Media Director

Tombras, a 400+ person, full-service, national advertising agency with a digital mindset, is seeking a Media Director. Where you’ll be working: Knoxville. Relocation assistance may be provided.
We’re seeking a Media Director to lead one of the most dynamic and complex accounts in the agency—managing over $130 million in annual media investment across performance and brand channels. This is a rare opportunity to step into a leadership role where strategic vision, operational rigor, and a clear grasp of business outcomes are expected and valued. The ideal candidate brings both the polish of holding company pedigree and the pragmatism of a results-first operator,
You will guide integrated media strategy for a national healthcare client, leading a dedicated cross-functional media team and collaborating with stakeholders across analytics, brand planning, and executive leadership. This role requires a leader who can set direction, command a room, and deliver measurable impact—while being deeply embedded in the tactical realities of performance media, traditional channels, and the evolving media landscape.

What you will be doing:

• Serve as the strategic lead across all media efforts for the account, driving full-funnel planning with a strong emphasis on performance (search, social, programmatic) as well as traditional channels (TV, radio, OOH).
• Translate client business goals into sophisticated media strategies that drive meaningful outcomes—awareness, conversions, appointments, and brand equity.
• Develop comprehensive media plans and POVs with strong rationales, connecting investment to business results.
• Collaborate closely with account service and analytics to ensure strategic alignment and executional excellence.
• Oversee a core team of AMDs, Supervisors, and Associates, while leading cross-functional groups in a matrixed environment.
• Elevate the agency’s thinking with a clear understanding of market trends, media research, and innovations across media, measurement, and consumer behavior.
• Champion outcome-based media approaches rooted in effectiveness, not vanity metrics.
• Present directly to senior client stakeholders and represent the agency in high-stakes discussions that require fluency in strategy, media economics, and data-informed planning.
• Mentor and develop talent, instilling a sense of ownership, accountability, and strategic maturity across the team.

What you bring:

• A strategic media leader with at least 10 years of progressive experience in media planning and buying—ideally at a leading holding company agency or equivalent.
• Adept at balancing brand and performance objectives within integrated plans; you’ve led significant campaigns across both digital and traditional channels.
• Experienced with national-scale clients and familiar with the expectations and pace that come with managing nine-figure budgets.
• Comfortable operating in executive-level rooms, and experienced collaborating with high-level consultants or advisory firms in fast-moving, data-driven environments.
• Deeply familiar with media KPIs, yet always focused on tying those to meaningful business outcomes (e.g., appointments booked, ROAS, patient starts).
• Capable of working cross-functionally with analytics, data science, and business intelligence teams—even if not building the models yourself.
• A calm and commanding presence—level-headed under pressure and decisive when it matters most.
• A builder of teams and culture, motivated by helping others thrive and elevating standards across the board.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in healthcare, regulated industries, or high-consideration consumer journeys (e.g., financial services, education).
• Strong knowledge of tools such as MediaOcean, DCM (or equivalent ad servers), and familiarity with media performance platforms.
• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, Business, or a related field preferred.
• Strong Excel, Google Workspace, and presentation skills (Keynote, PowerPoint)

Why Join Tombras' Media team? 
We're a media person's dream: data AND creatively driven. Work with leading clients in a variety of categories, working daily with award-winning channel teams and we are industry leaders in building cutting edge partnerships, driving innovation, storytelling and bringing it all together with our top-notch analytics practice. 
Why you’ll want to work at Tombras:
You’ll be joining one of the top independent agencies in North America. Connecting Data & Creativity for Business Results® is working for our clients and creating a flywheel affect fueling both client and agency growth.  You’ll be a part of a highly creative agency that has b