools.

Any Other Relevant Information: Work from an IDHL office regularly in line with the team days. Ensure regular and consistent visits to the core offices, to be present with all levels of the team. Be available to travel frequently to client and new business meetings.