Job Description

Associate Director, Media

Location: Greater Toronto Area, Hybrid.

You lead end-to-end media campaigns from strategy through execution and reporting, serving as a senior point of contact for clients and a trusted advisor on their business. Partnering with cross-functional teams across ChangeMakers, you ensure the strategic delivery of client goals and business objectives while shaping the direction of the work at a higher level.

You provide leadership across all accounts in the group, championing the highest quality media product, driving client satisfaction, and contributing to the growth of both the business and the team. You play a meaningful role in coaching, training, and mentoring team members at multiple levels, helping to build bench strength across the department. We operate in a fast-paced, agile environment — which means wearing many hats, changing direction quickly, and demonstrating an eagerness to learn and lead as the need arises. The role requires people who can prioritize, multitask, influence, and deliver.

What are your responsibilities?

• Lead senior-level client engagement and account management, acting as a strategic media and performance partner across client businesses.

• Oversee the development, execution, and optimization of integrated media campaigns across paid social, SEM, programmatic, CTV/video, retail media, and traditional channels where applicable.

• Serve as the senior performance and technical lead across accounts, providing deep expertise in platform strategy, audience architecture, bidding methodologies, measurement frameworks, attribution, tracking implementation, and optimization best practices.

• Lead client-facing media plan, performance, and business review presentations, translating complex data and platform insights into clear strategic recommendations and growth opportunities.

• Provide senior oversight of in-platform execution across all major media platforms, including campaign setup, QA, pacing, optimization, troubleshooting, and performance governance to ensure campaigns are executed to the highest standard.

• Drive cross-channel performance strategy through advanced understanding of platform ecosystems including Google Ads, Meta, LinkedIn, DV360, The Trade Desk, Amazon, GA4, and platform analytics environments.

• Guide the implementation and management of tracking infrastructure including pixels, conversion APIs, UTMs, audience integrations, and measurement frameworks to ensure data integrity and actionable reporting.

• Build, develop, and strengthen client and agency partner relationships by proactively identifying opportunities to improve performance, expand scope, and deliver greater business impact.

• Work closely with Directors and senior leadership to mentor, coach, and elevate junior and mid-level team members across technical execution, optimization practices, strategic thinking, and client management.

• Partner with internal Strategy, Account Services, Creative, Analytics, and Finance teams to ensure seamless execution, integrated planning, and alignment between media performance and broader business objectives.

• Oversee project timelines, campaign pacing, and operational workflows across the account portfolio to ensure on-time, on-budget delivery and efficient execution.

• Lead ongoing campaign analysis and optimization, identifying performance trends, testing opportunities, and actionable insights that improve media effectiveness and client outcomes.

• Elevate the quality of reporting and analytics across accounts by ensuring insights are strategic, data-driven, and tied to measurable business objectives and KPIs.

• Oversee all media operations and administrative functions including campaign setup, trafficking oversight, reconciliations, billing coordination, and financial reporting with a high degree of accuracy and accountability.

• Own account financial management including budget controls, forecasting, pacing, and BCR oversight to ensure financial accuracy and operational efficiency.

• Contribute to new business development, agency thought leadership, platform innovation, and the continued evolution of ChangeMakers’ media, data, and performance capabilities.

What type of qualities and qualifications should I have?

• 8+ years of related work experience, preferably in a brand or agency environment, with a track record of leading client relationships and teams.

• Undergraduate degree in Marketing, Business Administration, or a relevant field.

• Deep hands-on experience executing and overseeing media campaigns across platforms including but not limited to Meta, LinkedIn, Google Ads, Pinterest, TikTok, Reddit, etc.

• Proven experience leading client-facing communication and presentations at senior and executive levels.

• Working knowledge of programmatic media and DSPs.

• Working knowledge of traditional media — print, OOH, TV, radio — an asset.

• Demonstrated experience managing, mentoring, and developing media talent.
• Experience working in a fast-paced professional services environment, navigating executive-level decision makers and complex business issues with confidence.

Salary

The Greater Toronto Area base salary range for this position is $90,000- $110,000. Our salary ranges are determined by job and level. Within the range, individual compensation is determined by job-related skills and knowledge, relevant experience including professional and lived experience, and/or work location.

AI Use

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support our hiring process. These tools assist our hiring team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.

Our goal is to offer a role you love within a workplace you're proud to contribute to each day. To learn more about who we are, visit our careers page.

About ChangeMakers

Transforming missions and markets.

We’re a strategy and communications firm built for what’s next. Whether navigating vision, growth, reputation, or urgent change, we help organizations see what others can’t, so they can lead boldly and thrive.

An equitable employer

ChangeMakers is committed to advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion in all its forms—a commitment that enriches our company culture, the ideas we generate, and the quality of service we provide our clients. We strongly encourage applications from Indigenous communities, racialized communities, women, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ2S+ people, and other historically marginalized groups.

If you require accommodation during the recruitment process, we will work with you to meet your needs in accordance with human rights and accessibility legislation.

At ChangeMakers, we understand that the ideal candidate may not meet every single requirement listed above. If you have relevant experience and a strong interest in the role, we encourage you to submit your application. We welcome creative thinkers and people who bring diverse lived experiences to our team.