Senior Paid Media Strategist

Job description

About Northern Headquartered in London, Ontario, Canada, Northern is an integrated digital solutions agency specializing in helping leading commercial and public service brands navigate digital change. By leveraging our expertise and deep understanding of our clients’ businesses, we collaborate to design, create, and enable tailored digital experiences that drive growth. Northern is positioned as a leader in the performance advertising industry as a Meta and Google Premier Partner —awarded to only 3% of agency partners in Canada. Our campaigns with leading brands in North America have been recognized as best in class through the Google Premier Partner Awards, Search Engine Land Awards, and the Canadian Search Awards. Since our founding in 2015, Northern has grown into a team of 200+ digital experts, receiving multiple recognitions in employee engagement from Great Place to Work® Canada, including Best Workplaces™ for Inclusion, Women, Mental Health, Hybrid Work, and more. The Opportunity - Senior Paid Media Strategist Northern is growing, and we are looking for experienced Senior Paid Media Strategists to join our growing paid media team. In this pivotal role, you will take complete ownership of strategy and end-to-end execution for our key client accounts. We want a data-driven leader who can build high-performing, cross-channel paid advertising campaigns that deliver measurable business results. As a senior member of the team, you will pair deep technical expertise with strategic vision. You will naturally lead every stage of the campaign lifecycle, from initial research and media planning to hands-on implementation, proactive optimization, and insightful reporting. *Our Connected Workplace Program allows you to work remotely, in a hybrid model, or fully in-office. Preference is given to Ontario-based employees due to the requirement for occasional in-person client and team meetings. Benefits of Becoming a Northerner In exchange for your talent and expertise, Northern is committed to providing: Robust Benefits plan, including a Health Spending Account Wellness Program & LifeWorks EAP Fitness Reimbursement Program Vet Care Program RRSP Matching Profit-Sharing Performance Bonuses Endless Professional Growth Opportunities Delicious Meals & Company Social Events Free Onsite Parking Referral Bonus Program Flexible work environment - so you can work where & when you work best Allowance to help set up home office Just to name a few!... What You'll Be Doing: Lead paid media strategy and execution across platforms like Google, Meta, TikTok, Pinterest, Snap, and LinkedIn - owning campaign planning, setup, optimization , and reporting Develop data-driven campaigns that align with client goals and KPIs , using research, audience targeting , and performance insights to drive measurable results Monitor and manage campaign performance , making strategic optimizations, troubleshooting issues, and proactively identifying opportunities for improvement Create and present detailed reports and performance insights , clearly communicating results, trends, and actionable recommendation s to clients and internal stakeholders Act as a trusted client partner, participating in calls, providing strategic direction , and ensuring alignment between campaign execution and business goals Oversee campaign quality and performance, reviewing and optimizing ad copy, landing pages, creative assets, and campaign structures in collaboration with cross-functional teams Own media pacing and budget management, ensuring campaigns stay on track and aligned with planned spend and performance expectations Stay current on digital marketing trends and platform updates , sharing insights with the team and applying new tactics to push performance Mentor and support junior team members, reviewing work, providing feedback, and sharing best practices to strengthen department expertise Support business growth efforts , contributing to audits, proposals, and identifying opportunities for platform expansion or campaign scale within existing accounts Provides feedback, direction and mentorship to Jr Paid Media members What You'll Bring: 5+ years of experience in digital advertising , with a focus on paid campaign execution 3+ years of performance marketing management. Successful completion of a post-secondary program in a relevant field (e.g., Marketing, Advertising, Web Development, Computer Science) or equivalent work experience Proven track record of developing and executing high-performing digital advertising strategies across platforms such as Google Ads, Facebook Ads, and YouTube Hands-on experience managing campaigns in Facebook and Google Ads , including SEM, PPC, and CPM trends Comfortable presenting campaign metrics and performance insights , both internally and to clients Proficiency with attribution and tracking tools, such as Google Tag Manager, Facebook Pixel, and Google Analytics (certification is an asset) Google Ads and Google Analytics certifications are preferred Strong analytical mindset with the ability to make data-driven decisions Thrives in fast-paced environments, balancing independent ownership with strong collaboration skills Supreme attention to detail Comfortable with daily video conferencing and remote communication tools What Success Looks Like (Year 1) After year one, you'll own 4-6 complex client accounts independently, lead platform strategy decisions across the team , and mentor 2-3 junior strategists on campaign setup and optimization. You'll drive proactive client recommendations that result in budget increases or platform expansion, own quarterly business reviews with key clients, contribute to RFP responses and new business pitches, and establish best practices that the team adopts. Why You'll Love This Role! Own Your Accounts: Independently manage 2-4 complex client accounts with full strategic control and direct client relationships Multi-Platform Expertise: Work across Google, Meta, TikTok, Pinterest, Snap, and LinkedIn; master multiple platforms and stay ahead of industry trends Measurable Impact: Own reporting and tracking; see direct ROI of your optimization decisions and strategic recommendations Collaborative & Fast-Paced: Balance independent ownership with team collaboration, client calls, and strategic planning in a remote-friendly environment Strategic Voice: Your insights directly influence client reccommendations and spend Remote-Friendly: Work from anywhere in Canada with flexible hours The Team You'll join a tight-knit team of 6-8 talented Paid Media professionals who move fast and think strategically. You'll partner directly with Account Management and Marketing Leadership to shape client strategy, collaborate with top-tier measurement consultants, and report to the Senior Director of Digital Advertising, someone who values data expertise and gives you room to innovate. This is a role where your tracking and measurement work directly influences how the team thinks about our client’s success. Compensation This role has a target salary range of $80,000 - $110,000 CAD, with final compensation determined based on a number of factors, including but not limited to relevant skills and experience, depth of role-related expertise, years of directly applicable experience, internal equity, and market alignment for the role. Compensation decisions also consider the scope and complexity of the position and are made in a manner consistent with our pay practices. In addition to base salary, we offer a comprehensive total rewards package, which may include health & dental benefits, RRSP matching, Profit Sharing, and many additional perks. 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. 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! Why Join Northern? You’ll work alongside a team of 200+ digital experts at one of Canada’s Best Workplaces™ for Inclusion, Women, Mental Health, Hybrid Work, and more. We’re intentional about growth, collaboration, and creating meaningful digital experiences that move our clients forward.