Senior Media Planner in Sydney

This is an opportunity to be the person who builds media at Think HQ. As our first dedicated media hire, you’ll help establish the function, shape our approach and work closely with creative, research, PR and strategy to make sure audience insight, channel thinking and creative ideas work together.

About the role

As a founding member of the Think HQ media team, this role requires a self-starting powerhouse who enjoys the challenge of working alongside creatives to develop media ideas that fit the idea. Ensuring that you can bridge the gap between audience insight, right channel mix, our creative vision and the diverse communities we serve. As one of the key architects of Think HQ’s media offering, you’ll lead the end-to-end media process - from deep-dive audience data analysis and strategic channel selection to high-level vendor negotiations and working with the media buyer to evaluate post-campaign attribution. You’ll be the internal advocate for the power of paid media and the media advocate of Think HQ within the industry. You’ll work in a truly collaborative environment where media, creative, PR, and research live under one roof. This is a unique opportunity for a media entrepreneur within an established, high-growth independent agency to use your media expertise to drive genuine positive change.

Where you’ll make an impact:

• Media plan architecture and channel mix ideation
• Design and implement Think HQ’s media planning recommendations for clients and buying frameworks to guide the Media Buyer.
• Determine the optimal mix of ATL, Digital, Social, and Community-specific channels to meet complex behaviour-change objectives across a range of government, NFP and commercial clients.
• Brief the Media Buyer who will activate the plan across the Australian multicultural media landscape, to meet objectives across multiple communities.
• Stay ahead of the curve on understanding emerging platforms, ensuring our clients are early adopters of new ways to reach niche audiences that add value to their campaigns.

Data intelligence and audience insights

• Analyse first and third-party data (Nielsen, Roy Morgan, etc.) to uncover relevant audience insights that will enhance the results of the campaign.
• Develop audience profiles, with a particular focus on Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) and diverse communities.
• Build robust reporting models that prove the real-world impact and ROI which will be briefed into the Media Buyer for activation of campaigns.

Industry network and partnerships

• Leverage your deep industry connections to launch new ideas, negotiate rates, added value, and first-to-market opportunities for our clients.
• Act as the primary point of contact for media owners, ensuring Think HQ is recognised as an innovative, high-value partner.
• Oversee the transition from media agency outsourcing to an internal model.

Integration and business growth

• Work alongside the leadership team on new business pitches, providing the strategic insights for media buying that wins new clients.
• Mentor and guide our Creative and PR teams to understand how media strategy can amplify their work and measure the impact.
• Ensure media strategies align with our mission to ensure positive outcomes for people, places, and the planet, with a particular focus on reaching diverse audiences.

About you

• You’re a self-starter. You enjoy the freedom to develop ideas.
• You don't wait for a manual; you're excited by the prospect of a blank page and have the ability to fill it.
• Collaboration is your default setting.
• You understand that at Think HQ, the best ideas are born at the intersection of diverse perspectives, and you thrive on bringing media plans to the table as a collaborative partner.

Experience:

• 8+ years in media strategy and planning, ideally within a top-tier agency environment.
• You’re incredibly well-connected in the Australian media landscape.
• Data-fluent: You can translate complex data sets into simple, actionable strategies that a client can understand and get excited about.
• Mission-driven: You’re ready to use your skills to drive health, education, inclusion, and social justice.
• Entrepreneurial spirit: You have the grit required to be a small department today, with the vision to lead a department of ten or more tomorrow.

Part-time and flexible work arrangements can be considered. Think HQ is a family-friendly, hybrid workplace. Think HQ values inclusion and diversity. We welcome and actively encourage applications from people of all ages, abilities and cultures, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, LGBTQIA+ people, people from multicultural communities, people who speak a language other than English, people with disabilities, older Australians and parents returning to the workforce.

Please include a cover letter so we can understand your experience and motivation for joining Think HQ. Applications without a cover letter won't be considered.