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Director Media Planning

Job ID 10133181 Location New York, New York, United States Business ESPN Date posted Oct. 07, 2025
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Job Summary:

The ESPN Media team combines the power of brand building and performance marketing through integrated planning, audience understanding and measurement to drive results. 

This role is critical in developing and leading holistic full-funnel Media strategy & planning across all media channels & platforms to increase brand awareness, retention & acquisition of ESPN brands & platforms. The ideal candidate is a creative thinker who utilizes collaboration in the highest form to drive business results. This position reports to the Senior Director Media Planning. This role is in New York, NY.  

Responsibilities:

  • Analyze market trends, fan insights, and competitive landscape to identify opportunities and develop innovative media approaches 
  • Develop strong partnerships with external media buying agencies and key media partners to maximize spend & alpha testing opportunities
  • Develop a comprehensive media strategy that aligns with business objectives 
  • Steward effective communication and understand needs of marketing teams, internal stakeholders, and external league partners ensuring team is set up to effectively execute campaigns across ESPN O&O and paid media channels
  • Partner with Research & Analytics teams to evaluate performance and make data-driven decisions to influence future strategies 
  • Encourage a culture based on teamwork, collaboration and intellectual ownership to drive results as well as manage, coach, and mentor managers and employees to inspire career growth
  • Provide digital marketing & creative thought leadership based on media results across ESPN Marketing
  • Collaborate with Sports Marketing departments to drive audience expansion and reach across various properties

Qualifications:

  • Minimum 10 years of experience in strategy and planning for large media campaigns
  • Minimum 3 years of experience in leadership and development, directly leading, managing, and growing teams
  • Experience with Performance Marketing, focusing on the path to purchasing objectives
  • Experience in engaging, managing and building relationships with senior and executive level leaders
  • A progressive mindset with proven success driving a business forward with innovative ideas
  • Excellent verbal and presenting skills to be an effective and persuasive communicator
  • Experience w/ audience targeting, data & tagging needs; implementation, reporting and measurement
  • An eye for emerging industry trends and topics, with an ability to shape business-building opportunities
  • Fluency in managing cross-functional collaborators to deliver unified work
  • A data-driven mentality, with a hunger to continuously refine strategy, performance and opportunity through insights
  • Deep understanding of the media landscape, consumer behavior, media consumption, and how to connect strategic thought leadership with activation across both digital and traditional channels

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Creative thinker who enjoys finding creative solutions by bringing brands together in unique and unexpected ways
  • The ideal candidate should be passionate, take initiative, have superior relationship skills, effectively multi-task, and is detail oriented
  • Sports/entertainment experience preferred
  • Demonstrates strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills with an ability to translate complex data into actionable insights in a clear and concise manner 
  • Driven self-starter who is comfortable working both independently and collaboratively across multiple departments and disciplines in a fast-paced environment

Required Education:

  • Bachelor’s degree in marketing, business, or a related field

#ESPNMedia


The hiring range for this position in New York, NY is $132,800.00 to $178,000.00 per year. The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate’s geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors. A bonus and/or long-term incentive units may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to the full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered.

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About ESPN:

Working at ESPN is unlike anything else. That’s because we’re always finding new ways to interact with fans – however and wherever they connect with sports. Every day we’re doing things that no one has done, all in a dynamic culture where we defy odds and continuously outdo ourselves. When you have the latest technology, game-changing ideas and world-class talent on your team, every day is extraordinary.

About The Walt Disney Company:

The Walt Disney Company, together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a leading diversified international family entertainment and media enterprise that includes three core business segments: Disney Entertainment, ESPN, and Disney Experiences. From humble beginnings as a cartoon studio in the 1920s to its preeminent name in the entertainment industry today, Disney proudly continues its legacy of creating world-class stories and experiences for every member of the family. Disney’s stories, characters and experiences reach consumers and guests from every corner of the globe. With operations in more than 40 countries, our employees and cast members work together to create entertainment experiences that are both universally and locally cherished.

This position is with ESPN Sales & Marketing, Inc., which is part of a business we call ESPN.

ESPN Sales & Marketing, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, military or veteran status, medical condition, genetic information or disability, or any other basis prohibited by federal, state or local law. Disney champions a business environment where ideas and decisions from all people help us grow, innovate, create the best stories and be relevant in a constantly evolving world.

DISABILITY ACCOMMODATION FOR EMPLOYMENT APPLICATIONS

The Walt Disney Company and its Affiliated Companies are Equal Employment Opportunity employers and welcome all job seekers including individuals with disabilities and veterans with disabilities. If you have a disability and believe you need a reasonable accommodation in order to search for a job opening or apply for a position, visit the Disney candidate disability accommodations FAQs. We will only respond to those requests that are related to the accessibility of the online application system due to a disability.

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