Typical Career Progression
| |
Position |
Remuneration |
Experience |
Education |
| Start Position |
Media Coordinator |
$30,000-$40,000 |
None |
Undergraduate or TAFE |
| 1st Promotion |
Media Buyer |
$40,000-$50,000 |
2-4 years |
Undergraduate or TAFE |
| 2nd Promotion |
Media Planner/Buyer |
$50,000-$60,000 |
4-5 years |
Undergraduate or TAFE |
| 3rd Promotion |
Strategist/Business Manager |
$60,000-$100,000 |
5+ years |
Undergraduate or TAFE |
| 4th Promotion |
Business Director/Media Director |
$100,000+ |
10+ years |
Undergraduate and possibly Postgraduate |
| 5th Promotion |
Managing Director/CEO |
$150,000+ |
10+ years |
Undergraduate and possibly Postgraduate |
*The above table is to be used as a guide only
Typical accountabilities and responsibilities
| Media Coordinator |
Administration and coordination of all media bookings. Confirmation checking, invoice checking. Advertising material dispatch. |
| Media Buyer |
Day to day buying of advertising campaigns. Management of coordinators. Checking of confirmations. |
| Media Planner/Buyer |
Planning and Buying campaigns under the direction of the Strategist or Business Manager. Campaign tracking and optimisation. |
| Strategist/Business Manager |
Client liaison, accepting briefs from clients and creative agencies. Ensuring the buying team is delivering advertising and media strategies as briefed. |
| Business Director/Media Director |
Management of the communications process. Overseeing the relationship between the client, partners and the media. Deal negotiating and campaign strategies. |
| Managing Director/CEO |
New business, Management of the agencies Profit and Loss. Hiring policy. Running the business. |
*The above table is to be used as a guide only
Career Path options & Employment
The position of a media director is your end goal. During university, it will be wise to undertake work experience, volunteer work or an internship within a media department. By doing this, you will create contacts, who can provide references for jobs. In the media/agency industry, experience and contacts are vital.
Once employed, you may climb up through the media department, undertaking appropriate experience in roles such as media planner, media buyer, media strategist. Then after enough years of relevant experience and increased knowledge, you may attain the position of media director.
About the Author
Ben Willee
Ben has 17 years experience in the media market in Australia and internationally. He joined Initiative in London in 1998 managing a blue chip client base, then appointed to Initiatives European Insight Team to further develop media strategy throughout Europe and the UK. In 2003 Ben returned to Melbourne as General Manager Initiative Melbourne. The office growth from increased revenue and client base catapulted Ben to Managing Director Initiative.
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