Associate Director, Programmatic (Remote Canada)

Directive; Calgary; Remote; CAD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision plans

Disability & life insurance

100% employer-paid plan for you

50% employer contribution for depend‑e

Mental health resources (Spring Health

Headspace membership

Gympass

Unlimited PTO

Paid holidays

Birthday off

401(k) with company match

Annual bonus

Annual peer trip

Job summary

Directive Consulting is a leading B2B performance marketing agency guiding growth across SaaS and other B2B sectors. We seek an Associate Director, Programmatic Strategy & Activation to expand our programmatic services and drive the department's strategic vision.

You will own strategy, analytics, and vendor relationships, leading a team to deliver measurable outcomes for high-budget clients and contribute to thought leadership within the organization.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of proven experience in programmatic roles at publishers, advertising agencies, or ad tech companies.
• 2+ years of demonstrated people management experience.
• Experience driving programmatic growth across B2B/SaaS with budgets over $50k/month.
• Strong understanding of how programmatic and other channels work together to surpass KPIs.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement comprehensive programmatic strategies to enhance digital advertising capabilities.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with teams to align programmatic initiatives with business objectives.
• Define KPIs and regularly analyze campaign performance for optimization.
• Manage relationships with programmatic partners, vendors, and platforms.
• Act as a thought leader to inform decision-making and strategy development.

Skills

Programmatic strategy

Leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

DSPs

ABM

Analytics

Budget management

Tools

TTD

Nexxen

DV360

Job description

Directive Consulting is the leading B2B performance marketing agency that delivers real revenue - not just leads.

We use Customer Generation (a marketing methodology developed by us) to cut through the noise. Forget MQLs - we're here to drive pipeline, fuel SQLs, and scale brands that are serious about growth. From Paid Media and SEO/Content to CRO, RevOps, and Go-To-Market Strategy, we build marketing engines that win in SaaS and across B2B industries.

We move fast. We think boldly. We are elite. We hire people who challenge the status quo and push campaigns past what's expected - sparking demand for bold, innovative brands. If you live for performance, love solving hard problems, and want your work to actually mean something, you'll fit right in.

But here's the fun part - we don't just deliver results; we're shaping the future of marketing. Ready to build something that breaks the mold? Come join us.

The Role

The Associate Director, Programmatic Strategy & Activation is a pivotal leadership role responsible for owning the expansion of our Programmatic service offerings and driving forward the strategic vision of the department.

Role & Responsibilities

• Develop and implement comprehensive programmatic strategies: Spearhead the creation and execution of impactful programmatic strategies to enhance the organization's digital advertising capabilities.
• Collaborate cross-functionally: Work closely with cross-functional teams to align programmatic initiatives with overall business objectives, ensuring a cohesive approach to marketing efforts.
• Establish and analyze key performance indicators (KPIs): Define KPIs and regularly analyze campaign performance, providing valuable insights and recommendations for continuous optimization and client growth.
• Manage relationships with key partners and vendors: Cultivate and manage relationships with programmatic partners, vendors, and platforms to foster collaboration and ensure access to cutting-edge solutions.
• Thought Leadership: Act as a thought leader within the organization, sharing industry knowledge and insights to inform decision‑making and strategy development.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of proven experience in programmatic roles at publishers, advertising agencies, or ad tech companies
• 2+ years of demonstrated people management experience, inspiring, motivating, and coaching teams effectively
• Experience successfully driving programmatic growth across clients in the B2B/SaaS landscape with budgets over $50k/month
• Strong understanding and perspective of how programmatic and other channels (both paid and organic) work together to holistically surpass client KPIs
• Proven track record in Programmatic media planning and building measurement frameworks to evaluate campaign success
• Recent, hands‑on expertise in building and optimizing campaigns in DSPs, with a preference for experience in TTD, Nexxen and DV360
• ABM experience
• Experience supporting Programmatic new business pitches, including audits and presentations
• Ability to provide clear POVs and Programmatic subject matter expertise to support in advancing the department and L&D
• Strong cross‑collaboration skills, both within the organization and externally (client‑facing), with excellent interpersonal and communication abilities
• Solid analytical ability, exceptional attention to detail, and a results‑oriented mindset, capable of balancing multiple projects effectively

What We Offer

We have a set living wage at Directive; The annual base salary range for this position based in Canada is $100,000- $130,000 CAD with bonus eligibility.

• Medical, dental, vision plans, disability, and life insurance coverage for you and your family that fit your lifestyle
• Including a 100% employer‑paid plan for you and a 50% employer contribution for your dependents

Benefits To Support The Whole Person

• Mental - Access to certified therapists through Spring Health, membership to Headspace
• Physical - Gympass
• Time Off - Unlimited PTO (2-week minimum), Paid Company Holidays, Your Birthday Off, End of Year Recharge (Closed December 24 - January 1), Paid Parental Leave
• Financial - Traditional and Roth 401(k) with a 3% company match
• Bonus - Annual bonus based on tenure, which scales in total amount over time
• Annual Anniversary Trip with peers and executive leadership for fun and entertainment!

Work Environment Requirements

As a remote‑first company, you'll have the ability to work from your home office. For some positions, as posted, we will accommodate global opportunities where we have established businesses, including Canada, Mexico, and the UK. For global locations, you must have established and current work authorization and permanently reside in that country.

This role has the opportunity to operate 100% virtually from your home office. We primarily collaborate with our colleagues through virtual meetings (Zoom), and Slack. In this role, you will be required to operate a laptop computer (PC or Mac available), computer software platforms, and other office productivity tools as necessary. Due to the nature of this role, you must be able to remain stationary for extended periods, must be able to observe and interpret written and/or verbal communication, must have reliable internet access, and a professional background.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

If you require reasonable accommodations in completing this application, interviewing, completing any pre‑employment testing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, direct your inquiries to [e-mail].

Additional Information

At Directive, one of our core values is People First. We're committed to fostering a more diverse and inclusive culture in the digital landscape. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.