Manager, Activation Toronto, ON

Kepler Group; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 125,000 - 147,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare/Dental/Vision

Unlimited PTO

RRSP Contributions

Wellness Stipend

Annual Tuition Stipend

Parental Leave

Work From Anywhere

Job summary

Kepler Group is looking for a Manager, Activation to lead performance media on key client accounts. You will be the technical leader, hands-on with high-impact campaigns, and a mentor to a small team.

You will excel as a Search-first marketer with deep fluency in LinkedIn, Meta, and YouTube, translating complex data into elite campaign performance. This role emphasizes strategy, execution, and cross-team collaboration.

Qualifications

• 3–5+ years of experience in digital media activation and paid search & performance social.
• Expert-level proficiency in Google Ads and SA360.
• Advanced hands-on experience with Meta Ads Manager, LinkedIn Campaign Manager, and YouTube/Google Video Ads.
• Deep knowledge of performance KPIs (ROAS, CPA, MER), attribution models, and conversion tracking.
• Strong Excel/Google Sheets data manipulation skills.
• Ability to troubleshoot tracking issues and explain optimizations to non-technical stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Be a subject matter expert for Paid Search (SEM) and lead strategy, structure, and technical execution.
• Lead activation and optimization across LinkedIn, Meta, and YouTube to maintain a cohesive performance ecosystem.
• Act as the primary technical lead for assigned clients and manage expectations and performance communications.
• Manage daily pacing, bidding strategies (auto and manual), and A/B testing across Search and Social.
• Oversee end-to-end execution, coordinating with ad ops, analytics, and creative teams for tracking and assets.
• Translate performance data into actionable insights for client reviews.
• Mentor and manage 1–3 Analysts and uphold quality control across platform work.
• Standardize naming conventions, account structures, and reporting workflows to improve efficiency.

Skills

Paid Search

Performance Social

Google Ads

SA360

Meta Ads Manager

LinkedIn Campaign Manager

YouTube Ads

Data analysis in Excel/Sheets

Communication with stakeholders

Education

Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field

Tools

Google Ads

SA360

Meta Ads Manager

LinkedIn Campaign Manager

YouTube/Google Video Ads

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'retransparentwith 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'regrowing. For you, that means unparalleled growth opportunities and a role in shaping the direction of the company.
• We'refun. You'll work with and learn from the smartest people in the industry and have a blast doing it.

The Activation team owns the technical engine of our client relationships, translating high-level goals into high-performing campaigns. They are the platform experts responsible for the precision execution of Kepler’s strategic guidance, ensuring internal workflows and optimizations directly exceed client KPIs. This team is the hub for technical ad operations, rigorous campaign project management, and the tactical architecture of every media dollar spent.

The Manager, Activation will be a technical leader and execution expert on key client accounts. In this role, you will be the primary architect of performance media, responsible for the hands-on management and strategic oversight of high-impact campaigns. You will succeed if you are a Search-first marketer with deep technical fluency in LinkedIn, Meta, and YouTube, and have a proven track record of translating complex data into elite campaign performance.

What You Will Do:

• Be a subject matter expert for Paid Search (SEM), leading the strategy, structure, and technical execution to drive core business outcomes.
• Lead the activation and continuous optimization across LinkedIn, Meta, and YouTube, ensuring a cohesive performance ecosystem.
• Act as the primary technical lead for assigned clients; proactively managing expectations, communicating performance fluctuations, and building trust through execution excellence.
• Manage daily pacing, bidding strategies (automated and manual), and A/B testing frameworks across Search and Social platforms.
• Oversee the end-to-end execution lifecycle, collaborating with ad ops, analytics, and creative teams to ensure flawless tracking and high-performing assets.
• Translate granular performance data from Google Ads, Meta, and LinkedIn into actionable insights and strategic narratives for client reviews.
• Mentor and manage a team of 1–3 Analysts, overseeing their technical development and ensuring quality control across all platform work.
• Standardize naming conventions, account structures, and reporting workflows to increase efficiency and campaign scalability.

Desired Skills and Experience:

• 3–5+ years of experience in digital media activation, with a heavy emphasis on Paid Search and Performance Social.
• Expert-level proficiency in Google Ads and SA360 (this is a search-heavy role).
• Advanced hands-on experience with Meta Ads Manager, LinkedIn Campaign Manager, and YouTube/Google Video Ads.
• Deep technical knowledge of performance KPIs (ROAS, CPA, MER), attribution models, and the technical requirements for conversion tracking (Pixels, CAPI, Enhanced Conversions).
• Exceptional ability to manipulate large datasets in Excel/Google Sheets to identify trends and pivot strategies in real-time.
• Ability to troubleshoot tracking discrepancies, ad delivery issues, and platform bugs independently.
• Strong ability to explain "the how" and "the why" behind technical optimizations to non-technical client stakeholders.
• Ability to thrive in an entrepreneurial, fast-paced environment where collaboration is key to success.
• Effective time management skills; ability to prioritize and meet deadlines
• Bachelor’s degree with a relevant major preferred.

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:

• Target Annualized Discretionary Bonus: 5% ($4,250 - $5,000)
• Target Total Cash: $89,250 - $105,000
• Healthcare/Dental/Vision
• Unlimited PTO
• RRSP Contributions
• $75/mo Wellness Stipend
• $2,000/yr Annual Tuition 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.