Horizon Media Inc

Associate Director, Digital Activation and Investment

Horizon Media Inc$95K — $110K *
Media
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 5+ years of hands-on experience in paid social marketing, ideally in an agency environment.
  • Proven track record managing complex paid social campaigns and serving as the primary client contact.
  • Exceptional communication skills for presenting social strategies to various stakeholders.
  • Demonstrated experience in developing and mentoring paid social marketing professionals.
  • Expert knowledge of social marketing, analytics, and strategic buying metrics.
  • Extensive experience with major social platforms like Meta, TikTok, and LinkedIn.
  • Strong understanding of both Paid and Organic Social practices.

Responsibilities

  • Develop and implement a data-driven paid social strategy in collaboration with Business Solutions teams.
  • Utilize Horizon Media's tools for competitive analysis, audience research, and social-first campaign planning.
  • Act as a thought leader on social trends and tools, guiding innovative campaign strategies.
  • Oversee the preparation of social-specific documentation, ensuring accuracy and excellence.
  • Translate complex social concepts into actionable insights as the main authority for clients.
  • Lead and develop a team of paid social specialists, fostering a culture of growth and learning.
  • Analyze performance metrics to inform strategic decisions and optimize campaign effectiveness.

Benefits

  • Work in a collaborative, team-oriented environment.
  • Access to continuous learning and professional growth opportunities.
  • Be part of a company that emphasizes Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
  • Work alongside innovative thought leaders in the social media landscape.
Full Job Description
Job Description

What You'll Do

Paid Social Strategy & Activation - 50%
  • Partner with Business Solutions teams to architect a sophisticated, data-driven paid social strategy that serves as a core pillar of our clients' marketing efforts.
  • Guide the team to master and leverage Horizon Media's suite of planning, evaluation, and buying tools for deep competitive analysis, audience research, creative segmentation, and social-first plan development.
  • Act as the thought leader on trends, tools, and opportunities within the social landscape (e.g., emerging platforms, creator/influencer integrations, new ad formats, privacy changes), and apply that knowledge to innovate campaign strategies.
  • Oversee the creation of all social-specific documentation, including strategic decks, media plans, and testing roadmaps, ensuring excellence and accuracy.

Client & Team Leadership - 30%
  • Serve as the primary paid social authority for the client, translating complex social concepts into actionable insights and ensuring all social activities align with their business objectives.
  • Manage and develop a team of paid social specialists, creating growth plans, providing clear career goals, and fostering an environment of continuous learning and expertise.
  • Apply deep knowledge of the social industry and client business to lead negotiations with social platform partners (e.g., Meta, TikTok, Snap) and secure first-to-market opportunities.
  • Build and strengthen relationships across internal departments, ensuring the paid social strategy is seamlessly integrated into the broader marketing mix.

Campaign Management & Optimization - 15%
  • Provide final sign-off on critical social campaign builds, from audience targeting and creative formatting to bidding strategies and budget allocation, ensuring adherence to best practices.
  • Act as the primary escalation point for the team on complex campaign challenges, from performance plateaus to tracking, pixel integration, and attribution issues.
  • Lead the analysis of paid social performance, guiding the team to move beyond basic metrics and deliver thoughtful, data-based conclusions that reveal the 'why' behind the numbers.
  • Champion a culture of testing and optimization, encouraging the team to proactively identify and execute opportunities to improve campaign effectiveness and drive ROI.

Strategic Partnerships - 5%
  • Act as a primary resource for the team as they work through the planning process, while providing strategic guidance.
  • Lead collaboration with other Horizon Media teams towards 360 partnerships, incorporating relevant extensions.


Who You Are
  • A master of storytelling with data, able to transform complex social performance metrics into a clear and compelling narrative.
  • A left and right brain thinker, blending analytical rigor with creative problem-solving.
  • A collaborative, team-oriented leader with strong delegation skills and the ability to manage both up and down effectively.
  • A problem solver with the foresight to anticipate campaign challenges and develop proactive, innovative solutions.
  • Detail-oriented with an unwavering commitment to accuracy and follow-through.
  • Deeply passionate about the social media landscape, with an insatiable desire to innovate and stay ahead of industry trends.
  • An enthusiastic coach and mentor, dedicated to developing the next generation of paid social marketing experts.
  • An advocate for and supporter of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.


Preferred Skills & Experience
  • 5+ years of hands-on experience developing and executing paid social marketing strategies, preferably in an agency setting.
  • Proven expertise in managing large-scale, complex paid social campaigns and acting as the primary client contact and social subject matter expert.
  • Exceptional verbal and written communication skills; able to confidently present and "sell through" social strategies to both internal and Client stakeholders.
  • Demonstrated leadership experience in developing and managing paid social marketing professionals.
  • Expert-level knowledge of social marketing principles, analytics, and buying strategies (e.g., CPA, ROAS, CPM, Reach/Frequency).
  • Deep, hands-on experience with social platforms such as Meta (Facebook/Instagram), TikTok, LinkedIn, Snapchat, Pinterest, and X (Twitter).
  • Strong understanding of the interplay between Paid Social and Organic Social / Influencer Marketing.


Certificates, Licenses and Registrations
There are no requirements for certificates, licenses, and registrations.

Physical Activity and Work Environment

There are no requirements for physical activity and work environment.

The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees and are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified. Furthermore, they do not establish a contract for employment and are subject to change at the discretion of the employer.

Disclosures

The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees and are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified. Furthermore, they do not establish a contract of employment and are subject to change at the discretion of the employer.

In our recruitment process, we may use AI-powered tools to help identify potential candidates for this role.

Applicants with disabilities who may need a reasonable accommodation during the interview/hiring process should email the following: [redacted]

Salary Range
$95,000.00 - $110,000.00

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About Horizon Media Inc

Horizon Media is an advertising and marketing agency that provides services such as media planning and buying, digital marketing, and research and analytics. The agency was founded in 1989 and is headquartered in New York City. Horizon Media has more than 2,300 employees and offices in Los Angeles, Toronto, and London. The agency's clients include Geico, Corona, and Capital One.
Learn more about Horizon Media Inc
Size
1,000 employees
Industry
Founded
1989

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