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Associate Media Director Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

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Associate Media Director information

See California salary details

$66.1K

$104.3K

$141.1K

How much do associate media director jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 28, 2026, the average yearly pay for associate media director in California is $104,270.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $83,900.00 and $121,400.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is an associate media director?

Associate Media Directors are mid-to-senior level professionals in advertising or marketing agencies responsible for overseeing the planning, implementation, and optimization of media campaigns. They manage a team of media planners and buyers, develop media strategies, and ensure campaigns meet client objectives and budgets. Associate Media Directors also liaise with clients, analyze campaign performance, and provide recommendations for improvement. Their role is crucial in ensuring that advertising reaches the right audience through the most effective channels.

How does an associate media director typically collaborate with creative and account teams to develop media strategies?

An Associate Media Director works closely with both creative and account teams to ensure that media strategies align with campaign objectives and client goals. This collaboration often involves participating in brainstorming sessions, sharing consumer insights, and providing guidance on media channel selection. Regular meetings are held to review campaign performance and adjust tactics as needed. By maintaining open communication and a collaborative spirit, the Associate Media Director ensures campaigns are integrated, effective, and deliver measurable results.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an associate media director, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Associate Media Director, you need a strong background in media strategy, campaign planning, and analytics, typically supported by a degree in marketing, communications, or a related field. Proficiency in media buying platforms, analytics tools like Google Analytics, and media planning software such as Mediaocean or Strata is essential. Leadership, collaboration, and strong communication skills are crucial for managing teams and client relationships effectively. These skills ensure successful campaign execution, optimal media investments, and alignment with client objectives in a competitive media landscape.

What is the difference between Associate Media Director vs Media Planner?

AspectAssociate Media DirectorMedia Planner
CredentialsBachelor's degree, experience in media buying and strategyBachelor's degree, often entry-level or mid-level experience
Work EnvironmentStrategic planning, overseeing campaigns, managing teamsResearch, selecting media channels, executing campaigns
Industry UsageAdvertising agencies, media companies, marketing departmentsAdvertising agencies, media buying firms, marketing teams

The Associate Media Director typically holds a more senior role, focusing on strategic oversight and team management, while the Media Planner concentrates on research and selecting media channels. Both roles require media knowledge, but the Associate Media Director has broader responsibilities and leadership duties within the media department.

What are popular job titles related to Associate Media Director jobs in California?

For Associate Media Director jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Associate Media Director jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Associate Media Director jobs in California are:

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Cities in California with the most Associate Media Director job openings:

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For Associate Media Director jobs in CA, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Associate Media Director jobs near you
Infographic showing various Associate Media Director job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 66% Full Time, 29% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 96% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $104,270 per year, or $50.1 per hour.

Associate Media Director, Programmatic

Avery Healthcare Group Ltd.

Santa Monica, CA • On-site

$110K - $130K/yr

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted yesterday

New

Job description

Associate Media Director, Programmatic

The Associate Media Director, Programmatic has a core responsibility to support our omnichannel programmatic strategy and execution along with our respective agency teams within Syneos Health. This individual will also work to help evangelize the role omnichannel programmatic plays on the pharmaceutical media plan. Collaboration will occur with our Data Science practice to ensure data is being used efficiently to effectively drive ROI for our clients. The target audience for our clients includes Physicians, Nurses, Specialists, Patients, and Caregivers in the healthcare space. Owning campaign management and execution of personalized programmatic media plans for this target audience that result in positive gains for our clients is core to success.

In addition, this person will be responsible for growing and maintaining all partnerships across our media group. These partnerships include database services, demand side platform providers, and as needed direct buy media partners.

