Associate Director, Digital Activation and Investment

Horizon Media Inc.; Toronto; On-site; CAD 95,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Competitive compensation

Job summary

Horizon Media Inc. in Toronto is seeking a senior paid social leader to drive strategy and activation across major platforms. You will guide a team, oversee campaigns from planning to testing, and ensure alignment with client objectives while leveraging Horizon’s tools and partnerships.

The role requires 5+ years of hands‑on paid social experience, strong communication, and leadership capabilities. This position offers a hybrid work model at our Toronto office and a competitive compensation

Qualifications

• 5+ years of hands‑on paid social experience.
• Experience managing large‑scale paid social campaigns.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Leadership experience in paid social marketing professionals.

Responsibilities

• Partner with teams to architect a data‑driven paid social strategy.
• Lead team to master Horizon Media’s planning, evaluation, and buying tools.
• Oversee social documentation, decks, and testing roadmaps.
• Translate insights into actionable recommendations and ROI improvements.
• Negotiate with platform partners and drive first‑to‑market opportunities.

Skills

Paid social strategy

Team leadership

Client communication

Campaign optimization

Data‑driven decision making

Tools

Meta

TikTok

LinkedIn

Snapchat

Pinterest

X (Twitter)

Job description

Job Description Who We Are

Horizon Media, founded in 1989 by Bill Koenigsberg, is recognized as one of the most innovative marketing and advertising firms. We are headquartered in New York City, with offices in Los Angeles and Toronto. A leader in driving business solutions for marketers, Horizon is known for its highly personal approach to client service. Renowned for its incredible culture, Horizon is consistently named to all the prestigious annual Best Places to Work lists published by Fortune, AdAge, Crain’s New York Business and Los Angeles Business Journal. Together we are building a place of belonging. At Horizon, we understand the value that different perspectives can bring to our clients and culture, so we strive for an environment where our employees feel welcomed, safe and empowered. We value YOU and believe that your authentic voice and unique perspective allows us to create a more rewarding culture, and experience, together. Our simple recipe for success? We hire talented people (thinkers, doers, dreamers, makers), challenge them and give them every opportunity to grow.

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.

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 for 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: [e-mail]

Salary Range $95,000.00 - $110,000.00

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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: [e-mail] Salary Range $95,000.00 - $110,000.00

Want to know what makes Horizon a great place to work? At Horizon, business is personal — and that means connecting with what matters. Horizon is powered by one of the industry’s most celebrated and inclusive workplace cultures. We believe in the talent of our people and the power of personal, with our passion and commitment to excellence driving our success. Follow up on Instagram and LinkedIn.