Director Media Planning

Role overview

The ESPN Media team brings together brand-building and performance marketing through integrated planning, audience insight, and measurement to deliver business impact. In this position, you will shape and lead end-to-end media strategy and planning across channels and platforms to grow awareness, retention, and acquisition for ESPN brands and platforms. You will report to the Senior Director, Media Planning, and the role is based in New York, NY.

What you will do

• Study market dynamics, fan behavior, and competitor activity to uncover opportunities and design fresh media strategies.
• Build productive working relationships with outside media buying agencies and important media partners to improve budget impact and testing opportunities.
• Create a complete media plan that supports overall business goals.
• Align closely with marketing teams, internal stakeholders, and league partners to ensure campaigns are organized and executed effectively across ESPN owned-and-operated and paid media channels.
• Work with Research and Analytics teams to assess results and use performance data to guide future decisions.
• Help foster a team culture centered on collaboration, shared ownership, and results, while also managing, coaching, and mentoring managers and employees to support career development.
• Offer leadership on digital marketing and creative direction based on media performance across ESPN Marketing.
• Partner with Sports Marketing teams to expand audience reach across multiple properties.

Required experience and capabilities

• At least 8 years of experience building and planning large-scale media campaigns.
• At least 3 years of experience in leadership roles with direct responsibility for managing, developing, and growing teams.
• Background in working with senior and executive-level leaders and maintaining strong professional relationships.
• Forward-looking approach with a track record of using innovative ideas to move the business ahead.
• Strong verbal communication and presentation skills.
• Experience with audience targeting, tagging requirements, implementation, reporting, and measurement.
• Good awareness of emerging industry trends and the ability to turn them into business opportunities.
• Comfort working across functions to produce aligned, unified work.
• Data-driven mindset with a commitment to improving strategy, performance, and opportunity through insights.
• Solid understanding of the media environment, consumer behavior, media consumption, and how strategy connects to execution across digital and traditional channels.

Preferred profile

• A creative problem-solver who enjoys combining brands in original and unexpected ways.
• Someone who is proactive, highly organized, adaptable, detail-oriented, and skilled at building relationships.
• Experience in sports or entertainment is a plus.
• Strong critical-thinking and problem-solving ability, with the skill to turn complex data into clear, actionable recommendations.
• A self-starter who can work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment across multiple departments and disciplines.

Education

A bachelor’s degree in marketing, business, or a related discipline is required.

Compensation and benefits

The pay range for this role in New York, NY is $132,800 to $178,000 per year. The final salary may vary based on internal equity, geographic location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. In addition to base pay, the package may include a bonus and/or long-term incentive units, along with the full range of medical, financial, and other benefits depending on the level and position offered.

Additional notes

This is a full-time onsite position located in New York, NY.