Associate Director, Digital Activation

Jobtailor; Illinois; On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Jobtailor seeks a Director of Media to lead a high-performing team of media professionals and own strategic media planning and activation. You will balance delegated accountability with direct ownership, ensuring every project meets timelines and budgets while aligning with client expectations.

The role requires deep expertise in digital marketplace dynamics, advanced media math, and strong negotiation skills to optimize performance and drive efficient outcomes across campaigns.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3+ years in a management role.
• Comfortable managing a team of 2+ employees.
• Deep understanding of client/agency finance processes.
• 4+ years of strategic digital media planning and execution.

Responsibilities

• Lead and inspire a high-performing team of media professionals.
• Drive strategic outcomes by balancing delegated accountability with direct ownership of media planning and activation.
• Establish support, guidance, and strategic clarity.
• Ensure projects execute on time and on budget.
• Review and provide feedback on media plans for strategic alignment and efficiency.

Skills

Team Leadership

Strategic Digital Media Planning

Media Math Proficiency

Client/Agency Finance Understanding

Negotiation Strategies

Data-Driven Optimization

Tools

Prisma

Job description

• Lead and inspire a high-performing team of media professionals
• Drive strategic outcomes by balancing delegated accountability with direct ownership of media planning and activation
• Establish support, guidance, and strategic clarity
• Ensure projects execute on time and on budget
• Manage daily team performance according to agency objectives and client expectations
• Facilitate partnerships between senior leadership, clients, and internal teams
• Review and provide feedback on media plans for strategic alignment and efficiency
• Champion agency processes and best practices

Requirements

• 3+ years in a management role
• Comfortable managing a team of at least 2+ employees
• Understanding of client/agency finance processes
• 4+ years of strategic digital media planning and execution
• Deep expertise in digital marketplace dynamics (media rates, buying models, negotiation strategies)
• Advanced proficiency in media math and data-driven optimization
• Deep proficiency with Prisma (non-negotiable)
• Proven ability to review and critique partner media plans
• Fluency in media terminology and industry standards

Core Competencies

Demonstrates strong leadership in managing media professionals while driving strategic digital media planning and execution. Proficient in media math and data-driven optimization, with a deep understanding of client/agency finance processes and digital marketplace dynamics.

Highest-signal resume keywords

• Team Leadership
• Strategic Digital Media Planning
• Media Math Proficiency
• Prisma Expertise
• Client/Agency Finance Understanding

ATS Optimization Keywords

Hard Skills

• Digital Media Planning
• Data-Driven Optimization
• Media Buying Models
• Negotiation Strategies
• Media Rates Analysis

Soft Skills

• Team Management
• Strategic Guidance
• Performance Management
• Partnership Facilitation

Industry Keywords

• Media Terminology
• Agency Processes
• Best Practices
• Client Expectations

Tools & Technologies

• Prisma