Associate Director, Media Strategy

Monks is a new kind of agency, built from the ground up by award-winning creatives, top data scientists and cutting-edge media people willing to defect from the old agency model to create smarter work. Challenging convention, we bridge the gap between meaningful storytelling, data-led optimization and commerce. A spirit of curiosity, relentless creativity and data-informed decision making define our culture and people.

The Media Strategy department is the strategic heart of Monks' media offering: a unified team bringing together deep expertise in media strategy, media planning, and account management. We build integrated, full-funnel media strategies that connect brand storytelling to measurable business outcomes, powered by AI-enabled workflows and analytical rigor.

The Associate Director, Media Strategy leads key strategy and planning work streams on one of Monks' most important client relationships: owning deliverables end to end and serving as a trusted day-to-day client contact. This requires:

• Strong ability to build client and platform relationships
• A track record of managing and growing account work streams
• Ability to tell data-driven stories and extract key insights for senior-level clients
• Full-funnel understanding of the media landscape across Social, Search, Programmatic/Digital Investment, Holistic Video, OOH, and Direct Partnerships.
• Experience managing and stewarding career growth for direct reports

• Serve as a lead day-to-day point of contact with media client stakeholders.
• Develop go-to-market strategies and integrated, full-funnel media plans informed by rich consumer and industry insights with a laser focus on outcomes.
• Lead briefings, brainstorms, presentations and reporting calls to represent and support the team.
• Prepare executive-level deliverables on performance, strategic POVs and competitive analysis.
• Analyze data, craft insights and make recommendations internally and externally in deck form.
• Use AI-enabled tools to accelerate research, insight generation, plan development and reporting.
• Maintain executional and performance excellence through ongoing collaboration with Activation, Investment and Data & Measurement teams.
• Establish relationships with platform partners to stay current on offerings and maximize media value.
• Track and manage the client scorecard to ensure the team is set up to hit performance goals.
• Lead and manage 1–3 direct reports; regularly meet to establish priorities and offer guidance and feedback.

• 7+ years of industry experience focused on media strategy, planning and client service.
• Eager to forge long-term client partnerships built on mutual trust and fueled by ongoing performance.
• Proficient in media strategy with experience across digital direct, programmatic, social and search plus fluency in brand and offline channels.
• Ability to craft compelling, data-driven narratives for client deliverables.
• Experienced with syndicated planning and competitive insight tools (e.g., Comscore, GWI, Pathmatics, Nielsen).
• Comfortable adopting AI-enabled tools and helping the team work smarter.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; desire to grow as a leader and mentor.
• BA or equivalent with emphasis on marketing, advertising, or business.
• Experience in healthcare or other regulated industries is a plus

At Monks, we believe in fostering an environment where a diversity of perspectives can thrive. We proactively work to design hiring processes that promote equity and inclusion while mitigating bias. We celebrate diversity and are committed to building a team that reflects the communities we serve. We welcome and encourage qualified applicants, from all backgrounds, who are excited…