Paid Social Director

Merkle Italia; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Job summary

Dentsu in London is seeking a Paid Social Director to lead market-level strategy and deliver best-in-class execution for culturally driven campaigns. The role sits between the Paid Social Manager and Partner, translating global direction into market strategies and building robust testing roadmaps.

You will oversee planning, activation, and high-performance delivery while developing a talented team and partnering with cross-channel groups. This is a hybrid, permanent position in London.

Qualifications

• Strong experience in Paid Social within an agency or client-facing environment.
• Proven ability to lead client relationships and develop strategic recommendations.
• Experience working on multi-market or global clients, culturally driven sectors.
• Deep understanding of Paid Social platforms (Meta, TikTok, Snapchat, Pinterest).
• Strong analytical mindset with ability to translate data into insights.
• Experience managing and developing teams.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and presentation skills.
• Ability to balance strategic thinking with hands-on execution oversight.

Responsibilities

• Act as senior day-to-day lead for local market clients and own Paid Social strategy.
• Develop testing roadmaps and identify opportunities across platforms.
• Oversee campaign planning and delivery against KPIs with data-driven optimization.
• Lead and develop Paid Social Managers and foster high-performing teams.
• Collaborate with cross-channel teams to deliver integrated solutions.

Skills

Paid Social

Client relationships

Multi-market experience

Paid Social platforms

Analytical mindset

Team management

Communication skills

Strategic thinking

Job description

Paid Social Director | Permanent | London | Hybrid Working

Dentsu is an integrated growth and transformation partner to the world’s leading organizations. Founded in 1901 in Tokyo, Japan, and now present in over 145 countries and regions, it has a proven track record of nurturing and developing innovations, combining the talents of its global network of leadership brands to develop impactful and integrated growth solutions for clients. Dentsu delivers end-to-end experience transformation (EX) by integrating its services across Media, CXM and Creative, while its business transformation (BX) mindset pushes the boundaries of transformation and sustainable growth for brands, people and society.

We’re hiring a Paid Social Director as part of our London team. This role is pivotal in shaping market-level strategy and delivering best-in-class execution across culturally impactful campaigns.

Purpose of the Role The Paid Social Account Director is responsible for leading the relationship with key local market stakeholders, developing Paid Social strategy and ensuring excellence in execution through their team. Sitting between the Paid Social Manager and Partner, this role translates global direction into market-specific strategies, builds robust testing roadmaps and drives high-performing, efficient delivery. You will be accountable for ensuring your market delivers against performance goals while maintaining high standards across planning, activation and team development.

Key Responsibilities

• Client Leadership & Strategic Ownership: Act as the senior day-to-day lead for local market clients, building strong and trusted relationships Own the development of Paid Social strategy within your market, aligned to global direction and local objectives Translate global briefs into actionable market-level plans that reflect cultural nuance and audience behaviour Provide strategic guidance and thought leadership to clients, particularly across entertainment launches and key moments
• Planning, Testing & Innovation: Develop and own testing roadmaps to drive continuous improvement and innovation Identify new opportunities across platforms, formats and audience strategies Ensure learnings are captured, shared and scaled across campaigns and markets Champion a test-and-learn culture within the team
• Performance & Delivery Oversight: Oversee campaign planning and execution to ensure delivery against KPIs Drive performance optimisation through strong use of data and insights Ensure high standards across campaign quality, reporting, and financial management Support forecasting and performance tracking across your market
• Team Leadership & Excellence: Lead and develop Paid Social Managers and executives, ensuring strong delivery and growth Set clear expectations and maintain high standards across planning and activation Oversee workload management and resource allocation within your team Foster a collaborative, accountable and high-performing team culture
• Collaboration & Integration: Work closely with the Paid Social Partner to align market strategy with global priorities Partner with cross-channel teams (Client Services, Search, Programmatic, etc.) to deliver integrated solutions Support Total Social integration across Paid, Organic and Creator activity where relevant

Qualifications + Skills

• Strong experience in Paid Social within an agency or client-facing environment
• Proven ability to lead client relationships and develop strategic recommendations
• Experience working on multi-market or global clients, ideally within fast-paced, culturally driven sectors
• Deep understanding of Paid Social platforms (Meta, TikTok, Snapchat, Pinterest) and their role across the funnel
• Strong analytical mindset with ability to translate data into actionable insights
• Experience managing and developing teams
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and presentation skills
• Ability to balance strategic thinking with hands-on oversight of execution

What we offer

This is a permanent role. The team is based in our London office but operates under flexible working arrangements. As well as a competitive salary, you’ll enjoy a benefits package that you can tailor to your needs.

Inclusion and Diversity

At Dentsu, we embrace diversity and inclusion, valuing the unique perspectives and contributions of every individual. We believe that diversity fuels creativity and innovation, benefiting our employees, partners, and communities. We welcome applications from all individuals, regardless of race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, marital status, or any other protected characteristic.

Beyond recruitment, we strive to create an environment where everyone feels respected, supported, and empowered to bring their authentic selves to work. We recognise the importance of work-life balance and are open to discussing flexible working arrangements for all roles. If you need reasonable adjustments due to a disability or medical condition during our recruitment process, please contact us at [e-mail], quoting the reference number of the role that you are applying for. Your needs will be handled with respect and confidentiality to ensure an inclusive and accessible experience.

We are a Disability Confident scheme user. If you consider yourself to have a disability and meet the essential criteria for the role, you will be guaranteed an interview.

Location: London Brand: Time Type: Full time Contract Type: Permanent

About dentsu

For over 120 years, innovation has been a core tenet of our offering – exploring new ways to reach, engage and nurture relationships with audiences. Together we drive a multiplier effect for clients at a global scale, through the development of Integrated Growth Solutions that are underpinned by our promise to clients: innovating to impact. Be a force for good. Sustainability is a vital part of our business and an important area of focus for our clients. We’re leading the way – helping to build a more sustainable planet. Dream loud. In this moment of transformation, we need our people to be fearless, embracing change and ambiguity, driven by the love for their work and excitement for the future. Team without limits. We create opportunities for connection and collaboration between our colleagues and clients, building a sense of belonging and having some fun along the way. Find out more about us Who we are Our Social Impact Our work