AVP Media Buying (Paid, Publisher, Organic & International)

Role Overview

Own end-to-end media buying across paid digital advertising, publisher rate negotiation, organic/earned journalist relationships, and international media placements, while leading and developing the media buying team to ensure optimal cost-efficiency, reach, and quality coverage for clients across domestic and global markets.

Key ResponsibilitiesA. Publisher Rate Negotiation & Contract Management

•         Onboard new publishers and grow active partnerships (domestic + international)

•         Negotiate contracts and rate cards; track contract turnaround time from first contact to finalization

•         Ensure contract terms meet platform standards; drive renewal/extension rates with existing publishers

•         Identify preferred media channels based on cost-per-placement efficiency

•         Understand sales requirements to negotiate the best publishing rates across print/digital

B. Organic/Earned Media Placement

•         Build and grow journalist contact database (new contacts added monthly)

•         Convert journalist relationships into published organic stories and exclusive opportunities

•         Manage print press release distribution — timeliness, targeted delivery, unique placements

•         Coordinate press conferences — pre-event planning, media attendance, sales alignment on deliverables/costing

C. International Media Buying & Expansion

•         Identify and onboard international publishers (US, UK, UAE, APAC, etc.) to expand global distribution network

•         Negotiate rates and contracts with international publications, accounting for currency, regional pricing norms, and payment terms

•         Build journalist/editor relationships in key international markets for organic coverage

•         Coordinate campaign timing across time zones for global press releases and press conferences

•         Track region-wise cost-per-placement and coverage quality to identify high-value international markets

•         Ensure compliance with international media/advertising regulations and disclosure norms (e.g., FTC guidelines for sponsored content in the US)

•         Collaborate with sales team on pricing international packages for clients seeking global exposure

D. Team Management & Leadership

•         Lead, mentor, and manage the media buying team across paid, publisher, and organic functions

•         Conduct regular team reviews (daily/weekly/monthly) to track progress and resolve bottlenecks

•         Set individual KPIs/targets for team members and monitor performance against them

•         Drive training and development programs to upskill the team on new platforms and negotiation techniques

•         Support employee retention through engagement, recognition, and growth opportunities

•         Facilitate internal promotions and build a leadership pipeline within the team

•         Coordinate cross-functionally with sales, content, tech, and finance teams to ensure aligned execution

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

•         No. of new publishers onboarded (domestic + international) / contract turnaround time / renewal rate

•         No. of new journalist contacts (domestic + international) / organic stories published

•         Cost-per-placement across channels and regions

•         Distribution timeliness & delivery confirmation rate

•         No. of international markets/publications added to network

•         Team retention rate, training completion rate, and internal promotion rate

Requirements

•         6–10 years across paid media buying, publisher negotiations, or PR/media relations (agency background preferred)

•         Hands-on experience running Meta/Google/LinkedIn ad campaigns

•         Strong negotiation skills — proven track record securing favorable publisher rates/contracts, including with international publishers

•         Existing network of journalist/editorial contacts, ideally spanning international markets (US/UK/UAE/APAC)

•         Understanding of international media landscape, regional pricing, and compliance norms

•         Analytical mindset — comfortable tracking CPL, cost-per-placement, and ROI metrics across regions

•         Proven people-management experience — leading, mentoring, and developing a team

•         Excellent stakeholder management (sales, publishers, journalists, clients) across time zones

•         Prior experience in cross-border PR/media campaigns is a strong plus