Sr Media Analyst

About us: Target is an iconic brand, a Fortune 50 company and one of America’s leading retailers. Fuelling the continued success of one of the world’s most beloved and recognized brands is a distinctly capable, creative and innovative Marketing organization. Target Marketing is well known for inspiring and surprising guests, and we pride ourselves on connecting them to the products and experiences they expect and deserve from Target. We study our guests to discover new needs and insights, and then craft every interaction to build brand love. We are market experts who insist on a clear and cohesive understanding of our business objectives, guest segments and behaviours, strategies and tactics, overcoming obstacles and measuring success. Our commitment to partnering both internally and with external agencies gives us a wide range of capabilities, from award-winning creative work to exciting and unique promotional marketing. Leveraging our collective assets and fostering a healthy, supportive and open team culture, we deliver a holistically gratifying experience that guests can only get at Target. Role Description: The Senior Media Analyst (L5 Trading & Optimization Manager) will serve as a subject matter expert in programmatic media buying, leading full-funnel, data-driven campaign strategies that deliver measurable business impact. This role owns the end-to-end programmatic campaign lifecycle — from strategic planning, audience and media research, and execution across DSPs, to continuous optimization, performance analysis, and insights delivery. The ideal candidate will combine technical fluency in digital advertising platforms with strong analytical and consultative skills, driving efficient budget utilization and superior ROI. As a cross-functional leader, the role will collaborate closely with sales, product, creative, and analytics teams to design and execute innovative media strategies, evaluate technology and data solutions, and contribute to the broader growth of performance marketing capabilities. Staying ahead of industry trends, sharing best practices, and shaping the evolution of Target’s digital advertising & programmatic excellence will be key to success in this position. Scope of Role Category-Level Ownership: Accountable for end-to-end trading and optimization across multiple categories, ensuring delivery against pacing, KPIs, and revenue growth targets. Client Impact: Direct influence on top/critical accounts within the portfolio, driving measurable ROI, incremental sales, and client retention through optimization excellence. Strategic Influence: Provide insights and best practices to internal leadership, clients, and cross-functional stakeholders; contribute to shaping category media strategies and product development. Operational Leadership: Ensure consistency of trading performance, process rigor, and knowledge-sharing across the team.