Associate Director, Activation

Kepler; Toronto; On-site; CAD 147,000 - 165,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare/Dental/Vision

Unlimited PTO

Group RRSP Contributions

Wellness stipend $75/mo

Mobile phone stipend $100/mo

Internet stipend $50/mo

Learning stipend $500/yr

Tuition stipend $2,000/yr

New hire home office stipend $200

Parental leave 16 weeks primary / 6s e

Annual Work From Anywhere 4 weeks/yr

Job summary

Kepler seeks an Associate Director, Activation in Toronto to lead a team of digital media professionals, planning and optimizing performance-driven campaigns across channels. You will translate data into actionable insights, guide strategy, and partner with clients and media partners to achieve goals.

The role blends hands-on media expertise with leadership, focusing on delivering measurable outcomes, coaching the team, and advancing best practices in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• 5–8+ years of hands-on digital media experience across multiple paid media channels.
• Experience managing and developing at least 3 direct reports.
• Strong working knowledge of major digital media platforms, campaign management tools, and analytics solutions.
• Ability to translate campaign data and performance trends into actionable insights and recommendations.
• Experience developing cross-channel media strategies aligned with client objectives.
• Strong communication and presentation skills to build credibility with clients and partners.
• Analytical problem-solving approach and ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a team of approximately 3–8 direct reports, guiding campaign strategy, execution, optimization, and professional development.
• Provide hands-on media expertise across paid search, paid social, programmatic display and video, connected TV, and other channels.
• Oversee the development, launch, and optimization of digital media campaigns to meet client KPIs and outcomes.
• Guide strategic campaign development with data-driven media strategies and full-funnel objectives.
• Serve as a subject matter expert for clients, media partners, and internal stakeholders.
• Translate data into insights, analyze results, identify trends, and communicate actionable recommendations.
• Build strong client and partner relationships and align campaign goals with business priorities.
• Drive innovation and operational excellence by adopting emerging capabilities and scaling best practices.

Skills

Digital media

Team leadership

Campaign optimization

Analytics

Communication

Job description

Kepler executes engineered marketing, where every message and ad delivered helps create a more personalized and productive relationship between brands and their consumers. We do this by acting as clients’ agency of record, as their in‑house team, or some hybrid of the two – and by harnessing data and technology across all paid digital media and data‑driven CRM channels.

Kepler prides itself on being a great place to work. In fact, we’re proud to share that AdAge recognized Kepler among the Best Place to Work in 2022, validating our investment in our team and our clients.

• We're transparent with our employees. You'll hear updates on company financials, how we're performing against bonus goals, and how we're responding to challenges we face.
• We're growing. For you, that means unparalleled growth opportunities and a role in shaping the direction of the company.
• We're fun. You'll work with and learn from the smartest people in the industry and have a blast doing it.

The Team

Kepler’s Activation team is made up of forward‑thinking media experts who bring deep platform expertise, analytical thinking, and a passion for driving performance across digital media channels. Our teams develop, execute, and optimize campaigns across paid search, paid social, programmatic display and video, connected TV, audio, digital out‑of‑home, and other emerging media channels.

We’re more than a media trading desk. We combine hands‑on platform expertise with strategic thinking, data‑driven insights, and a strong understanding of the evolving digital landscape to help our clients achieve their business goals. Our teams partner closely with clients, media partners, and internal stakeholders to develop innovative, full‑funnel media strategies, identify opportunities for optimization, and build scalable solutions that drive measurable impact.

The Role

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.

You will coach and develop a team of direct reports, guide campaign strategy and execution, and ensure the team consistently delivers strong performance against client objectives. 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.

What You Will Do

• 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. Stay close to campaign execution and optimization, providing hands‑on guidance and expertise when needed.
• 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 that inform media strategy and improve business outcomes.
• 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.

Desired Skills & Experience

• 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.

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: $105,000 - $118,000
• Target Annualized Discretionary Bonus: 5% ($5,250 - $5,900)
• Target Total Cash: $110,250- $123,900

Benefits

• Healthcare/Dental/Vision
• Unlimited PTO
• Group RRSP 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.