PAID MEDIA DIRECTOR

Summary

The Media Director leads the vision, growth, and execution of the agency’s paid media department—overseeing strategy, team development, and cross-functional collaboration. This role is responsible for elevating the agency’s paid media capabilities, ensuring campaigns deliver measurable impact for clients across paid channels (while coordinating with organic and earned efforts), and contributing to new business efforts and agency-wide initiatives.

The Media Director is a proactive leader and strategic thinker, passionate about mentoring talent, pushing creative boundaries through media, and driving results for mission-driven brands.

About Bonfire Collective:

Bonfire Collective partners with outdoor brands to help them reimagine the future, build movements, and grow explosively. Our team of brand and story experts develop visionary insights, strategies, content marketing, and advertising campaigns that guide and inspire.  We work exclusively with mission-based and forward-thinking organizations that are positively impacting the future of recreation and conservation. Our clients include conservation non-profits and outdoor brands who are shifting industry paradigms.

Reports to: CEO

Direct Reports: Paid Media Managers and Associates (3)

Hours & Compensation:

• Starting at 80 hours/month on retainer with opportunity to increase hours over time.
• Candidate to be classified as independent contractor; long-term opportunity for conversion to W-2 employee 
• Pay band is $90 – $125/hour depending on experience, efficiency, and quality of work. Opportunity to increase rate over time. 

Location: 

Remote-eligible, hybrid preferred. As a small agency, we offer tons of flexibility on where, how, and when you work, and this position can be fully remote. However, if you’re located in the Denver–Boulder metro area, there is an opportunity to base out of our stunning office space in downtown Golden, CO.

Responsibilities:

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, manage, and mentor the media team, including paid media strategists, planners, buyers, and analytics specialists.
• Build a culture of curiosity, accountability, and collaboration, encouraging continuous learning and innovation.
• Oversee hiring, onboarding, and professional development plans for media team members.
• Ensure the team is resourced appropriately to meet client and agency needs.

Strategic Oversight

• Provide senior-level strategic oversight on key accounts, ensuring alignment between media strategies and broader client goals.
• Guide development of full-funnel media strategies across digital and non-digital channels.
• Champion the integration of media, creative, data, and brand strategy to deliver cohesive marketing solutions.
• Drive excellence in campaign performance, planning, and reporting across all client work.

Cross-Department & Client Collaboration

• Participate as a member of Bonfire’s leadership team, including attending and contributing to weekly leadership meetings.
• Collaborate with creative, account, strategy, and analytics teams to ensure media is seamlessly integrated into campaign planning and execution.
• Serve as a senior point of contact for key clients, providing leadership and strategic consultation.
• Ensure internal processes support strong communication, project flow, and campaign execution across departments.

Agency Growth & New Business

• Partner with leadership to shape and evolve the agency’s media offering, keeping ahead of industry changes and client needs.
• Lead or support new business efforts by contributing to proposals, pitches, and media strategy development.
• Represent the media discipline in prospective client conversations and presentations, articulating value and innovation.
• Identify new tools, platforms, and partnerships to advance agency capabilities.

Skills & Qualifications:

Must-Have Skills

• Proven leadership experience managing and developing media teams across planning, buying, and analytics.
• Expertise in full-funnel media strategy across search, social, display, programmatic, video, and native and non-digital media channels.
• Strong collaborator with the ability to work cross-functionally and communicate with stakeholders at all levels.
• Experience in new business or business development efforts within an agency environment.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills—can lead conversations with both clients and internal teams.
• Strong understanding of media performance metrics, attribution, and optimization strategies.

Preferred Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in paid media strategy, planning, and buying, preferably in both agency and client-side settings; comfort managing budgets of $1mm+
• Experience working with mission-driven, nonprofit, outdoor, or startup clients is a plus.
• Familiarity with tools such as Google Ads, Meta, GA4, Tag Manager, Looker Studio, and major DSPs.
• Bonfire’s leadership team runs on the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS). The Media Director will be expected to develop familiarity with this system. We recommend reading Traction by Gino Wickman or reviewing EOS resources/videos to understand our operating framework.

What Success Looks Like

• The media team is engaged, well-supported, and delivering high-quality, high-performing work.
• Clients view the media team as strategic partners and trusted advisors.
• The agency’s media offering evolves through new ideas, tools, and approaches led by your vision.
• Media is effectively integrated into pitches and contributes meaningfully to new business wins.
• Be an engaged and contributing member of the leadership team, supporting cross-department alignment and EOS implementation.
• Cross-functional collaboration is smooth and productive, leading to better campaign outcomes and team cohesion.
• The agency continues to grow its reputation for smart, impactful, and data-driven media strategy.

How to Apply:

If you’re interested in this contract position, please fill out an application here.