Media Director Jobs in Chicago, IL
Media Director jobs in Chicago are in strong demand, concentrated in the Loop, River North, and the Fulton Market District across advertising, media, and marketing services. Employers hiring right now include Epsilon, Fusion92, and Mastercard. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 32+ Media Director jobs
About WPP Media
WPP is the trusted growth partner for the world's leading brands. With exceptional talent, trusted data and intelligence, and world-class partnerships – all united by our pioneering agentic marketing platform, WPP Open – we help clients navigate change, capture opportunity, and deliver transformational growth.
WPP Media is WPP's AI-driven media operating unit, bringing together media, data, and partnerships to deliver creative personalisation at scale. Connected through WPP Open and powered by Open Intelligence, clients see exactly where, how, and why their media investment is working.
For more information, visit wppmedia.com.
Position Overview
Responsibilities
- Planning & Execution: Accountable for delegating and approving campaign strategy, forecasting, and measurement/testing plans to ensure they align with client goals.
- Quality & Performance: Serve as the ultimate escalation point for campaign launch, campaign QA, data integrity compliance, and post-campaign analysis (PCA).
- Direct career development, coaching, and growth plans for direct reports (Supervisors and Managers).
- Oversee team bandwidth, staffing efficiency, and workload utilization to ensure high performance and prevent burnt-out teams.
- Client Engagement: Act as the primary activation lead and key escalation point for senior client stakeholders.
- Relationship Building: Build strong relationships across key media partners and internal teams, while resolving complex account or scoping issues independently.
- Workflow Optimization: Drive process enhancements and best practice adoption across paid social workflows.
- Partner with cross-functional and regional teams to identify new platform opportunities, share learnings, and showcase top-tier work.
Qualifications
- Strong expertise in client communication, escalation handling, and paid social platform best practices.
- 2+ years of direct line-management experience. Proven ability to guide, mentor, and QA the day-to-day work of junior/mid-level team members (experience managing nearshore or offshored teams in LATAM is a plus).
- Demonstrable experience in senior client-facing roles, serving as a primary point of contact, leading strategic client calls, and setting clear expectations.
- Hands-on Platform Experience: Deep, practical familiarity inside major paid social native platforms (LinkedIn, Meta, X/Twitter, TikTok, YouTube, Pinterest, etc.). Must have direct experience working inside platform back-ends, not just high-level oversight.
- Proven ability to track, manage, and optimize large-scale media budgets across multiple social platforms.
- Exceptional verbal and written communication skills with the confidence to drive high-level strategic conversations with senior client executives.
- Ability to act as the primary escalation point for campaign or platform issues, providing swift and thoughtful solutions under fast-paced agency timelines.
- Location: Based near a WPP office (e.g., Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Chicago, Atlanta).
Life at WPP Media & Benefits
Our passion for shaping the next era of media is powered by our commitment to Be Extraordinary, investing in our employees to inspire transformational creativity. We also Lead Optimistically, firmly believing in and Championing Growth and Development for every individual. This commitment allows WPP Media employees to leverage the extensive global WPP Media & WPP networks to pursue their passions, build vital professional connections, and learn at the cutting edge of marketing and advertising. We Create an Open environment built on trust and respect, where everyone feels they belong and has opportunities to progress. This inclusive culture is fostered through a variety of employee resource groups and frequent in-office events showcasing team wins, sharing thought leadership, and celebrating holidays and milestone events. Our comprehensive benefits package reflects this commitment, including competitive medical, group retirement plans, vision, and dental insurance, significant paid time off, preferential partner discounts, and employee mental health awareness days.
WPP Media is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to characteristics. We believe the best work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection in this open and supportive environment. That's why we've adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office around four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process. Please note that while our philosophy is the same across WPP, benefits may vary by office/country.
Please read our Privacy Notice (https://www.wppmedia.com/pages/privacy-policy) for more information on how we process the information you provide.
Please read our Privacy Notice for more information on how we process the information you provide.
About WPP Media
WPP is the trusted growth partner for the world's leading brands. With exceptional talent, trusted data and intelligence, and world-class partnerships – all united by our pioneering agentic marketing platform, WPP Open – we help clients navigate change, capture opportunity, and deliver transformational growth.
WPP Media is WPP's AI-driven media operating unit, bringing together media, data, and partnerships to deliver creative personalisation at scale. Connected through WPP Open and powered by Open Intelligence, clients see exactly where, how, and why their media investment is working.
For more information, visit wppmedia.com.
Position Overview
Responsibilities
- Planning & Execution: Accountable for delegating and approving campaign strategy, forecasting, and measurement/testing plans to ensure they align with client goals.
- Quality & Performance: Serve as the ultimate escalation point for campaign launch, campaign QA, data integrity compliance, and post-campaign analysis (PCA).
