Director of Social and Programmatic Activation

Starcom; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading media agency in Toronto is seeking a Director of Social and Programmatic Activation to lead a high-performing team. This role focuses on defining integrated strategies, mentoring team members, and fostering strong client relationships. The ideal candidate should have extensive experience in digital media, especially in paid social and programmatic, with excellent analytical and communication skills.

Benefits

Great Places to Work certified

Career growth opportunities

Diverse work environment

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in digital media, focusing on paid social and programmatic.
• 3+ years managing DSPs and programmatic environments.
• Deep understanding of digital media buying and optimization strategies.

Responsibilities

• Lead integrated paid social and programmatic strategies aligned with client goals.
• Manage and mentor a team in social and programmatic disciplines.
• Build strong client relationships and support business development.

Skills

Digital media expertise

Team leadership

Strong analytical skills

Client relationship management

Communication and presentation

Education

Bachelor's degree in a relevant field

Tools

DSPs (e.g., DV360, The Trade Desk)

Paid social platforms (e.g., Meta, TikTok, LinkedIn)

Job description

Director of Social and Programmatic Activation

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Director of Social and Programmatic Activation

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A seasoned talent specialist. Experience in recruitment for the finance, engineering and creative realms. When not recruiting, Keegan falls into the…

Starcom is a part of Publicis Media within Publicis Groupe, one of the world’s leading communications groups. Our team spans across our Windsor, Toronto and Montreal offices. We truly love the world of Media and Advertising. We see the planning and buying process as art. However, it is an art that is always best when backed by the science of empirical data.

One of our core tenants of media planning and buying is that human experiences drive impact through tangible results . Not only do we seek to deeply understand our clients’ business and what truly motivates consumers, but we seek to design experiences that drive meaningful consumer actions our clients care about – Move People, Move Business.

You will be joining a well recognized agency with credentials :

• Great Places to Work certified two years in a row
• Only communications company to be ranked in LinkedIn’s Top 25 Great Places to Work
• 2022 Media Agency of the Year
• 2023 Media Agency of the Year finalist

As part of Publicis Media Canada we are proud to be Great Places to Work certified and recognized with Best Workplaces for Today’s Youth. We provide continuing opportunities for career growth by fostering a diverse work environment that respects and supports individual contributions and opinions.

Overview

We are seeking a Director of Social and Programmatic Activation to lead a high performing team across paid social and programmatic media. This hybrid leadership role requires a strategic thinker with deep hands-on expertise in DSPs, SSPs, and paid social platforms, as well as a proven track record in team development, client leadership, and data-driven innovation.

You will serve as the strategic lead across a portfolio of clients, ensuring best-in-class campaign execution, platform innovation, and actionable insights that drive business outcomes. You’ll also be a mentor, educator, and operational leader ensuring your team is empowered, aligned, and always evolving.

Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

Lead the development and execution of integrated paid social and programmatic strategies aligned with client goals.

Translate complex data into compelling, client-facing narratives that inform both short-term tactics and long-term strategy.

Act as a strategic advisor to clients, identifying opportunities for innovation, growth, and optimization.

Team & Operational Management

Manage and mentor a team of activation managers, account strategists, and traders across social and programmatic disciplines.

Oversee team structure, workflow, and resource allocation to ensure operational excellence and scalability.

Foster a culture of continuous learning, collaboration, and innovation.

Oversee campaign planning, execution, and optimization across major DSPs (e.g., DV360, The Trade Desk) and paid social platforms (e.g., Meta, TikTok, LinkedIn).

Conduct regular audits of platforms, partners, and strategies to ensure alignment with best practices and evolving capabilities.

Data & Insights

Lead the development of advanced, data-driven insights and testing frameworks (e.g., A / B testing, incrementality).

Ensure the team is proficient in analytics tools and methodologies to drive performance and efficiency.

Support forecasting, pacing, and performance reporting across your book of business.

Client & Business Development

Build and maintain strong client relationships through strategic leadership and high-quality deliverables.

Support business development efforts by contributing to pitches, proposals, and strategic planning.

Collaborate with senior leadership to evolve the agency’s digital offering and thought leadership.

Qualifications

Key Qualifications

8+ years of progressive experience in digital media, with a strong focus on paid social and programmatic.

3+ years of experience managing DSPs and programmatic environments.

2–3 years of experience leading teams of 5+ people.

Deep understanding of digital media buying, platform workflows, and optimization strategies.

Strong analytical skills with the ability to distill large data sets into actionable insights.

Proven ability to lead client conversations, push strategic thinking, and deliver measurable results.

Excellent communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills.

Experience in operations, forecasting, and cross-functional collaboration is a strong asset

Additional information

Starcom is an equal opportunity employer with a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion. We create and nurture a vibrant work environment that celebrates, values and leverages all aspects of diversity and inclusiveness, attracts world-class talent and serves as the industry benchmark for best practices.

We encourage applications from all qualified individuals and will provide appropriate accommodation for candidates with disabilities or accessibility needs throughout the recruitment process, upon request. Please contact our recruiter for any questions, accommodations or specific requests.

We thank all candidates for their interest in Starcom however, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted

Seniority level

Seniority level

Director

Employment type

Employment type

Full-time

Job function

Job function

Advertising

Industries

Advertising Services, Marketing Services, and Technology, Information and Media

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