Manager, Retail Media Strategy & Activation

Kepler Group

$90K — $110K *
Retail & Consumer Goods
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 3-5+ years in digital media planning, activation, and performance marketing focused on Retail Media Networks.
  • Hands-on experience with Criteo for retail media activation required; familiarity with Walmart Connect and Target Roundel preferred.
  • Proven ability to manage and develop a team of 2+ Analysts or Senior Analysts.
  • Experience with large product catalogs and inventory-driven optimization.
  • Familiar with retail media management tools like Pacvue or Skai a plus.
  • Strong analytical skills with proficiency in Excel for data handling and interpretation.
  • Excellent communication skills for leading client meetings and strategic sessions.

Responsibilities

  • Lead strategic operations across Retail Media Networks like Walmart Connect and Target Roundel.
  • Act as the main contact and expert for clients, synthesizing complex retail data into actionable strategies.
  • Drive planning and optimization of campaigns in performance-driven retail media channels.
  • Oversee the activation process in retail aggregation platforms focused on operational excellence in Criteo.
  • Mentor and develop a team of Analysts to enhance their skills and campaign quality.
  • Collaborate with Media Analytics for insightful reporting and align with Client Solutions on strategies.
  • Share best practices and optimization frameworks to improve internal operations.

Benefits

  • Healthcare, dental, and vision coverage.
  • Unlimited paid time off (PTO).
  • 401k contributions available.
  • Wellness stipend of $75 per month.
  • Mobile phone stipend of $100 per month.
  • Internet stipend of $50 per month.
  • Annual learning stipend of $500.
  • Annual tuition stipend of $2,000.
  • Parental leave: 16 weeks for primary caregiver, 6 weeks for secondary caregiver.
  • Work from anywhere 4 weeks a year.
Full Job Description
The Manager, Retail Media Strategy & Activation position will be a leader on key client relationships within our Media Strategy & Activation team. In this role, you'll be responsible for deeply understanding clients' commerce challenges, becoming the trusted "go-to" strategic partner for retail media networks.

You'll succeed in this role if you are a proven people leader, a creative problem solver, and possess a deep technical understanding of the evolving retail media landscape, audience targeting, and multi-retailer network activation.
What You Will Do:
  • Serve as the strategic lead across Retail Media Networks (RMNs), focusing heavily on ecosystems like Walmart Connect, Target Roundel, and emerging commerce platforms.
  • Act as the primary point of contact and subject matter expert for assigned clients; proactively manage communication, translate complex retail data into strategic narratives, and build strong partnerships.
  • Lead campaign strategy, planning, and optimization across performance-driven retail media channels to drive measurable business outcomes and return on ad spend (ROAS).
  • Oversee hands-on activation and execution within retail aggregation platforms, specifically requiring deep operational excellence in Criteo.
  • Manage, mentor, and develop a team of 2-4 Analysts and Senior Analysts, guiding their professional growth and campaign execution quality.
  • Partner with Media Analytics to support deep-dive reporting and actionable insights, and collaborate with Client Solutions to align platform strategies with overarching client business goals.
  • Codify and share retail media best practices, industry POVs, and optimization frameworks to streamline internal workflows and drive operational excellence.
Desired Skills and Experience:

  • 3-5+ years of experience in digital media planning, activation, and performance marketing, with a distinct focus on Retail Media Networks.
  • Proven, hands-on experience activating retail media through Criteo is required. Strong experience with Walmart Connect and/or Target Roundel is highly preferred.
  • Experience managing and developing a team of 2+ direct reports (Analysts/Senior Analysts).
  • Familiarity with managing large product catalogs, item-level/ASIN management, and inventory-driven optimization.
  • Familiarity with retail media management tools such as Pacvue, Skai, or similar commercial technologies is a strong plus.
  • Strong analytical acumen; comfortable working with large datasets, Excel (pivots, VLOOKUPs), and translating lower-funnel performance metrics into clear client insights.
  • Exceptional presentation, written, and verbal communication skills, with the ability to confidently lead client status meetings and strategic planning sessions.
  • Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial, and highly collaborative team environment.
  • Bachelor's degree with relevant major preferred

Transparency is fundamental to Kepler's culture. Our compensation strategy is designed to attract, reward, and retain the talented employees that drive Kepler's growth and success. We aim to offer competitive direct compensation and a rich indirect compensation program that demonstrates the value we place on our employees and their wellbeing.

Total Compensation:
  • Base Salary: $90,000 - $110,000
  • Target Annualized Discretionary Bonus: 5% ($4,500 - $5,500)
  • Target Total Cash: $94,500 - $115,500

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

Kepler is a people first organization. If this role piques your interest but you may not check every box, we still encourage you to apply! Studies show that imposter syndrome can prevent women and people of color from applying unless they meet every single qualification. We welcome all who are interested to apply, you just might be a great candidate for this role or others.

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