Media Strategist

Media Strategist

Mend Join Make (MJM) – Sioux Falls, SD
Full-time | In-office with flexibility

Culture First

At Mend Join Make, we believe great marketing is built by great teammates.

We are not looking for someone who simply places media buys. We are looking for someone who believes thoughtful media strategy shapes outcomes — someone who approaches their work with discipline, curiosity, and analytical clarity. Someone who understands that meaningful marketing happens when data, creativity, and strategy work together.

Our culture is rooted in five values — Grace, Presence, Accountability, Curiosity, and Collaboration — and they are not decorative. They shape how we hire, how we evaluate performance, and how we grow.

If you are energized by thoughtful work, high standards, and a team that challenges each other to be better, you will thrive here.

Position Overview

The Media Strategist develops and executes strategic media plans that amplify our clients’ messages and drive measurable results.

You will work across both traditional and digital channels — combining research, planning, negotiation, and performance analysis to ensure media investments are thoughtful, efficient, and effective.

This role requires both strategic thinking and operational precision. You will collaborate closely with account, creative, and strategy teams while also maintaining strong relationships with media vendors and platform partners.

We serve growth-minded organizations in healthcare, ophthalmology, nonprofit, and purpose-driven sectors. Our work requires both analytical rigor and thoughtful decision-making.

What You’ll Do

• Develop comprehensive media plans aligned with client goals, audiences, and budgets
• Execute and optimize media buys across traditional channels (TV, radio, print, out-of-home) and digital platforms (display, video, CTV, social, SEM)
• Conduct audience research and translate insights into strategic media recommendations
• Negotiate and secure media placements with vendors and publishers
• Traffic media assets and ensure accurate campaign setup across platforms
• Monitor campaign performance and recommend optimizations based on KPIs and insights
• Prepare clear, data-driven reports for clients and internal teams
• Maintain relationships with media vendors, publishers, and platform partners
• Stay current on media trends, tools, and audience behavior
  
  

This role requires both analytical discipline and strategic thinking.

What Success Looks Like

• Media investments align clearly with client strategy and goals
• Campaigns launch smoothly and perform efficiently
• Performance insights lead to thoughtful optimizations and stronger outcomes
• Internal teams and clients trust your recommendations and reporting
• Vendor relationships help secure strong placements and value for clients
  
  

Experience & Skills

• 5–8 years of experience in media planning or buying (agency or client side)
• Strong understanding of both traditional and digital advertising channels
• Proficiency with media platforms and tools such as Google Ads, Meta, programmatic DSPs, or similar systems
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to translate data into actionable insights
• Excellent communication and presentation skills
• Highly organized with strong project management ability

Experience in healthcare or regulated industries is a plus.

The MJM Standard

We hire and evaluate our team around five Core Values:

Grace
We treat setbacks as opportunities to strengthen our work and relationships. We respond with patience and problem-solving rather than blame.

Presence
We engage fully — with our teammates, our clients, and the work — creating alignment and clarity through intentional focus.

Accountability
We do what we say we’re going to do, and we look back to ensure we did. We own our commitments and our outcomes.

Curiosity
We seek understanding before acting. We ask better questions, challenge assumptions, and pursue insight that leads to better work.

Collaboration
We believe the best outcomes are built together. Clear communication, defined roles, and openness to feedback elevate the work beyond what any one person could create alone.

If you enjoy connecting data, strategy, and creativity to help clients make smarter media investments, we’d love to meet you.