Jr. Media Buyer

Summary/Objective: The Junior Media Buyer is an entry-level position within the Media Department, designed for candidates who are beginning their careers in media buying and want to build a strong operational foundation in traditional media. This role supports the Media Buyer and Head of Media Investment in the execution, documentation, and tracking of approved media buys — learning the craft of media buying through hands-on work with real campaigns, real budgets, and real vendor relationships. The Junior Media Buyer is expected to be detail-oriented, organized, and eager to learn. While this role operates with supervision and guidance from the Media Planner, it carries genuine responsibility — accuracy in documentation, budget tracking, and vendor communication matters from day one. Mistakes in rates, placements, or invoices have real consequences, and the Junior Media Buyer is expected to approach every task with precision and professional accountability. This is a deliberate growth role with a clear path to Media Buyer. The agency is committed to developing this person's skills, and the expectation is that they will grow into full buying responsibility over time. Essential Duties and Responsibilities: Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions Execute approved media buys according to the media plan, budget, rates, schedules, and placements authorized by the Media Planner or Head of Media Investment. Prepare and maintain media orders, advertising schedules, campaign calendars, purchase orders, and related buying documentation under the supervision of the Media Planner. Verify that all orders accurately reflect approved stations, programs, publications, markets, formats, dates, times, units, rates, placements, and added-value elements before submission. Monitor campaign delivery on assigned accounts — flagging preemptions, missed spots, under-delivery, or incorrect placements to the Media Planner promptly. Follow up with media vendor representatives on discrepancies, makegoods, credits, and schedule corrections as directed by the Media Planner. Assist in tracking assigned campaign budgets — recording authorized, ordered, committed, billed, credited, and actual expenditures accurately and on time. Review invoices against approved orders, schedules, and rates; flag discrepancies to the Media Planner for resolution. Maintain organized and up-to-date records of media orders, schedules, approvals, invoices, affidavits, and proof of performance documentation. Assist in monitoring competitors' traditional media activity and reporting relevant observations to the Media Planner. Provide timely status updates on assigned tasks — documentation, delivery tracking, vendor follow-ups — to the Media Planner. Support the Media Planner, and account teams in coordinating integrated campaigns, including schedules, materials, deadlines, and documentation. Participate in vendor meetings and media presentations as an observer and active learner, building familiarity with the media landscape and vendor relationships over time. Perform additional tasks and support functions as assigned by the Media Planner or Head of Media Investment. Other Duties: Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice. Essential Functions: Campaign support & documentation Assist in placing and confirming media orders under the guidance of the Media Planner— ensuring accuracy in all parameters before orders are submitted. Maintain organized campaign files, schedules, and documentation for all assigned accounts in a consistent and audit-ready format. Monitor live campaign delivery for assigned accounts daily and escalate any issues to the Media Planner immediately. Budget tracking & invoice support Assist in tracking campaign budget activity — recording all authorized, ordered, committed, billed, and credited spend for assigned campaigns. Cross-check invoices against approved orders and flag any discrepancies to the Media Planner with supporting documentation. Help maintain current and accurate budget tracking reports for active campaigns. Vendor communication Communicate with media vendor representatives on routine follow-ups — confirmations, schedule changes, makegood coordination — under the direction of the Media Planner. Maintain a professional and organized record of all vendor communications related to assigned campaigns. Build familiarity with the agency's approved vendor contacts and begin developing professional relationships over time. Reporting & team support Provide regular status updates on assigned tasks and deliverables to the Media Buyer. Assist the Media Planner in preparing internal and client-facing reports and documentation as needed. Support special projects focused on improving buying processes, documentation standards, and operational efficiency. Supervisory Responsibility: This position has no supervisory responsibilities. The Junior Media Buyer is an individual contributor operating under the direct supervision of the Media Planner and the oversight of the Head of Media Investment. All buying decisions, vendor negotiations, and client-facing communications require review and approval from the Media Planner or a senior team member until the Junior Media Buyer has demonstrated the proficiency and judgment to operate more independently. Job Competencies: Attention to detail Catches errors in rates, placements, schedules, and invoices before they escalate — accuracy and thoroughness are the most important qualities in this role. Organizational discipline Keeps files, trackers, and documentation current, organized, and easy for others to navigate — never lets tasks fall through the cracks. Numerical comfort At ease working with budgets, rates, and billing figures — able to spot when numbers don't add up and escalate with the right context. Eagerness to learn Approaches new tasks with curiosity and initiative — asks good questions, follows through on feedback, and actively builds their media buying knowledge every day. Communication Communicates clearly and professionally in written and verbal interactions — with vendors, the Media Planner, and internal team members. Reliability Meets deadlines, follows through on commitments, and flags issues early rather than late — the team depends on this role to be a consistent and dependable operational contributor. Preferred Education and Related Experience: Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, Advertising, Business, or a related field preferred; candidates currently completing their degree or with equivalent coursework and relevant internship experience will be considered. 0–1 year of professional experience in media buying, media planning, advertising, or a related field — internship experience in a media or advertising environment is a meaningful advantage. Coursework or demonstrated interest in traditional media channels — TV, radio, print, OOH — is a plus. Exposure to media billing, invoice processing, or budget tracking in any professional or academic context is valued. Familiarity with Microsoft Excel for data entry, tracking, and basic calculations is expected at the entry level. Knowledge and Critical Skills Required: Technical & operational skills Solid proficiency in Microsoft Office — particularly Excel for tracking, data entry, and basic budget management. Strong mathematical ability for rate calculations, budget reconciliation, and invoice verification. Basic familiarity with traditional media formats — TV, radio, print, OOH — and their terminology is a plus; full knowledge will be developed on the job. Ability to learn media buying, traffic management, or campaign tracking platforms quickly. Comfortable managing and organizing digital files, documents, and records with consistency and accuracy. Professional skills Excellent written and verbal communication in both English and Spanish. Strong follow-through — able to track multiple open items simultaneously and ensure nothing is left unresolved. Professional and respectful in vendor and internal communications from day one. Demonstrated integrity in handling confidential budget, rate, and client information. Comfortable asking for help and escalating issues to the Media Planner when needed — knowing when to act independently and when to check in is a key skill at this level. Physical Demands & Travel: This role is primarily office-based and desk-intensive, requiring sustained use of computers, screens, and communication tools. Regularly required to talk, hear, and communicate — in person and via phone and digital channels. Frequent use of hands, fingers, and arms for computer work, document handling, and standard office tasks. Occasional light lifting of up to 10 pounds may be required. Close and color vision required for reviewing schedules, rates, and documentation with accuracy. Travel is not a regular requirement for this role; occasional internal meetings or vendor visits may arise. All physical requirements are subject to reasonable accommodation as needed. Work Environment: Standard in-office environment with noise levels typical of an open-plan advertising agency setting. Standard Monday–Friday schedule; campaign deadlines, vendor cut-off times, and billing cycles may occasionally require additional availability around key dates. Fast-paced department environment — multiple campaigns, clients, and vendors are always active simultaneously. The ability to stay organized and composed under pressure is essential even at the entry level. Day-to-day work is done in close coordination with the Media Planner— this role will receive regular direction, feedback, and support as skills are developed. Must be comfortable handling confidential client budget and vendor rate information with discretion from the first day.