Director of Integrated Media

Director of Integrated Media

Full-time · Hybrid
Austin, TX or Minneapolis, MN
Target salary: $140,000 + profit share & full benefits

Why this role exists

Over the past few years, The Engine is Red’s media offering has grown quickly—across clients, channels, and complexity. We’re now at a point where we’re ready for a senior leader who can build, evolve, and lead our media discipline, not just oversee campaigns.

This role exists to strengthen how media works at The Engine; our systems, workflows, tools, standards, and people—while delivering thoughtful, high-performing, fully integrated media strategies for our clients.

If you’re someone who enjoys zooming out to see the full system and zooming in when the numbers or the thinking need tightening, this role is likely a great fit.

 

The role

As Director of Integrated Media, you’ll lead strategy, planning, execution, and growth across our media offering—digital-first, but fully integrated. You’ll be responsible for both the quality of our client campaigns and the long-term health of our media team.

This is a hands-on leadership role. You won’t be building every plan yourself, but you’ll be deeply involved in setting standards, shaping thinking, mentoring talent, and ensuring our work reflects a high bar for strategy, rigor, and client service.

You’ll work closely with Creative, Accounts, and the Media Specialists to ensure media is integrated—not siloed—and that our team is set up to do its best work sustainably.

What success looks like in the first 12–18 months

• You’ve assessed and improved our media systems: workflows, tools, documentation, reporting, dashboards, and operating standards
• The media team has clear roles, expectations, and paths for growth
• We’ve raised the bar on strategic rigor, forecasting, and performance storytelling with clients
• Media planning and buying—digital and traditional—feels cohesive, intentional, and well-integrated
• You’ve recruited, mentored, and retained strong media talent (full-time and freelance)
• Clients see media as a strategic strength of The Engine, not just a line item or deliverable

Key responsibilities

Media strategy & performance

• Lead the development of integrated media strategies across digital and traditional channels
• Ensure plans are rooted in sound assumptions, clear objectives, and thoughtful use of data
• Set standards for forecasting, measurement, and performance evaluation—no copy-and-paste media plans
• Step in when performance is underwhelming to help teams diagnose issues and solve problems creatively
• Stay current on media trends, platforms, and opportunities without chasing shiny objects

Team leadership & growth

• Lead, mentor, and develop a growing media team across disciplines
• Recruit full-time team members and freelance partners as needed
• Set clear expectations for quality, accountability, and collaboration
• Coach team members on strategic thinking, client communication, and analytical rigor
• Foster a culture of curiosity, learning, and continuous improvement

Systems & operations

• Assess and evolve media workflows, tools, and processes to support scale and quality
• Partner with Leadership to ensure media work is resourced and scoped appropriately
• Help define how media collaborates with Creative and Accounts from brief through delivery
• Build systems that support consistency without killing creativity

Client leadership

• Act as a senior strategic partner to clients
• Present media strategies and results with clarity, confidence, and depth
• Ensure media recommendations are thoughtful, defensible, and aligned to business goals
• Maintain a high standard of client service rooted in trust, transparency, and performance

Experience & qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in media strategy and planning, ideally within an agency environment
• Proven experience leading and developing teams
• Deep comfort with digital media (paid social, search, programmatic, email/SMS, ecommerce, ABM), with working knowledge of traditional media planning and buying
• Strong analytical skills and comfort being “in the numbers”
• Ability to think at both a systems level and a campaign level
• Clear, confident communicator—internally and with clients
• Experience working across disciplines and building collaborative relationships

Familiarity with platforms such as Google, Meta, TikTok, LinkedIn, programmatic DSPs, GA4, and ecommerce tools is important. Expertise in everything isn’t required, but fluency across the ecosystem is.

Compensation & benefits

• Target salary: $140,000
• Profit share (up to 25% of agency profits distributed quarterly)
• Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• 20 days of PTO plus 8 paid holidays
• Annual cost-of-living salary adjustments
• Education reimbursement and professional development support

The Engine is Red is committed to creating a diverse and welcoming workplace. BIPOC, women, LGBTQIA+, veterans, people with disabilities, and members of marginalized communities are strongly encouraged to apply.

About The Engine is Red

The Engine is an independent creative agency built on collaboration, transparency, and trust. We believe the “necessary evils” of our industry aren’t actually necessary. We work without timesheets or traffic meetings, aim to protect nights and weekends, and prioritize kindness, empathy, and sustainable growth.

We partner with clients who share our values—from Fortune 500 brands to startups and nonprofits—and we take pride in building deep, respectful relationships with both our clients and our teammates.

How to apply

Please send a brief introduction, your resume, and any relevant materials or links to [email protected].