Media strategist

At SimpsonScarborough, we spend our days building brands that endure, inspire, and elevate the all-important work of colleges and universities in shaping our future. Recognized as a leader in the higher education marketing industry, we are a fully remote team of approximately 70 employees working coast to coast.

We’re looking for a Media Strategist to lead the development of integrated, full-funnel paid media strategies that connect audience insight, channel planning, creative direction, and performance outcomes. This role requires strategic thinking and the ability translate complexity into clarity, design campaigns as connected systems, and guide both clients and internal teams toward smarter decisions and stronger results.

The Media Strategist partners closely with strategy, creative, analytics, and account teams to ensure media strategy is insight-driven, cohesive, and built to perform.

What You’ll Do

• Lead day-to-day client communications related to media strategy and performance, simplifying complex concepts into clear, actionable insights, acting as a strategic partner.
• Translate insight into strategy by synthesizing research, performance data, enrollment trends, and market signals into clear, actionable media strategies that define the problem, opportunity, and path forward.
• Develop full-funnel, multi-channel media strategies that define the role of each channel, message, and asset across the audience journey.
• Lead audience prioritization by identifying and prioritizing target audiences based on growth potential, institutional fit, and decision drivers—clearly distinguishing where focus (and budget) should go.
• Partner with Creative, Strategy and Accounts teams to ensure messaging, briefs, and campaign ideas are rooted in insight and aligned to audience mindset and media approach.
• Define success and drive performance by establishing KPIs aligned to campaign goals, interpreting performance data, and guiding strategic optimizations.

What We’re Looking For

• 4-6 years of experience in media strategy, planning, buying, and/or activation, with hands-on experience developing full-funnel media strategies across digital, social, search, programmatic, and emerging channels.
• Proven ability to prioritize audiences, align channel mix to strategy, and connect media decisions to business outcomes.
• Ability to explain complex media concepts in clear, accessible language for client education.
• Experience defining KPIs, interpreting performance, and guiding optimization strategies.
• Bachelor’s degree and/or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.

Salary, Benefits & Perks

Salary Range: $85,000.00 - $105,000.00 and will be commensurate with experience.

Comprehensive benefits package including nationwide health, dental, and vision coverage, 401(k) with employer contribution, employer-paid life insurance and short-term disability.

Flexible time off (FTO) with additional time-off options, including sick, volunteer & bereavement leave, paid parental leave, a day off on your birthday PLUS two agency-wide closures in the summer and winter.

Monthly lifestyle stipend to supplement your routine wellness costs like streaming subscriptions, gym, or phone/internet costs.

Our Commitment to Inclusion

At SimpsonScarborough, we believe diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging are central to our core values and critical to our long-term success. This work requires consistency, intentionality, vulnerability, and accountability. Through our efforts, we strive to make meaningful impact in our work, our workplace, and our industry.

SimpsonScarborough is an equal opportunity employer. We have a strict anti-harassment policy and a zero-tolerance non-discrimination policy. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds regardless of nationality, race, religion, gender identity, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Questions?

For all recruitment-related inquiries, please email PeopleAndCulture@simpsonscarborough.com.