- Direct career development, coaching, and growth plans for direct reports (Supervisors and Managers).
- Oversee team bandwidth, staffing efficiency, and workload utilization to ensure high performance and prevent burnt-out teams.
- Client Engagement: Act as the primary activation lead and key escalation point for senior client stakeholders.
- Relationship Building: Build strong relationships across key media partners and internal teams, while resolving complex account or scoping issues independently.
- Workflow Optimization: Drive process enhancements and best practice adoption across paid social workflows.
- Partner with cross-functional and regional teams to identify new platform opportunities, share learnings, and showcase top-tier work.
Qualifications
- Strong expertise in client communication, escalation handling, and paid social platform best practices.
- 2+ years of direct line-management experience. Proven ability to guide, mentor, and QA the day-to-day work of junior/mid-level team members (experience managing nearshore or offshored teams in LATAM is a plus).
- Demonstrable experience in senior client-facing roles, serving as a primary point of contact, leading strategic client calls, and setting clear expectations.
- Hands-on Platform Experience: Deep, practical familiarity inside major paid social native platforms (LinkedIn, Meta, X/Twitter, TikTok, YouTube, Pinterest, etc.). Must have direct experience working inside platform back-ends, not just high-level oversight.
- Proven ability to track, manage, and optimize large-scale media budgets across multiple social platforms.
- Exceptional verbal and written communication skills with the confidence to drive high-level strategic conversations with senior client executives.
- Ability to act as the primary escalation point for campaign or platform issues, providing swift and thoughtful solutions under fast-paced agency timelines.
- Location: Based near a WPP office (e.g., Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Chicago, Atlanta).
Life at WPP Media & Benefits
Our passion for shaping the next era of media is powered by our commitment to Be Extraordinary, investing in our employees to inspire transformational creativity. We also Lead Optimistically, firmly believing in and Championing Growth and Development for every individual. This commitment allows WPP Media employees to leverage the extensive global WPP Media & WPP networks to pursue their passions, build vital professional connections, and learn at the cutting edge of marketing and advertising. We Create an Open environment built on trust and respect, where everyone feels they belong and has opportunities to progress. This inclusive culture is fostered through a variety of employee resource groups and frequent in-office events showcasing team wins, sharing thought leadership, and celebrating holidays and milestone events. Our comprehensive benefits package reflects this commitment, including competitive medical, group retirement plans, vision, and dental insurance, significant paid time off, preferential partner discounts, and employee mental health awareness days.
WPP Media is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to characteristics. We believe the best work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection in this open and supportive environment. That's why we've adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office around four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process. Please note that while our philosophy is the same across WPP, benefits may vary by office/country.
Please read our Privacy Notice (https://www.wppmedia.com/pages/privacy-policy) for more information on how we process the information you provide.
Please read our Privacy Notice for more information on how we process the information you provide.
See All 32 Media Director Jobs in Chicago
Find roles in Chicago that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Media Director JobsMedia Director Job Market in Chicago
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Food & Beverage
- Sports & Recreation
- Technology & Software
- Consulting & Professional Services
Media Director Jobs in Chicago: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a media director job in Chicago?
The strongest path is targeting Chicago's dense cluster of advertising agencies, integrated marketing firms, and media companies in River North and the Loop, where most director-level openings are concentrated. Candidates with hands-on experience in programmatic buying, media planning, or cross-channel campaign management stand out. Building relationships through Chicago-specific industry groups and agency networks also gives you a real edge in this market.
Which companies hire media directors in Chicago?
Chicago media director roles are posted by Epsilon, Fusion92, and Mastercard and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Chicago's mix of global holding-company agencies, regional independents, and in-house brand teams across consumer goods and financial services creates consistent year-round demand.
Are there remote media director jobs in Chicago?
Yes, though the role is often hybrid given the collaboration and client-facing demands it carries. About 80% of media director openings tied to Chicago are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, with fully remote positions more common at performance-marketing and digital-first firms. Strategy, reporting, and planning work tends to flex remotely, while campaign launches and agency reviews typically require in-person presence.
How can I get a media director job in Chicago with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is moving up through a media planning or buying role at one of Chicago's many mid-size agencies or media shops, where internal promotion to director is common. Entry-level coordinators and media planners at River North and Loop agencies regularly advance within three to five years. Demonstrating fluency with programmatic platforms and showing ownership of campaign performance, even on smaller accounts, accelerates that progression in Chicago's agency market.
Which industries hire the most media directors in Chicago?
The sectors hiring the most media directors in Chicago are Food & Beverage, Sports & Recreation, and Technology & Software, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Chicago's role as a national hub for advertising, packaged goods brands, and financial services creates especially deep and recurring demand for senior media leadership across those sectors.
See All 32 Media Director Jobs in Chicago
Find roles in Chicago that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Media Director Jobs