Senior Associate, Direct Activation (Senior Buyer)

WPP Media Limited; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Vision & dental insurance

Retirement plans

Paid time off

Employee discounts

Job summary

WPP Media is seeking a seasoned Senior Associate, Direct Activation to lead media investments with a focus on TV, Radio, and Digital Direct. You will manage end-to-end activation, from strategy and buys to reconciliation, while coordinating with Planning and Ad Operations for flawless launches.

The ideal candidate has 2+ years in media buying within an agency environment, strong proficiency with MediaOcean, and experience across TV, Radio, and Digital Direct channels.

Qualifications

• Experience: at least 2 years of hands-on media buying, planning or investment in an agency.
• Proven ability to manage TV, Radio and Digital Direct media buys.
• Strong analytical skills and numerical agility.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end media investments from plan to financial reconciliation.
• Manage vendor relationships and lead negotiations for Radio and Digital Direct.
• Coordinate with Planning and Ad Operations for on-time campaign launches.

Skills

Media buying

TV ad buys

Radio ad buys

Digital Direct

Leadership

Analytical mindset

Tools

MediaOcean

NLogic

Lens

Job description

About WPP Media

WPP is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands. With exceptional talent, trusted data and intelligence, and world-class partnerships – all united by ourpioneeringagentic marketing platform, WPP Open – we help clients navigate change, capture opportunity, and deliver transformational growth.

About WPP Media

WPP is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands. With exceptional talent, trusted data and intelligence, and world-class partnerships – all united by ourpioneeringagentic marketing platform, WPP Open – we help clients navigate change, capture opportunity, and deliver transformational growth. WPP Media is WPP's AI-driven media operating unit, bringing together media, data, and partnerships to deliver creative personalisation at scale. Connected through WPP Open and powered by Open Intelligence, clients see exactly where, how, and why their media investment is working. For more information, visit wppmedia.com.

Role Overview

WPP Media is looking for a seasoned, detail-oriented, and collaborative media professional to join our Direct Activation team as a Senior Associate, Direct Activation. This is a cross-functional media investment role with a primary focus on TV, Radio and Digital Direct.

How You Will Make An Impact

Drive Investment & Media Strategy

• Support and lead the development and execution of media investment recommendations by gathering marketplace intelligence, issuing RFPs, and evaluating opportunities.
• Manage vendor relationships across Radio and Digital Direct, understanding their offerings, audience delivery, pricing models, and value propositions.
• Represent the activation team in high-level vendor negotiations, industry discussions, and client-facing meetings.
• Translate approved media strategies into accurate, highly effective media buys across direct digital and traditional broadcast platforms.

Own Campaign Activation & Stewardship

• Lead the end-to-end execution and maintenance of media investments utilizing MediaOcean for buy entry, insertion orders, trafficking coordination, and billing reconciliation.
• Work closely with Planning and Ad Operations teams to ensure flawless, on-time campaign launches.
• Monitor ongoing campaign delivery and proactively address discrepancies, audience delivery shifts, or performance issues with meticulous buy tracking and documentation.

Use Data & Analytics to Optimize Performance

• Leverage tools such as NLogic and Lens to evaluate audience trends, performance data, and campaign reach.
• Conduct pre-campaign validation checks to guarantee accurate setup and measurement.
• Lead post-campaign analyses and extract strategic insights to inform future media investments.
• Maintain complete accuracy across client budgets, buy specs, and investment tracking ledgers.

What Success Looks Like

In this role, success means becoming a dependable leader on the team who can:

• Independently manage complex campaigns accurately, efficiently, and on schedule.
• Take end-to-end ownership of assigned client investments from initial plan to final financial reconciliation.
• Foster strong, collaborative relationships with external media partners, clients, and internal teams.

What You Bring

• Experience: At least 2 years of hands-on media buying, planning, or investment experience in a media agency environment with exposure to radio and direct digital channels.
• Core Systems: Demonstrated expertise and daily hands-on proficiency with MediaOcean is required.
• Channel Expertise: Proven track record in TV, Radio and Digital Direct media buying.
• Analytical Tools: Prior experience or familiarity with NLogic or Lens is considered a strong asset.
• Numerical Agility: Comfortable managing substantial client budgets, with sharp mathematical and analytical skills.
• Leadership & Autonomy: Strong initiative and confidence to work independently, make sound decisions, and represent leadership in key discussions.
• Organization & Detail: Outstanding organizational and time-management skills with the ability to manage multiple deliverables in a fast-paced environment.
• Communication: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with both internal stakeholders and external media sales reps.

Life at WPP Media & Benefits

Our passion for shaping the next era of media includes investing in our employees to help them do their best work, and we’re just as committed to employee growth as we are to responsible media investment. WPP Media employees can tap into the global WPP Media & WPP networks to pursue their passions, grow their networks, and learn at the cutting edge of marketing and advertising. We have a variety of employee resource groups and host frequent in-office events showcasing team wins, sharing thought leadership, and celebrating holidays and milestone events. Our benefits include competitive medical, group retirement plans, vision, and dental insurance, significant paid time off, preferential partner discounts, and employee mental health awareness days.

WPP Media is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to particular characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.

We believe the best work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That's why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office around four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.

Please read our Privacy Notice (https://www.wppmedia.com/pages/privacy-policy) for more information on how we process the information you provide.

While we appreciate all applications received, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

The base salary for this position at the time of this posting may range between the values at the bottom of this posting. Individual compensation varies based on job-related factors, including location, business needs, level of responsibility, experience, and qualifications.

$45,000 - $65,000 CAD

Please read our Privacy Notice for more information on how we process the information you provide.