Media Buyer

Company Description

Swanson Russell is the Nation’s Leading Agency for Brands That Work and Play Outdoors. Our crew of big thinkers, go-getters and team players uncover insights that unleash new possibilities for our clients. It’s how we build genuine trust that strengthens over time, it’s how we Make Belief™ in the brands we represent. If that passion for great ideas, good people and creating work that makes brands stand out interests you, apply today.

Role Overview

We're looking for a Media Buyer to join our team. In this role, you'll execute approved media strategies by negotiating with media partners, activating campaigns, and optimizing performance across a variety of clients, channels, and platforms.

You'll serve as a marketplace expert and work closely with Media Strategists, Media Coordinators, Ad Operations, account teams, analytics, creative teams, and external partners to ensure client investments are executed efficiently and deliver strong business results.

Our preference is for candidates based in Lincoln or Omaha who can collaborate in person with our team.

Key Responsibilities

• Media Buying & Vendor Management: Execute approved media buys across assigned channels; negotiate rates, added value, and placement details; and build productive relationships with media partners.
• Campaign Stewardship: Monitor campaign delivery and pacing, coordinate changes with vendors and internal teams, resolve discrepancies and make-good negotiations, and help ensure campaigns remain aligned with approved budgets and objectives.
• Performance Analysis & Optimization: Analyze channel-level performance, evaluate campaign effectiveness against established KPIs, identify optimization opportunities, and recommend and implement tactical improvements within the approved strategy.
• Marketplace Expertise: Maintain expertise in assigned channels, platforms, and media partners; stay current on marketplace trends and platform updates; and recommend new opportunities that support client objectives.
• Team Collaboration: Partner with Media Strategists on approved plans, Media Coordinators on buying documentation and financial administration, and Ad Operations on campaign activation, troubleshooting, and technical execution.
• Communication & Relationship Management: Communicate campaign updates, performance context, vendor developments, and marketplace insights clearly to internal teams, media partners, and clients as appropriate.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Negotiation & Issue Resolution: Strong negotiation and problem-solving skills, including the ability to resolve vendor issues, discrepancies, underdelivery, and make-goods.
• Analytical Mindset: Ability to analyze budgets, campaign performance, delivery, audience data, and research to inform optimization and buying decisions.
• Communication Excellence: Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to communicate buying recommendations, campaign performance, and marketplace insights clearly.
• Attention to Detail: Highly organized and detail-oriented, with the ability to manage multiple accounts, deadlines, budgets, and campaign changes accurately.
• Adaptability & Curiosity: Comfortable navigating evolving platforms, technologies, consumer behaviors, and media best practices while continuously expanding media knowledge.
• Collaboration: Works effectively across disciplines, including strategy, account service, creative, analytics, operations, and technical teams.

Platform Experience

Media Platforms:

Preferred:

• Google Ads
• Meta Ads Manager
• LinkedIn Campaign Manager
• TikTok Ads Manager
• Programmatic platforms (e.g., StackAdapt, AdDaptive, Azira, Division-D)
• Traditional media buying platforms and vendor relationships

Analytics, Measurement & Reporting:

Preferred:

• Google Analytics (GA4)
• Google Looker Studio or similar reporting tools
• Experience analyzing campaign performance and translating insights into tactical recommendations

Planning & Research Tools:

Preferred:

• Strata or similar broadcast planning and buying tools
• Media research and audience planning tools (e.g., MRI-Simmons, Scarborough, GWI, Nielsen, Comscore, or similar)

Nice-to-Have:

• Microsoft Advertising
• Amazon DSP
• Asana or similar project management tools
• Experience with both digital and traditional media buying

Professional Certifications (Preferred)

• Google Ads Certifications
• Google Analytics Certification
• Meta Blueprint Certification
• LinkedIn Ads Certification
• Other relevant advertising, media buying, analytics, or platform certifications

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Advertising, Journalism, Marketing, Communications, or a related field. Equivalent professional experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
• 2-3 years of experience in media buying, paid media, digital advertising, media planning, marketing, or a related field is preferred.
• Experience managing campaigns, monitoring delivery and pacing, analyzing performance, or working with media partners is preferred.
• Advertising agency experience is a plus.
• Candidates with additional experience may be considered for a Senior Media Buyer opportunity.