Associate Program Director

Critical Mass; Toronto; On-site; CAD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in media services is seeking an Associate Program Director to manage media projects. The role involves overseeing operations, fostering team development, and ensuring high-quality communication with clients. Ideal candidates should have experience in media management and a proactive problem-solving approach. Join the team to play a strategic role in delivering integrated media solutions.

Benefits

Global maternity and parental leave

Competitive benefits packages

Vacation, compassionate leave, sick days, and flex days

Internal learning and development programs

Enterprise-wide employee discounts

Qualifications

• Experience in integrated digital advertising, performance marketing, or media operations.
• Strong understanding of media processes, including RFPs and SOW management.
• Ability to mentor and guide team members.

Responsibilities

• Primary point of contact for clients and internal teams.
• Oversee program-level operations including financial management.
• Monitor and manage all aspects of media project delivery.

Skills

Organizational skills

Communication

Facilitation

Negotiation

Problem-solving

Collaboration

Education

7–10 years’ experience in media project/program management

Tools

Smartsheet

Microsoft Teams

SharePoint

Mediaocean

Job description

As an Associate Program Director within our Media team, you are a strategic leader with deep expertise in media program and project management. You thrive in fast paced, collaborative environments and bring a sophisticated understanding of media workflows—including campaign delivery, partner contracts, financials, and staffing—across integrated marketing initiatives. Your assertiveness, adaptability, and proactive problem solving ensure project success and continuous improvement, while your collaborative spirit helps foster a supportive, high performing team environment.

You are ready to provide oversight, mentorship, and act as a reliable, knowledgeable partner to clients and internal teams. You understand the nuances of media operations, including RFPs, SOW management, spend tracking, partner agreements, and campaign activation, and are comfortable navigating both client and agency partner relationships.

You will:

• Serve as the primary point of contact for clients, internal teams, and agency partners, ensuring clear and proactive communication and seamless delivery of integrated media solutions
• Oversee program level operations, including staffing, revenue forecasting, financial management, SOW and contract oversight, and process compliance
• Guide and mentor project managers, fostering team development and maintaining high standards of professionalism, quality, and communication
• Monitor and manage all aspects of media project delivery, including RFPs, MAFs, campaign activation, financial operations, and deliverable tracking
• Collaborate cross functionally with media planning, activation, Ad Ops, finance, billing, and external agency partners to ensure timely and accurate execution of campaigns
• Identify and mitigate program risks, resolve challenges, and continuously refine processes for operational efficiency and improved client outcomes
• Maintain robust project plans and trackers, leveraging tools such as Smartsheet, Mediaocean (preferred), Microsoft Teams, and SharePoint

You have:

• 7–10 years’ experience in media project/program management, ideally with integrated digital advertising, performance marketing, or media operations
• Strong understanding of media processes, including SOW management, partner contracts and agreements, spend management, RFPs, campaign activation, and financial oversight
• Experience managing staffing, budgets, revenue forecasting, and contract tracking for largescale media programs
• Proficiency with Smartsheet, Microsoft Teams, and SharePoint
• Proven track record of collaboration with multidisciplinary teams—media planning, activation, Ad Ops, finance, and agency partners
• Excellent organizational, communication, facilitation, and negotiation skills; confident and assertive in client and partner interactions
• Ability to mentor and guide team members, with a solution oriented and proactive mindset

What We Offer:

• Global maternity and parental leave
• Competitive benefits packages
• Vacation, compassionate leave, sick days, and flex days
• Access to online services for families and new parents
• Diversity and Inclusion Board with 12 affinity groups
• Internal learning and development programs
• Enterprise-wide employee discounts

Critical Mass is an equal opportunity employer.

The Critical Mass Talent Acquisition team will only communicate from email addresses that use the URLs criticalmass.comand us.greenhouse-mail.io. We will not use apps such as Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, or Google Hangouts for communicating with you. We will never ask you to send us money, technology, or anything else to work for our company. If you believe you are the victim of a scam, please review your local government consumer protections guidance and reach out to them directly.

If U.S. based: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/job-scams#avoid
If Canada based: https://www.canada.ca/en/services/finance/consumer-affairs.html
If U.K. based: https://www.gov.uk/consumer-protection-rights
If Costa Rica based: https://www.consumo.go.cr/educacion_consumidor/consejos_practicos.aspx