Associate Director, Activation

The Associate Director, Activation will lead a team of digital media professionals responsible for planning, executing, and optimizing performance-driven media campaigns across multiple channels. This role combines hands-on media expertise with people leadership, strategic problem-solving, and client partnership. As a senior member of the Activation team, you will serve as a subject matter expert across digital media platforms, translate campaign data into actionable insights, and identify opportunities to improve performance, processes, and ways of working.

Responsibilities

Lead and develop a team: Manage, coach, and mentor a team of approximately 3-8 direct reports, providing guidance on campaign strategy, execution, optimization, and professional development while fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous learning; Bring deep hands-on media expertise: Apply a strong working knowledge of performance media platforms and analytics tools across paid search, paid social, programmatic display and video, connected TV, and other digital channels; Drive campaign performance: Oversee the development, launch, and ongoing optimization of digital media campaigns, ensuring strategies and execution align with client objectives, KPIs, and business outcomes; Guide strategic campaign development: Lead your team in developing thoughtful, data-driven media strategies and campaign structures that maximize performance, support full-funnel objectives, and respond to evolving client needs; Serve as a subject matter expert: Act as a trusted resource for clients, media partners, and internal stakeholders, providing platform expertise, performance recommendations, and innovative solutions to complex media challenges; Translate data into insights: Partner with cross-functional teams to analyze campaign results, identify trends and opportunities, and communicate actionable recommendations; Build strong client and partner relationships: Collaborate with clients, platform partners, and internal teams to understand business priorities, align on campaign goals, and identify opportunities to improve media effectiveness; Drive innovation and operational excellence: Identify emerging platform capabilities, industry trends, and opportunities to improve campaign performance, automate workflows, and scale best practices across teams

Requirements

5–8+ years of hands-on digital media experience, with deep expertise in performance marketing and the execution and optimization of campaigns across multiple paid media channels, including paid search, paid social, and programmatic; Demonstrated experience managing and developing at least 3 direct reports, including providing coaching, performance feedback, and ongoing professional development; Strong working knowledge of major digital media platforms, campaign management tools, and analytics solutions, with the ability to troubleshoot performance challenges and guide optimization decisions; Proven ability to translate campaign data and performance trends into actionable insights, strategic recommendations, and measurable business results; Experience developing cross-channel media strategies and balancing campaign-level execution with broader client and business objectives; Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to clearly articulate recommendations and build credibility with clients, media partners, and internal stakeholders; A creative, analytical approach to problem-solving, with the ability to navigate complex challenges and identify opportunities for innovation and improvement; Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment

Benefits

Healthcare/Dental/Vision; Unlimited PTO; 401k Contributions; $75/mo Wellness Stipend; $100/mo Mobile Phone Stipend; $50/mo Internet Stipend; $500/yr Annual Learning Stipend; $2,000/yr Annual Tuition Stipend; One-time $200 New Hire Home Office Equipment Stipend; Parental Leave - 16 week primary caregiver / 6 week secondary caregiver leave; Annual Work From Anywhere 4 weeks per year; Target Annualized Discretionary Bonus: 5% ($5,850 - $6,500)