Jr. Media Buyer
The Junior Media Buyer is an entry-level role responsible for supporting media buying operations within traditional media channels, including executing approved buys, tracking budgets, and maintaining accurate documentation. This position requires strong attention to detail, organizational skills, and effective communication with vendors and internal teams, providing a foundation for growth into full media buying responsibilities.
About Careertakes
👉 Important disclosure: Careertakes is a third-party recruiting platform supporting this hiring process. If selected, you will be employed directly by our client, an advertising & marketing agency.
Applicants for this role may also receive access to additional matched opportunities through the Careertakes platform.
What You’ll Do
The Jr. Media Buyer will support the Media Planner and Head of Media Investment at a confidential client. This entry-level role is focused on learning traditional media buying (TV, radio, print, OOH) through hands-on work and precise operational execution.
- 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.
- Verify orders reflect approved stations, programs, markets, formats, dates, times, units, rates, placements, and added-value elements before submission.
- Monitor campaign delivery for assigned accounts and flag preemptions, missed spots, under-delivery, or incorrect placements to the Media Planner.
- Follow up with media vendor representatives on discrepancies, makegoods, credits, and schedule corrections as directed.
- Assist in tracking campaign budgets — recording authorized, ordered, committed, billed, credited, and actual expenditures.
- Review invoices against approved orders and schedules; escalate discrepancies with supporting documentation.
- Maintain organized, audit-ready records of orders, approvals, invoices, affidavits, and proofs of performance.
- Observe and report on competitors’ traditional media activity as requested.
- Support integrated campaign coordination with account teams (schedules, materials, deadlines).
- Participate in vendor meetings and media presentations as a learner; perform other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Communications, Advertising, Business, or related field preferred; current students or recent graduates with relevant coursework/internships are welcome.
- 0–1 year of professional or internship experience in media buying, media planning, advertising, or a related field.
- Coursework or demonstrated interest in traditional media channels (TV, radio, print, OOH) is a plus.
- Exposure to media billing, invoice processing, or budget tracking is a meaningful advantage.
- Comfortable using Microsoft Excel for data entry, tracking, and basic calculations.
- Bilingual communication skills in English and Spanish are strongly preferred.
Skills & Competencies
- Strong attention to detail — ability to catch errors in rates, placements, schedules, and invoices.
- Organizational discipline — maintains trackers and documentation in a consistent, audit-ready format.
- Numerical comfort — able to reconcile rates, budgets, and billing figures accurately.
- Eagerness to learn — asks good questions, follows feedback, and builds media buying knowledge.
- Clear and professional written and verbal communication with vendors and internal teams.
- Reliable follow-through — meets deadlines and escalates issues proactively.
- Professional integrity handling confidential budget and client information.
- Ability to learn campaign tracking, traffic, and media-buying platforms quickly.
Compensation & Employment Details
- Estimated salary: $38,002 per year (estimated).
- Employment type: Contract, Full-time.
- This is an entry-level growth role with a clear path to Media Buyer; the confidential client is committed to developing the successful candidate’s skills over time.
Work Environment & Physical Requirements
- Primarily office-based with typical open-agency noise levels; some days may require additional availability around campaign deadlines and billing cycles.
- Desk-intensive work requiring sustained computer use, frequent communication by phone and digital channels, and regular document handling.
- Occasional light lifting up to 10 pounds; close and color vision required for detailed schedule and rate review.
- Reasonable accommodations will be considered to enable employees with disabilities to perform essential functions.
Additional Notes
This role does not have supervisory responsibilities at entry level. All buying decisions, vendor negotiations, and client-facing communications are subject to review by the Media Planner or Head of Media Investment until the Jr. Media Buyer demonstrates independent proficiency.
Equal Opportunity & Hiring Transparency
Careertakes and our client are Equal Opportunity Employers committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We prohibit discrimination or harassment of any kind. To support a fair and efficient hiring process, AI tools may be used to assist with application review or resume screening. These tools do not replace human decision-making. Final hiring decisions are made by people.
If you have questions about how your data is used, please contact us directly.
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