Head of Media

About the Job

Bolster's Head of Media is responsible for leading our media strategy, planning, buying, and trading functions. This senior role requires a dynamic all-rounder with deep expertise in digital and programmatic media, a proven track record in agency environments, and strong people management skills. You will drive best-in-class media outcomes for clients, foster a high-performance team culture, and play a key role in agency leadership.

OK, I’m sold – but what even is Bolster?

We are integrated communications specialists with an eye on culture.

Headquartered from Melbourne Australia, we’re a team of 50+ passionate individuals spread across four specialist teams.

Our foundational clients include festivals and events such as Splendour In The Grass, Beyond The Valley, Pitch, St Jerome’s Laneway Festival, and more recently RISING Festival, ALWAYS LIVE and Sydney Festival.

Bolster Group has devised integrated campaigns for some of the world’s biggest brands including Bacardi-Martini Australia, KFC, Google, EA Games, Samsung, Warner Music, and more. We’re the agency you bring in when you want to play meaningfully in music and broader culture.

At Bolster, we do loads of stuff, but 3 things really well:

1. Consulting: We guide brands and experience makers through a challenging landscape with pointed insights and cultural understanding. Our consulting services extend across culture marketing, creative and content, media, social and community building.
2. Branded entertainment: We devise fan-led creative solutions and storytelling that helps brands cut through.
3. Media: We amplify brands within impactful media, ensuring our clients are in front of the right people at the right time.

Our offering extends even further when you consider our sister agencies:

• Aeroplane (experiential and commercial rights);
• Common State (PR); and
• Going North (First Nations cultural engagement).

Ultimately, Bolster Group is famous for connecting brands to their fans.

What You’ll Be Doing

Media Strategy & Channel Planning

• Oversee and evolve the agency’s media strategy across all channels
• Lead the planning, buying and trading of media, ensuring our campaigns are innovative, effective, and aligned with client objectives
• Manage media and investment negotiations, trading and vendor management to secure optimal value and develop key trading terms
• Shape the agency’s programmatic and digital media offering, including hands-on campaign setup, optimisation and reporting (where required)
• Own ad-tech / mar-tech vendor partnerships and drive agency-wide adoption of new, data-led platforms and tools to enhance Bolster’s client offering
• Stay ahead of emerging trends in ad-tech, performance / programmatic / offline media, and best practices, embed these into agency processes and share thought leadership with clients
• Collaborate with the Client Partnerships team and the Creative Solutions team to deliver integrated, data-driven solutions
• Active participation in new business pitches, including ideation sessions and insight gathering, often leading the pitch from start to finish
• Oversee campaign measurement, analytics and reporting, using insights to optimise performance and inform future strategy
• Present results to clients and internal stakeholders, translating data into actionable recommendations
• Act as a senior strategic partner for clients, presenting media strategies and campaign results, and building long-term relationships
• Represent Bolster at industry events, client meetings and agency group functions

Team Management & Leadership

• Manage, mentor and develop a team of media professionals, fostering a collaborative, growth-oriented culture
• Provide strategic consultation and guidance for key pitches and campaigns, ensuring the consistent delivery of industry-leading work
• Conduct weekly 1on1 meetings with (3-4) direct reports to promote open communication
• Train direct reports, set clear objectives, monitor their progress monthly via progression plan
• Lead the annual performance review process for the Media team
• Build and maintain relationships with external contractors (i.e. the ‘freelancer bench’)
• Assist with and participate in the recruitment process for the Media team
• Contribute proactively to the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) communications and initiatives
• Effectively delegate and oversee the delivery of work, ensuring the highest standard
• Work closely with the Group GMs and the SLT to refine our ways of working

• 8-10+ years media agency experience, with a strong background in strategy, planning, buying, and trading across all channels
• Demonstrated expertise in digital and programmatic media, including hands-on campaign management and optimisation
• Proven people management and team leadership abilities, with experience mentoring and developing media teams
• Strong commercial acumen, negotiation skills, and vendor management experience
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to distil complex concepts for clients and colleagues
• Deep understanding of the Australian media landscape, including key platforms, technologies, and regulatory considerations
• Experience with campaign analytics, reporting, and the use of data to drive performance
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, independent agency environment and manage multiple
• Experience with integrated creative / media / PR campaigns (desirable)
• Exposure to new business development or agency growth initiatives (desirable)

Our Culture
Best described by our values, which serve as the guiding principles in how we interact with our peers, partners and clients:

• Eyes on culture. We connect our clients to culture and current affairs, immersing ourselves in the communities we serve. We know everything they need to know.
• We turn up. In a presentation. At a launch. At an event. In a WIP. For our clients and teammates, every day.
• We roll with the punches. We know the nature of this work is unpredictable. We do our best work when we’re thrown a curveball, or dive into the deep end.
• We keep it real. You can’t fake what we do. We strip away the BS and build trusting relationships. Knowledge, transparency, authenticity – this is what we’re about.
• It’s in our hands. We take responsibility, stay one step ahead, push outside our comfort zone and never phone it in. We’d rather fail trying something new than die wondering.

What You Can Expect From Us

• Interesting, exciting, and challenging work with an enviable list of clients
• Support, guidance, and growth including an annual learning and development budget
• Fortnightly 'Bolster Uni' sessions featuring both internal and external speakers
• Flexible working model with office and WFH days split 50/50
• Free coffee, Class Pass credits and access to Masterclass online training
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) services including counselling and wellbeing resources
• Complimentary tickets to industry, music and arts events
• Progression – recognition and reward for your efforts

Bolster values diversity and nurtures the uniqueness of our team and the individuals who make us stronger. We encourage candidates from diverse and / or minority backgrounds to express their interest. Our team is excited to share our experience, share our space and share the mic. We believe in creating a working environment where each individual is able to bring their full self to work and is valued for their unique contribution.

Applications close Friday 18th July, 2025.