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SVP, Direct Investments

REMOTE / Kansas City, MO / Chicago, IL / New York, NY / Austin, TX / Denver, CO

MissionOne Media is a brand within BarkleyOKRP that combines full-funnel media planning and buying services, CRM, data, analytics, retail media, SEO, and digital experiences.

  • $1 Billion+ in Annual Billings
     
  • 200 Team Members
     
  • Our tech stack is powered by Adlucent, the digital performance marketing agency that joined BarkleyOKRP in 2024

This is a full-time, hybrid position for a Senior Vice President, Direct Investments at BarkleyOKRP. In this senior executive leadership role, you will be responsible for defining and driving the overall vision, strategy, and operational excellence of the Direct Investments practice. This role requires a leader with deep, authoritative expertise in Local Media Markets across the US, while maintaining a specialized focus on high-impact engagement channels including Out-of-Home (OOH & DOOH), Audio (Broadcast & Digital), Sports Marketing, and Sponsorships. You will champion innovation, cultivate top-tier talent, and ensure the delivery of market-leading solutions, applying advanced analytics to shape the agency's investment philosophy. The SVP will be the strategic anchor for negotiations, identifying new media opportunities, and owning the creation of industry-defining thought leadership. This role demands exceptional leadership across the entire business, owning the agency's trading relationships and team development while fostering deep integration with all agency disciplines. You will be a key voice in the agency's executive team, holding full team ownership responsibilities and accountability for the department's operational success.

Here’s what it takes to be successful in the role:

● Local Market Authority & Strategic Vision: You possess an unrivaled understanding of the US Local Media landscape while seeing the "macro" picture of national trends. You translate this knowledge into high-level investment strategies that give clients a competitive advantage in local markets across TV, Radio, Cable, and OOH.

● Operational Leadership & Team Stewardship: You have a sophisticated understanding of agency economics and resource allocation. You are fully accountable for the team's operational efficiency, staffing models, and budget management. You make data-driven decisions that optimize team performance and drive sustainable growth for the Direct Investments practice.

● Master Negotiator & Relationship Builder: You are a formidable negotiator with deep-rooted relationships with media owners, vendors, and station groups at both the national and local levels. You leverage these relationships to secure "first-look" opportunities, unique integrations, and superior pricing for clients across broadcast, OOH, sports, and experiential partnerships.

● Transformational Problem-Solving & Innovation: You excel at deconstructing complex investment challenges and architecting scalable solutions. You foster a culture of innovation, specifically identifying new media opportunities and pushing the boundaries of what is possible in programmatic activation (pDOOH/pAudio) and direct investment.

● Executive Communication & Thought Leadership: You are a masterful communicator and a recognized industry voice. You serve as the strategic lead in senior client communications and presentations, articulating complex investment theses with clarity.

You are committed to producing high-value thought leadership content that elevates the agency's profile.

● Organizational Agility & Talent Development: You are a passionate "leader of leaders," dedicated to attracting, mentoring, and retaining top-tier investment talent. You foster an inclusive, high-performance culture that values deep market expertise and continuous professional growth.

Responsibilities:

● Define and execute the strategic vision for the Direct Investments department, modernizing Local Media Buying while integrating specialized capabilities in OOH, Audio, Sports Marketing, and Sponsorships.

● Lead, mentor, and inspire a large, multi-disciplinary team (including Directors and VPs), fostering a culture of precision, accountability, and deep market knowledge. Oversee all recruitment, training, and career development frameworks for the department.

● Serve as the primary Strategic Lead in senior client communications, presentations, and high-stakes meetings, articulating the value of integrated local and engagement strategies.

● Oversee the strategic approach to "Programmatic Activation Briefs" for pDOOH and pAudio, ensuring the team translates high-level strategy into effective execution briefs for programmatic traders.

● Drive negotiations for optimal rates and preferred partnerships across the entire investment landscape, from local broadcast station groups to major OOH vendors and sports franchises.

● Proactively identify and champion new media opportunities and emerging technologies (e.g., new local measurement currencies, interactive OOH), ensuring the agency remains at the cutting edge of the industry.

● Develop and publish industry-leading thought leadership content (white papers, articles, speaking engagements) that positions the agency as an expert in Direct Investments and Local Activation.

● Oversee all Local Investment strategies across Spot TV, Spot Radio, Local Cable, Local OOH, and Digital extensions, ensuring optimal market coverage and efficiency for clients.

● Manage the operational health of the Direct Investments practice, including staffing models, technology investments, and resource allocation, ensuring the team is structured for success.

● Architect and manage proprietary trading models or preferred partnerships with local media groups and aggregators to drive unique value for the agency's clients.

● Act as the agency’s primary expert on Local Market dynamics, providing high-level counsel to clients on geographical prioritization, market nuances, and competitive localized spending.

● Lead the integration of "Audience Activation" strategies into broader investment plans, ensuring local efforts are cohesive with national or programmatic layers.

● Lead major new business development initiatives, serving as the senior investment lead in pitches and demonstrating the agency's superiority in local market activation.

● Represent BarkleyOKRP at major industry events (e.g., NAB, Local Media Association, OOH conferences), enhancing the agency's reputation as a powerhouse in Direct and Local Investments.

● Other duties/responsibilities may be assigned from time to time.

Qualifications:

● 12-15+ years of extensive experience in Media Investment, with a specific, proven track record in Local Media Buying and Strategy at a senior level.

● Deep expertise in local broadcast (TV/Radio) and local OOH markets, including a strong understanding of local measurement currencies (Nielsen Audio/Video, Comscore, Geopath).

● Proven experience managing significant P&L responsibilities and leading large investment teams.

● Strong proficiency with media buying platforms widely used in local trading (e.g., Strata, Core, Mediaocean) and modern data enablement tools.

● Exceptional negotiation skills with a history of structuring complex, agency-level deals with media holding companies or large station groups.

● Outstanding executive presence and communication skills, with the ability to simplify complex local market dynamics for C-level clients.

● Strategic thinker with a data-driven approach, capable of bridging the gap between traditional local buying and modern audience-based targeting.

● Must be a visionary leader who is passionate about the power of local media to drive business results.

 

The annual gross base salary range is $180,000- $225,000 USD.  This range represents the anticipated target salary range for this position. Actual salaries will vary and are based on factors such as a candidate’s qualifications, skills, and geographic location. Salary is one component of BarkleyOKRP's total compensation package, which includes multiple health insurance options, flexible PTO, life insurance, and 401K.

 

 

BarkleyOKRP’s Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion

  • We believe being radically diverse and inclusive is the key to becoming one of the world’s great creative idea companies. By embracing everything that makes our partners who they are and what makes them unique to the world around them, we create the conditions and capacity to help creative, original thinking thrive. 
  • BarkleyOKRP is committed to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging as part of our corporate strategic goals, supported by a formal DEI+B program, Employee Resource Groups, Director of Diversity leadership and agency commitment to The Brand Lab, Creative Accelerator, Fellowship, MAIP, and BLAC. 

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