Media Account Manager

We are on the lookout for a Media Account Manager to join our amazing team at VML Wellington. If you have 2+ years of media planning and buying experience at an integrated or media agency and are looking for a new opportunity, we’d love to hear from you. The role includes assisting in the preparation of media recommendations, conducting media and audience analysis, assisting in the preparation of budgets and estimates, and taking primary responsibility for day-to-day media administrative, planning and buying tasks. 

VML Wellington is a new-fashioned agency with a strong, independent Wellington culture and a connection to one of the fastest-growing and innovative global networks. We have a fully integrated creative, media and production team located in central Wellington and an amazing group of clients we get to collaborate with to make a meaningful difference to the lives of New Zealanders. We like people who care about doing meaningful work, are open to different ideas and ways of doing things. If this sounds like you, please get in touch.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

The Media Account Manager role has six areas of responsibility:

• Client Management 
  • Having a proactive approach to clients’ business is fundamental to this role
  • Responding to briefs and managing critical timelines for this
  • Ensuring that all WIP documents and next steps are up to date and recorded correctly
  • Responding to adhoc requests in a timely manner
• Budget Management – ensuring that plans and buys come in on or under budget
  • Regularly monitors rate changes and updates budget summaries accordingly
• Day-to-Day media planning and buying across all media channels
  • Day-to-day liaison with media owners, negotiating rates and added value for client campaigns
  • Ensure that the agency obtains the best possible media rates and ensuring that buys come in on/under budget whilst maintaining planned performance levels
  • Build positive relationships with media owner account managers and co-ordinators
  • Creating actionable media plans that reflect sound strategic thinking in conjunction with the Client Services Director-Media
  • Understand and be able to discuss cost efficiencies across all media
  • Undertake audience analysis using proprietary tools (Nielsen) and desk research using industry resources
  • Creation and understanding of key insights and observations – business, brand, consumer, culture, product
  • Translation of business problems and insights into communication objectives
  • Identifying roles and rationales for channels
  • Creation and rationale for campaign flighting
  • Build integrated campaigns that incorporate paid, owned & earned channels
  • Have a working knowledge of Google’s: DV360, Google Ads, Campaign Manager GTM and GA/GA4
  • Have a strong working knowledge of Meta Business Suite
  • Experience and understanding of working with DSPs
• Competitive analysis and reports including campaign post analysis
  • Utilisation of the TVMap competitive expenditure database and Nielsen systems for the development of competitive media expenditure and post analysis reporting on behalf of clients and media strategy insights for competitive products and services
  • Maintains records and prepares periodic reports as may be required on assigned accounts
  • Developing a sound understanding of market dynamics in clients’ categories is essential to this role
  • Ensuring that campaign optimisation occurs on a regular basis by managing your own portfolio and working with the digital teams consistently during campaigns
  • Preparing full media post analysis reports that generate actionable learnings for future activity
• Ownership and management of clients’ media schedules – including SOX compliant approvals and budget management, media plan accuracy, media booking instructions/billings/material despatch
  • As a key day-to-day contact for clients, it is the media account manager’s responsibility to ensure that the media schedule is up to date, accurate and SOX compliant. Double checking of costs and formulas on schedules is the responsibility of the Media Account Manager.
  • This will require close liaison with the Digital teams to ensure all details are captured accurately
  • All approvals and changes must be documented in writing and saved into client files – this responsibility falls to the Media Account Manager
  • Maintains records and prepares periodic reports as may be required on assigned accounts
  • Prepare spotlists in conjunction with the Media Executive and send to clients with comments
  • Inputting of media contracts and confirmations including written appearance instructions to the media via the VML management system (Pegasus)
  • Ensure that all billings are inputted and checked prior to client despatch. Liaise with the Finance Department to analyse billing discrepancies. Comply with invoicing deadline requirements from pro-forma checking through to final invoice approvals
  • Work with Production in developing the necessary information closing dates and production mechanical requirements. Prepare and issue media despatch details to production personnel
• Attitude/Enthusiasm/Commitment – all are necessary attributes for a successful career in communications
  
  • Demonstrate a willingness to assist in overload situations within other account teams that will arise from time to time
  • Demonstrate commitment and enthusiasm to get the job done by set deadlines and be prepared to apply the hours required to get through required workloads
  • Be an enthusiastic team player by interacting and building relationships throughout the wider agency
  • Be someone that embodies the VML agency values;
    • We love people that make VML a great place to work – our staff should admire one another and always treat each other with RESPECT
    • We love being astounded by someone's stunning attention to detail and precise execution. We revel in this ACCURACY every day
    • We expect to be constantly wowed by a demonstration of brilliant creative thinking. CREATIVITY is in our DNA
    • We believe that behind every genius idea is some next-level strategic insight. Great STRATEGIC THINKING is at the heart of all we do
    • Finally, we celebrate all round awesomeness and we’re dedicated to producing work that embodies EXCELLENCE

VML AUNZ Highlights:

There are many things that make VML AUNZ an awesome place to work, but we think these are worth a special mention:

• Birthday Leave – a paid day off to celebrate your Birthday each year;
• Summer Days – 5 paid afternoons off each year during daylight savings time;
• Loyalty Leave – a paid day off each year to celebrate your work anniversary;
• Employee Assistance Program access and 24/7 support;
• LinkedIn Learning access for all employees.

VML is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, colour, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.