Associate Director, Media Investment & Activation

Job Summary

The Associate Director, Activation is responsible for leading and developing a high-performing buying team, including the strategic execution, negotiation, optimization, and stewardship of media campaigns across broadcast and audio channels. Working closely with the Sr. Director, Media Investment & Activation, this role partners with Business Strategy teams to deliver effective client solutions, drive operational excellence, and ensure campaigns are executed with precision and accountability.

• Lead the buying team in all aspects of campaign stewardship: packaging, negotiation, maintenance, and reporting.
• React quickly to campaign results/revisions and oversee implementation of optimizations when required.
• Ensure teams’ strict adherence to established activation and budgetary goals.
• Train, direct, and mentor buying staff on an ongoing basis.
• Collaborate with Business Strategy Team counterparts to provide insight on tactical execution.
• Maintain knowledge and understanding of marketplace landscape, industry trends, and new technologies that affect the buying discipline.
• Establish and maintain exceptional business relationships with internal teams and vendor partners.
• Participate in new business pitches by providing relevant information as required.
• Oversee media buys for broadcast and audio, ensuring high quality of buys are placed for all clients.
• Connect regularly with the team to discuss workload, ongoing projects, and identify areas to improve process or save time on repetitive tasks.
• Collaborate with planning to oversee media strategy and align optimizations for Video and Audio campaigns.
• Maintain an organized weekly status, detailing all current projects and their deadlines, to ensure nothing slips through the cracks.
• Coach and train team members; identify areas of growth within all types of media the team is scoped for.
• Serve as a role model for all members of the team, providing constructive feedback as needed on an ongoing basis.
• Communicate industry/vendor updates to all members of the team.
• Work with vendors to bring forward sponsorship opportunities that align with the client’s target audience.
• Execute ongoing TV and Audio campaigns for multiple clients, understanding the nuances and reporting requirements for each client.
• Build and maintain a priority list for all media activations and team requests, ensuring deadlines are met based on their urgency.
• Review weekly TV clearance with the team for multiple clients to ensure media buys are airing as purchased.
• Aid both planning teams and the Sr. Director in deck building with information needed.
• Maintain constant communication across the team, offering support where needed.
• Communicate with traffic teams where needed to ensure creative is delivered to vendors ahead of launch or for creative changes.
• Build/maintain relationships with vendors to help maximize negotiations and provide best value for clients.

• Minimum 6–8 years of experience in media investment & activation.
• Detail oriented with strong organizational skills.
• Ability to multi-task and prioritize workload.
• Capable of handling multiple projects to meet tight deadlines under pressure.
• Demonstrate strategic thinking and problem‑solving abilities.
• Strong negotiation skills & tactics.
• Clear communication skills: written, verbal, and presentation.
• Ability to develop and maintain strong relationships with media vendors.
• Ability to collaborate and work successfully with various agency teams.

No requirements for certificates, licenses or registrations.

Partial remote (required in office three days a week). Possible exception for a fully remote candidate TBD.

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.

$95,000.00 - $