Media Buyer

Job Details: Job Location: STL Office - Saint Louis, MO, Salary Range: Undisclosed, Role Summary
The Media Buyer is responsible for executing and optimizing paid media campaigns across search, social, and programmatic platforms in support of media plans developed by the media pod. Reporting to a Media Supervisor or Director of Media Planning, this role focuses on accurate activation, performance monitoring, and day-to-day optimization to deliver against defined media strategies and success metrics.

Key Responsibilities
Media Execution & Platform Management

Execute paid media campaigns across search, paid social (Meta, LinkedIn), and programmatic (HLK Desk) platforms.
Activate campaigns according to approved media plans, ensuring accurate setup, targeting, budgets, and creative rotation.
Provide direction on creative asset needs by platform and engage directly with creative/studio as needed to deliver appropriate asset number and quality.
Maintain platform hygiene, naming conventions, and documentation to support consistency and quality.

Performance Monitoring & Optimization

Monitor campaign performance, pacing, and delivery on an ongoing basis.
Maintain budget pacing documentation shared weekly with media planning lead.
Implement optimizations based on performance trends and defined KPIs.
Maintain optimization documentation shared as needed with media lead and cx lead
Flag risks, issues, and opportunities to the Media Planner or Pod Lead.

Insight Sharing & Collaboration

Understand the strategy and success metrics behind each media plan.
Share performance insights, learnings, and observations with the pod to inform decision-making.
Collaborate closely with Media Planners to ensure execution aligns with strategic intent.

Operational & Quality Excellence

Partner with Operations and Data Intelligence to ensure proper tracking, QA, and billing alignment for all buys executed in pod.
Support reconciliation and billing accuracy for executed media by interfacing with operations lead as needed.
Adhere to operational standards, processes, and governance requirements.

: What You Bring

4-6 years of hands-on paid media experience with a clear performance track record
Experience managing campaigns tied to ROAS, CPA, or revenue-based KPIs
Platform expertise across:

Google Ads (Search, YouTube, Performance Max)
Paid Social (Meta, LinkedIn, TikTok as applicable)
Programmatic (DV360, but multiple DSP experience preferred)

Strong analytical mindset with the ability to connect performance data to business outcomes
Comfort working in GA4 and navigating conversion tracking and attribution
Experience utilizing testing strategies across creative, channels, and audiences

What Makes You a Fit at HLK

You don’t settle for “in-market benchmarks” if performance can be better
You think beyond platform metrics and focus on real business impact
You’re curious, proactive, and willing to challenge both the plan and the results

What Success Looks Like

Campaigns that consistently meet or exceed performance goals
Clear, actionable insights that influence future strategy
Smarter allocation of investment based on what’s actually working and data-driven return on investment strategies

At HLK, you’ll find:

Ownership without micromanagement
Collaboration without ego
Ambition without burnout culture
Curiosity as a core value
Leadership that develops leaders
 

We believe strong strategy and strong culture go hand in hand. Pods are built to give you room to lead, not just execute. If you’re ready to move from managing campaigns to driving performance and building teams, we’d love to talk.

We believe strong strategy and strong culture go hand in hand. Pods are built to give you room to lead, not just execute. If you’re ready to move from managing campaigns to driving performance and building teams, we’d love to talk.