Job Description:About the roleThe Manager, Performance Media is a senior, hands-on owner of Paid Search and Paid Social across a portfolio of clients. We are looking for someone who takes ownership of performance programs, continually challenges and evolves them and connects every media decision to a measurable business outcome.
The role spans strategy, campaign architecture and execution, measurement rigour, optimization, and client communication, with strong command of digital performance across platforms such as Google Ads, Microsoft Advertising, Meta, TikTok, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Reddit, and Snap. It demands fluency in modern, AI-powered media and the judgment to act on what the data says rather than what has always been done.
Just as importantly, this person is a dependable senior anchor on their accounts: a player-coach who both executes at a high level and elevates the team around them, so that delivery never rests on a single individual.
Key accountabilities- Own the strategic direction of integrated Paid Search and Paid Social programs across assigned accounts, partnering with client leadership, actively evolving and modernizing programs.
- Lead end-to-end campaign delivery across Paid Search (Google Ads, Microsoft Advertising, Search Ads 360) and Paid Social (Meta, TikTok, Pinterest, Snap, LinkedIn, Reddit), including AI-powered campaign types (Performance Max, Advantage+, Demand Gen, AI Max) and advanced bidding strategies.
- Audit ad accounts to surface performance, structural, and measurement gaps, then build and drive a prioritized plan to modernize them
- Activate first-party and CRM data into media through privacy-safe methods (Customer Match, Conversions API, clean-room, predictive audiences), with a working understanding of consent and data-privacy requirements
- Optimize toward business outcomes, connecting media performance to client KPIs and working with effectiveness, marketing-mix-modelling, and incrementality outputs to guide budget allocation and bidding.
- Serve as the senior day-to-day performance media anchor for assigned accounts, providing depth, continuity, and redundancy so delivery never depends on one person; act as a hands-on player-coach who executes and raises the bar for the team.
- Lead and mentor search and social buyers, building cross-trained bench strength and pre-agreed decision frameworks so the team stays decisive and self-sufficient through high-intensity peak periods.
- Oversee high-quality reporting with actionable, business-relevant insight and clear, confident recommendations.
- Collaborate tightly with integrated agency teams and client analytics, marketing, and finance partners; plan rigorously ahead of peak cycles; operate with clear escalation and genuine shared accountability for outcomes.
- Develop a deep understanding of each client's business and category, anticipating needs beyond individual campaigns and contributing strategic, innovative thinking to internal and client discussions.
Qualifications- Post-secondary degree or diploma in Media, Advertising, Marketing, Business Administration, or a related field.
- Minimum 8 years of experience in a digital performance agency or client-side role, with demonstrated ownership of accounts and a track record of delivering measurable business results.
- Hands-on expertise across SEM platforms (Google Ads, Microsoft Advertising, SA360) and Paid Social platforms (Meta, TikTok, Pinterest, Snap, Reddit, LinkedIn), including AI-powered campaign types (Performance Max, Advantage+, AI Max) and modern bidding.
- Strong, practical command of measurement and tagging infrastructure (GA4, GTM, Meta CAPI, Floodlight/CM360)
- Experience activating first-party and CRM data in privacy-safe ways (Customer Match, CAPI, clean rooms), with awareness of consent and data-privacy considerations.
- A business-outcomes mindset: comfortable optimizing to client KPIs and working with incrementality and media-mix-modelling concepts, not just last-click metrics.
- Strong client-facing skills with the ability to build and maintain trusted relationships, including acting as a senior point of continuity.
- Collaborative mindset with the ability to work cross-functionally; a strategic thinker with a passion for digital marketing.
- Demonstrates integrity, initiative, and a growth mindset.
- Relevant platform certifications (Google, Meta, etc.) are considered assets.
Additional informationVacancy: Is this posting for the purposes of filling an existing vacancy [
Y/N]
The salary range for this position is $85k-$92k. Actual salary within the salary range will be based on a variety of factors including relevant experience, knowledge, and skills. A range of medical, dental, RRSP, paid time off, and/or other benefits also are available to all permanent employees.
AI Disclosure: [
dentsu] utilizes artificial intelligence tools as part of its recruitment process, as during the sourcing and screening stages. All other parts of the dentsu application and hiring processes do not utilize artificial intelligence tools.
Location:Toronto
Brand:Dentsu Media
Time Type:Full time
Contract Type:Permanent