Core Responsibilities

Omnichannel Programmatic Media Strategy

  • Provide input and recommendations on appropriate channel mix and consideration set development for your clients
  • Continuously improve our offering and look to scale appropriately
  • Work with partner agencies on new business opportunities and pitches
  • Lead media collaboration with senior internal and external stakeholders spanning agency client teams, digital, strategy & planning, and analytics as well clients and vendor partners
  • Develop close working relationship with client and agency brand teams to drive their understanding of programmatic omnichannel media, and the offering capabilities in order to grow adoption of media as part of a holistic go to market strategy that has media KPIs connected to brand business KPIs for our clients
  • Develop, apply and share best practices for ongoing programmatic campaign management, reporting, and execution
  • Work on continuously providing trends and POVs across our agencies to ensure that we can communicate the value to our clients on a regular basis
  • Support processes and approach to directing trading and ad operations teams as needed

Media Planning

  • Create intuitive presentations to be delivered to internal & external key stakeholders
  • Lead the development of and presentation of detailed media recommendations along with respective external media partners
  • Collaborate with data science and analytics team to develop measurement plans that include channels outside of media
  • Own the success and overall KPI result of your programmatic campaigns and clients

Media Consulting

  • Assist in delivery of media strategy consultancy to internal agency staff and client teams
  • Provide liaison services between the Integrated Media Team and third-party media agencies to:
    1. Ensure media strategies align with AOR strategic foundation
    2. Maximize creative work by supporting agencies to reach fullest potential via selected channel placements

Systems & Tools

  • Hands-on experience with ad technologies including data management platforms (e.g. DeepIntent, PulsePoint, Lasso) and ad verification tools required
  • Familiarity with data visualization tools
  • Experience with ad serving solutions, tag management and operations
  • Experience with competitive media tools such as Kantar, Pathmatics, comScore, etc

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree with a minimum of 4 years of progressively senior experience in programmatic, ad operations or biddable media on the sales, agency or ad tech side
  • Experience designing and implementing pharmaceutical programmatic media campaigns
  • Candidates should be knowledgeable in how to leverage multimedia in the programmatic media environment
  • Experience in pharmaceutical or healthcare space required
  • Experience in other biddable media platforms a plus (e.g. paid social, paid search)
  • Excellent presentation skills, and history of successful client engagements
  • Exceptional organizational skills, multi-tasking capabilities and detail oriented
  • Strong analytical abilities and quantitative skills

The annual base salary for this position ranges from $110K to $130K. The base salary range represents the anticipated low and high of the Syneos Health range for this position. Actual salary will vary based on various factors such as the candidate's qualifications, skills, competencies, and proficiency for the role. In addition, some positions may include eligibility to earn commissions/bonus based on company and / or individual performance.

At Syneos Health, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace. If your past experience doesn't align perfectly, we encourage you to apply anyway. At times, we will consider transferable skills from previous roles. We also encourage you to join our Talent Network to stay connected to additional career opportunities.

Why Syneos Health Communications? We are powered by Syneos Health, a global professional services organization designed to help the biopharmaceutical industry shorten the distance from lab to life. We have a proven pedigree in health, with industry titans in every facet of healthcare. This eliminates guesswork and fuels our passion for total, life-changing solutions. At the heart of health, we're uniquely poised to predict what's next and respond to the market's demand for smarter and faster answers. We are able to help our customers make important decisions within their business due to our unique understanding of the complexities that come along with working in the healthcare industry. Syneos Health Communications is able to make the complex, simple.

W o r k H e r e M a t t e r s E v e r y w h e r e | How are you inspired to change lives?

Syneos Health companies are affirmative action/equal opportunity employers (Minorities/Females/Veterans/Disabled)

Syneos Health has a voluntary COVID-19 vaccination policy. We strongly encourage all employees to be fully vaccinated. Additionally, certain local governments or Syneos Health customers may have vaccine requirements that apply to some of our employees. These employees are required to submit proof of vaccination to Syneos Health and maintain compliance with these requirements. At Syneos Health, we believe in providing an environment and culture in which Our People can thrive, develop and advance. We reward and recognize our people by providing valuable benefits and a quality-of-life balance. The benefits for this position will include a competitive compensation package, Health benefits to include Medical, Dental and Vision, Company match 401k, flexible paid time off (PTO) and sick time. Because certain states and municipalities have regulated paid sick time requirements, eligibility for paid sick time may vary depending on where you work. Syneos Health complies with all applicable federal, state, and municipal paid sick time requirements.

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