Senior Performance Marketing Strategist

Northern; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Profit sharing

RRSP matching

Flexible work

Health spending account

Wellness program

Home office allowance

Job summary

Northern is looking for a Senior Performance Marketing Strategist to lead a portfolio of ecommerce and lead-generation clients, steering budget growth and performance across Google and Meta, with room to expand into other channels. You’ll influence how we work and how we use AI, while driving business outcomes.

Ideal candidates bring 5+ years in paid media and 3+ years owning client strategy, solid hands-on platform expertise, and a track record of moving budgets for ROI.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in paid media with 3+ years leading strategy for clients.
• Hands-on expertise with Google Ads and Meta Ads; experience with other platforms.

Responsibilities

• Set and own cross-channel paid media strategy for clients.
• Manage cross-platform budget allocation to maximize ROI.
• Hold yourself accountable to CPA, ROAS and lead quality metrics.
• Build and execute testing roadmap across creative, audiences and bidding.
• Lead quarterly business reviews and grow client partnerships.
• Coach junior strategists and provide work reviews.

Skills

Paid media leadership

Platform expertise

Budget optimization

Client advisory

Coaching

Job description

Joining our paid media team as a Senior Performance Marketing Strategist, you'll be the strategic lead for a portfolio of e-commerce and lead generation clients, owning how their budgets grow and perform. Our typical clients spend $50K to $300K a month on media. Google and Meta are your core platforms, with room to expand into other channels (e.g., TikTok, Reddit, Pinterest). Beyond your accounts, you'll raise the bar for the whole team by sharpening how we work and shaping how we use AI.

What You'll Do

• Set the paid media strategy for your clients across Google and Meta, decide when channels like TikTok, Reddit, Pinterest, Snap or LinkedIn earn a place in the mix, and stay hands-on in the build, optimization and reporting
• Own cross-platform budget allocation, moving spend to where it drives the most incremental return
• Hold yourself accountable to business outcomes like CPA, ROAS, lead quality and revenue, not platform vanity metrics
• Build and run the testing roadmap for your accounts across creative, audiences and bidding, and turn results into strategy
• Act as a trusted advisor to client marketing leaders, leading quarterly business reviews and shaping their growth plans
• Develop junior strategists through coaching, work reviews and the standards you set
• Identify where each client's next stage of growth will come from, and build the business case for new platforms, channels or increased investment

What You'll Bring

• 5+ years in paid media, including 3+ years owning performance strategy for client accounts
• Deep, hands-on expertise in Google Ads or Meta Ads, plus hands-on experience planning, building and optimizing campaigns on the other
• A track record of shifting budget across platforms and proving the impact on business results
• Confidence advising senior client stakeholders and standing behind your recommendations
• Experience coaching junior team members and reviewing their work
• Experience with TikTok, Reddit, Pinterest, Snap or LinkedIn is a bonus, and we'll help you grow there
• Google Ads and Google Analytics certifications are an asset

How We Work With AI

We use AI across how we plan, analyze and report, freeing up more of your time for strategy. You'll use these tools from day one and help shape what we build next. As platforms lean further into automation, the strategists who know how to direct AI will lead. We'll help you become one of them.

Why You'll Love This Role

• Master Google and Meta, then go further. You'll own the full mix for your clients and decide when other channels earn their place. No channel silos.
• Grow your strategic impact. Work alongside our performance creative and measurement teams on MMM and incrementality testing, with ongoing training to sharpen your craft.
• Real paths forward. Grow into people leadership, performance strategy, or measurement roles.
• Rewards that add up. Profit sharing, RRSP matching and flexible work, plus a health spending account, wellness and fitness programs, a home office allowance and more.

What Success Looks Like (Year 1)

You independently own a portfolio of complex accounts and lead platform strategy decisions. You own quarterly business reviews with key clients, drive recommendations that grow budgets or expand into new platforms, and set best practices the team adopts.

From the Hiring Manager:

You'd be joining a tight-knit team that shares what works, tests new ideas and holds each other to a high bar.

We have honest conversations, as a team and one on one, and everyone has room to experiment, especially with how we use AI. The best idea wins, not the biggest title.

If you want to grow alongside people who care about doing great work together, I'd love to hear from you!

- Lauren, Senior Director of Paid Media

The Team

You’ll join a team of 8 to 10 paid media professionals and report to the Senior Director of Paid Media. You’ll partner with Account Management and our SEO, design and lifecycle teams, collaborate with our measurement specialists, and help shape how we measure client success.

About Northern

Northern is an integrated digital solutions agency headquartered in London, Ontario, with 200+ digital experts. We’re a Meta and Google Premier Partner, a status held by only 3% of agency partners in Canada, and a multi-time Great Place to Work® Canada Best Workplace.

Location

Our Connected Workplace Program lets you work remotely, hybrid or in-office, so you can work-where you do your best work!

Compensation

Target salary range: $80,000 to $110,000 CAD, plus profit sharing and a full benefits package & many numerous work-perks! Final compensation depends on skills, experience and internal equity.

Our Hiring Process

Application Review > Screening call > Technical interview > Manager interview > Reference checks > Offer!

AI Use & Interview Transparency

Northern uses AI tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as drafting interview questions and organizing candidate information. We may also record and transcribe interviews to ensure accuracy and consistency in our evaluations. Rest assured, you will be speaking with real live human beings!

Equity and Diversity

Northern welcomes applications from all qualified individuals and is dedicated to fostering a culture of inclusivity, employment equity, and diversity in the workplace. We encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply, including but not limited to members of visible minorities, Indigenous peoples, individuals with diverse abilities, and those of all gender identities and expressions.

We are also committed to ensuring an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. Accommodations are available at every stage of the hiring process. If you require support or adjustments to participate fully, please let us know when you apply, and we will work with you to meet your needs.