Associate Director, Planning

MissionOne Media is a brand within BarkleyOKRP that combines full-funnel media planning and buying services, CRM, data, analytics, retail media, SEO, and digital experiences. We're an independent media partner offering transparency, integration, and a relentless focus on business impact. The Associate Director, Planning (AMD) serves as an essential strategic and operational lead within a planning pod. In this role, you bridge high-level strategy and flawless execution, leading the development of integrated media recommendations while managing day-to-day client relationships. You are responsible for translating strategic direction into actionable, audience-first plans that tightly align media placement with creative messaging. Operating with a blend of analytical rigor and creative problem-solving, you coach and manage junior planning talent, elevate team output, and ensure operational and financial discipline across assigned accounts. The Kind of Leader Who Thrives Here Curious and Analytical: You are always asking "Why?" You dig beyond surface-level data to find meaningful insights and category white space. A Strategic Storyteller: You distill complex inputs into clear, compelling narratives. You articulate a crisp media POV in both internal and external rooms with confidence. An Empowering Manager: You balance disciplined delegation with hands-on support, actively coaching and growing junior team members. Resilient and Adaptable: You navigate ambiguity with ease, bringing proactive solutions to complex challenges in a fast-paced environment. Commercially Focused: You understand the client's business deeply, identifying organic growth opportunities that drive real business impact. Responsibilities Strategic Planning & Integration Lead the development of strategic and tactical media recommendations that align with client business objectives. Translate audience insights and competitive data into ownable, audience-first media strategies using syndicated tools (MRI-Simmons, Resonate, YouGov, etc.). Identify category white space and craft unique media moments that amplify creative impact and go beyond standard media placements. Evaluate campaign performance against objectives, providing strategic POVs on optimizations and marketplace trends. Develop strategic analyses (geographic, target audience, competitive audits) to guide plan direction and client spend recommendations. Client Leadership & Collaboration Own day-to-day client relationships, serving as a key point of contact and driving weekly status, recommendations, and campaign reviews. Partner seamlessly across cross-functional agency teams—including Client Experience, Strategy, Creative, Activation, Analytics, CRM, and Finance—to deliver integrated output. Represent a strong, clear media POV in key client presentations and internal strategic discussions. Build and maintain productive, professional relationships with media vendor partners to stay…