Associate Director Media Investment

Your Story.

As a key member of the Integrated Marketing Communications Team, the Associate Director - Media Investment is responsible for the planning, development and implementation of integrated media strategies, across traditional and digital channels, designed to build brand awareness and achieve annual operating plan profit and volume. The position requires a deep understanding of the total media, digital, social landscape as well as an ever-evolving knowledge of current tools, platforms and technology to ensure cohesive media strategy across all digital channels and product lines.

Your Passion.Our Culture.

At Sargento, you work for a company you believe in, with a family of people who believe in you. Our culture stems from a simple premise: Hire good people and treat them like family. At Sargento, you can make decisions based on how they affect people as well as the long-term health of our company. You will be encouraged to make a meaningful difference in the community, in the company and in your career. With diverse experiences and tools to learn and develop, you can transform your aspirations into reality. If you're ready for the right place to belong and grow your career, you can find it here.

Benefits that set us apart.

• Comprehensive medicalincluding Fertility, Adoption benefits, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Remote 1/2 day Fridays
• Onsite Health & Wellness Center
• Employer 401K contribution in the top 1% of the nation
• Relocation Assistance
• Tuition Assistance
• Access to Employee Store

What You Do.

In collaboration with core Marketing teams, and agency partners, this role leads the team responsible for establishing the strategic role that media plays within the marketing mix and implementing overall vision and strategies for Sargento Digital Channels to achieve stated goals. This role is responsible for transitioning digital media buying from an external agency to build an internal buying team.

Media Infrastructure

• Responsible for building, leading, and scaling an internal media buying agency from the ground up. This role requires a strategic thinker with a strong background in paid media, deep knowledge of the advertising ecosystem, and proven leadership skills.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (marketing, creative, finance, analytics) to develop media strategies, execute campaigns, and optimize spend across multiple platforms.

Leadership & Team Management

• Recruit, train, and manage a high-performing media buying team, including specialists in programmatic, social and search media.
• Cultivate a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement within the agency.
• Set clear goals for the team, providing ongoing coaching, development, and performance feedback.
• Function as the Subject Matter Expert on the marketing team for digital and media, providing thought leadership across organization.

Media Strategy & Execution

• Oversee team responsible for all media buys within $65MM+ media budget, including TV upfront / scatter, and ongoing digital programmatic and online video. Ensure transparency in all media buys and contracts.
• Oversee the end-to-end execution of media campaigns, ensuring alignment with creative, content, and marketing teams.
• Guide ongoing analysis of digital and traditional media performance, and optimization to ensure efficiency and effectiveness are maximized across channels and agencies.
• Establish processes for measuring media performance, including coordination with internal Business Drivers Analysis (marketing mix model), working with external auditors to audit traditional and digital media performance, etc.

Digital Marketing Strategies

• Develop digital marketing strategy and oversee team responsible for executing plans across multiple digital and social channels to drive awareness, engagement, and loyalty to meet product line objectives.
• Lead growth and development of Sargento's MarTech solution.
• Oversee team responsible for developing and implementing paid social & influencer strategies via TikTok, Facebook and other social media platforms.
• Oversee team responsible for executing paid social campaigns, including influencer management.
• Work directly with Omni-Channel Team and agency to consult on appropriate channels and tactics to enhance Shopper and eCommerce programs.

Budget Management

• Work collaboratively with brand teams, agency and internal integrated marketing communications team to budget and manage costs associated with media, website and social media programs.

Trends

• Attend additional training, conferences and events as necessary to stay up to speed on technology and best practices and educate entire marketing team on digital and social advancements.
• Develop and maintain relationships with key media vendors

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Manage media team responsible for planning & digital media buying
• Manage Social Media Manager - Strategy & Influencer Management
• Manage Media Analytics team

Your Education and Experience.

• Bachelor's Degree required. Master's preferred.
• 10+ years of experience required, preferably in a consumer packaged goods environment.
• 8+ years of experience in media buying, advertising, or related fields, with a focus on both digital and traditional media channels.
• 5+ years in a leadership or management role, preferably within an agency or in-house team.
• Agency management experience required.
• Strong understanding of media planning, buying, and execution across platforms (Facebook, Google, YouTube, TV, radio, print, etc.).
• Proven ability to build and lead high-performing teams in a fast-paced environment.
• Deep knowledge of programmatic advertising, audience targeting, and media optimization techniques.
• Strong analytical skills and experience working with data to drive decisions.
• Excellent negotiation skills with experience managing relationships with vendors and media partners.
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills, with the ability to influence cross-functional teams and senior leadership.
• Proficiency in media planning and reporting tools (e.g., Google Analytics, DSPs, DMPs, ad servers, etc.)..

Our Story.

With over 2,400+ employees and net sales of nearly $1.8 billion, Sargento is a family-owned company that has been a leader in cheese for more than 70 years. We created the world's first, successful pre-packaged sliced and shredded natural cheeses. Sargento is based in Plymouth, Wisconsin, where we manufacture and market shredded, sliced and snack natural cheese products, as well as ingredients and sauces. Sargento is known for the exceptional quality of our products and for product design, packaging and merchandising innovations that have transformed our industry.

To learn more about our culture and values, please visit our website athttps://careers.sargento.com/us/en.

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