Associate Director, Digital Activation and Investment

Job Description Who We Are Horizon Media, founded in 1989 by Bill Koenigsberg, is recognized as one of the most innovative marketing and advertising firms. We are headquartered in New York City, with offices in Los Angeles and Toronto. A leader in driving business solutions for marketers, Horizon is known for its highly personal approach to client service. Renowned for its incredible culture, Horizon is consistently named to all the prestigious annual Best Places to Work lists published by Fortune, AdAge, Crain’s New York Business and Los Angeles Business Journal. Together we are building a place of belonging. At Horizon, we understand the value that different perspectives can bring to our clients and culture, so we strive for an environment where our employees feel welcomed, safe and empowered. We value YOU and believe that your authentic voice and unique perspective allows us to create a more rewarding culture, and experience, together. Our simple recipe for success? We hire talented people (thinkers, doers, dreamers, makers), challenge them and give them every opportunity to grow. What You’ll Do Paid Social Strategy & Activation – 50% Partner with Business Solutions teams to architect a sophisticated, data-driven paid social strategy that serves as a core pillar of our clients' marketing efforts. Guide the team to master and leverage Horizon Media’s suite of planning, evaluation, and buying tools for deep competitive analysis, audience research, creative segmentation, and social-first plan development. Act as the thought leader on trends, tools, and opportunities within the social landscape (e.g., emerging platforms, creator/influencer integrations, new ad formats, privacy changes), and apply that knowledge to innovate campaign strategies. Oversee the creation of all social-specific documentation, including strategic decks, media plans, and testing roadmaps, ensuring excellence and accuracy. Client & Team Leadership – 30% Serve as the primary paid social authority for the client, translating complex social concepts into actionable insights and ensuring all social activities align with their business objectives. Manage and develop a team of paid social specialists, creating growth plans, providing clear career goals, and fostering an environment of continuous learning and expertise. Apply deep knowledge of the social industry and client business to lead negotiations with social platform partners (e.g., Meta, TikTok, Snap) and secure first-to-market opportunities. Build and strengthen relationships across internal departments, ensuring the paid social strategy is seamlessly integrated into the broader marketing mix. Campaign Management & Optimization – 15% Provide final sign-off on critical social campaign builds, from audience targeting and creative formatting to bidding strategies and budget allocation, ensuring adherence to best practices. Act as the primary escalation point for the team on complex campaign challenges, from performance plateaus to tracking, pixel integration, and attribution issues. Lead the analysis of paid social performance, guiding the team to move beyond basic metrics and deliver thoughtful, data-based conclusions that reveal the 'why' behind the numbers. Champion a culture of testing and optimization, encouraging the team to proactively identify and execute opportunities to improve campaign effectiveness and drive ROI. Strategic Partnerships – 5% Act as a primary resource for the team as they work through the planning process, while providing strategic guidance. Lead collaboration with other Horizon Media teams towards 360 partnerships, incorporating relevant extensions. Who You Are A master of storytelling with data, able to transform complex social performance metrics into a clear and compelling narrative. A left and right brain thinker, blending analytical rigor with creative problem-solving. A collaborative, team-oriented leader with strong delegation skills and the ability to manage both up and down effectively. A problem solver with the foresight to anticipate campaign challenges and develop proactive, innovative solutions. Detail-oriented with an unwavering commitment to accuracy and follow-through. Deeply passionate about the social media landscape, with an insatiable desire to innovate and stay ahead of industry trends. An enthusiastic coach and mentor, dedicated to developing the next generation of paid social marketing experts. An advocate for and supporter of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Preferred Skills & Experience 5+ years of hands-on experience developing and executing paid social marketing strategies, preferably in an agency setting. Proven expertise in managing large-scale, complex paid social campaigns and acting as the primary client contact and social subject matter expert. Exceptional verbal and written communication skills; able to confidently present and “sell through” social strategies to both internal and Client stakeholders. Demonstrated leadership experience in developing and managing paid social marketing professionals. Expert-level knowledge of social marketing principles, analytics, and buying strategies (e.g., CPA, ROAS, CPM, Reach/Frequency). Deep, hands-on experience with social platforms such as Meta (Facebook/Instagram), TikTok, LinkedIn, Snapchat, Pinterest, and X (Twitter). Strong understanding of the interplay between Paid Social and Organic Social / Influencer Marketing. Certificates, Licenses and Registrations There are no requirements for certificates, licenses, and registrations. Physical Activity and Work Environment There are no requirements for physical activity and work environment. The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees and are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified. Furthermore, they do not establish a contract for employment and are subject to change at the discretion of the employer. Disclosures The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees and are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified. Furthermore, they do not establish a contract of employment and are subject to change at the discretion of the employer. In our recruitment process, we may use AI-powered tools to help identify potential candidates for this role. Applicants with disabilities who may need a reasonable accommodation during the interview/hiring process should email the following: Salary Range $95,000.00 - $110,000.00 #LI-KK1 #LI-HYBRID #HMI Disclosures : The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees and are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified. Furthermore, they do not establish a contract of employment and are subject to change at the discretion of the employer. In our recruitment process, we may use AI-powered tools to help identify potential candidates for this role. Applicants with disabilities who may need a reasonable accommodation during the interview/hiring process should email the following: Salary Range $95,000.00 - $110,000.00