Media Manager — Blaze Partners, Falmouth, ME

Blaze Partners is seeking a Media Manager to independently own paid media strategy and performance for a portfolio of clients, develop the people on our media team, and help grow the agency through new business. This is a role for a media thinker who can run client programs end-to-end, raise the bar for the team around them, and keep Blaze ahead of where digital media is going next.

Located in Falmouth, Maine, Blaze Partners is a digital marketing and advertising firm serving clients across outdoor recreation, renewable energy, higher education, financial services, and more. Learn more at (and get a sense of agency life on Instagram: ).

The ideal candidate

You are a media strategist and a leader. You've owned client media programs from first plan to final read-out, you know how channels work alone and together to drive business outcomes, and you're the person others on the team turn to for answers. You make confident recommendations, back them up with data, and change course quickly when the signals change.

You bring:

• Proven ownership of client media strategies, with the judgment to make decisions and manage risk without day-to-day oversight

• An interest in mentoring media professionals, and a genuine interest in helping others grow

• Experience contributing to new business, from shaping media thinking in proposals to presenting in pitches

• A deep understanding of performance data, media metrics, budgeting, and optimization frameworks

• An instinct for what's next in digital media, and the drive to turn emerging trends into practical advantages for clients

• Exceptional written and communications skills. Clear, confident communication with clients, prospects, and agency leadership.

Responsibilities

Client media leadership

• Independently own paid media strategy, planning, and performance for a portfolio of client accounts across paid search, paid social, programmatic display and video, OTT/CTV, and emerging platforms

• Lead media planning end-to-end, including channel mix, budget allocation, pacing, forecasting, and scenario planning

• Translate client business objectives into media strategies, testing roadmaps, and KPIs, and hold accountability for results

• Serve as the senior media voice for clients, explaining results, tradeoffs, and recommendations in clear, plain language

• Turn performance data into insights that drive optimization and inform future media and creative strategy

• Develop and deliver client presentations, strategic plans, and performance read-outs that tell a clear story behind the numbers

• Partner with creative, account, and web teams so media strategy and creative execution stay aligned

Team mentorship and development

• Mentor, coach, and support the growth of media team members through regular feedback, training, and career guidance

• Review team work for strategic quality and accuracy, and model what great media work looks like at Blaze

• Delegate effectively, giving team members ownership of meaningful work while providing support where it's needed

• Contribute to hiring, onboarding, and skill development for the media department

New business development

• Lead the media components of new business pitches, proposals, and RFP responses

• Develop media recommendations, budgets, and forecasts for prospective clients

• Present media strategy to prospects with confidence, and help build relationships that turn into long-term partnerships

• Identify opportunities to grow existing client relationships through expanded or new media services

Keeping Blaze at the forefront

• Track shifts across the digital media landscape, including platform changes, privacy and measurement developments, AI-driven buying and search, and new channels

• Evaluate and pilot new platforms, tools, and tactics, and recommend which ones Blaze should adopt

• Share point-of-view and learnings with the team and clients through internal training, briefings, and thought leadership

• Define, document, and refine media processes, frameworks, and best practices as the department grows

• Uphold Blaze's quality standards and represent Blaze professionally at all times, in and out of the office

Required competencies

• Substantial experience in paid media strategy and execution, preferably in an agency environment, including independent ownership of client accounts

• Experience mentoring, managing, or developing other media professionals, either formally or informally

• Hands-on involvement in new business, such as pitches, proposals, or RFP responses

• Advanced understanding of major media platforms, buying models, attribution, and measurement approaches

• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to find meaningful insights and turn them into action, not just report metrics

• Proven ability to manage multiple accounts, priorities, budgets, and people at once

• High comfort level working with numbers, budgets, and spreadsheets

• Excellent written and verbal communication and presentation skills

• A demonstrated commitment to staying current on media trends, platforms, and industry changes

Nice to have

• Experience with AI visibility, such as optimizing brand presence in AI-powered search and answer engines (GEO)

• Familiarity with AI-driven visibility tools and reporting, and a point of view on how to use them well

Desired characteristics

• Entrepreneurial — Growth and change are part of our day-to-day. You see new business and new capabilities as opportunities, not distractions.

• A natural mentor — At the core of this job is an innate desire to make everyone better. You take pride in the growth of the people around you.

• Smart — You think creatively and analytically, connecting dots in interesting ways.

• Ego-free — Check your ego at the door. We value everyone's opinion, regardless of role or seniority. You thrive in a fast-paced, team-focused environment and lead without rubbing people the wrong way.

• Results driven — You always bring it back to the results. Our clients' success is our success.

• Forward-looking — You're energized by change in the media landscape and want Blaze to be first to understand it, not last.

• Comfortable with ambiguity — As a growing company, the path forward can sometimes look more like bushwhacking. You're comfortable creating structure where there is none and defining best practices for a growing, entrepreneurial company.

Job type

• Full-time

• In-person 4 days per week, 1 day remote

Finally, it's important that this candidate brings a sense of fun and optimism. We work hard, think critically, and still believe advertising—and media especially—should be interesting and enjoyable.

Blaze Partners values diversity in backgrounds and experience. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and an anti-racist organization. All qualified applicants will be considered regardless of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, age, or veteran status.

Starting base annual salary range of $75k-$85k plus eligible for discretionary bonus.

Blaze offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, 401(k), health and dental insurance, and more.

How to apply

Send your resume and cover letter to .

We review every application. If you have questions about the role before applying, you are welcome to reach out to the address above or contact Cathy Nugent at catherine@cnugenthr who is managing this search.

Blaze Partners is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic. If you need an accommodation at any point in the hiring process, let us know and we will arrange it.