Associate Director, Media Investment & Activation

Horizon Media•Toronto, ON

6d•CA$95,000 - CA$110,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Associate Director, Activation is responsible for leading and developing a high-performing buying team including the strategic execution, negotiation, optimization, and stewardship of media campaigns across broadcast and audio channels. Working closely with the Sr. Director, Media Investment & Activation, this role partners with Business Strategy teams to deliver effective client solutions, drive operational excellence, and ensure campaigns are executed with precision and accountability.

Requirements

Minimum 6-8 years of experience in media investment & activation
Detail oriented with strong organizational skills
Ability to multi-task & prioritize workload
Capable of handling multiple projects to meet tight deadlines under pressure
Demonstrate strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities
Strong negotiation skills & tactics
Clear communication skills: written, verbal, and presentation
Someone who can develop/has developed strong relationships with media vendors
Ability to collaborate and work successfully with various agency teams

Responsibilities

Responsible for leading the buying team in all aspects of campaign stewardship: packaging, negotiation, maintenance and reporting
React quickly to campaign results/revisions and oversee the implementation of optimizations when required
Ensure teams’ strict adherence to established activation and budgetary goals
Train, direct and mentor buying staff on an ongoing basis
Collaborate with Business Strategy Team counterparts to provide insight on tactical execution
Maintain knowledge and understanding of the marketplace landscape, industry trends, and new technologies that affect the buying discipline
Establish and maintain exceptional business relationships with internal teams, vendor partners
Participate in new business pitches by providing relevant information as required
Oversee media buys for broadcast and audio, ensuring high quality of buys are placed for all clients.
Connect regularly with the team to discuss workload, ongoing projects, and identify areas to improve process/save time on repetitive tasks where possible.
Collaborate with planning to oversee media strategy and align optimizations for Video and Audio campaigns.
Maintain organized weekly status, detailing all current projects and their deadlines, to ensure nothing slips through the cracks.
Identify areas of growth for team members to develop their skills within all types of media the team is scoped for.
Serve as a role model for all members of the team, providing constructive feedback as needed on an ongoing basis.
Communicate industry/vendor updates to all members of the team.
Work with vendors to bring forward sponsorship opportunities that align with the client’s target audience.
Execute ongoing TV and Audio campaigns for multiple clients, understanding the nuances and reporting requirements for each client.
Build and maintain a priority list for all media activations and team requests, ensuring deadlines are met based on their urgency.
Review weekly TV clearance with the team for multiple clients, to ensure media buys are airing as purchased.
Aid both planning teams and the Sr. Director in deck building with information needed.
Maintain constant communication across the team, offering support where needed.
Communicate with traffic teams where needed, to ensure creative is delivered to vendors ahead of launch, or for creative changes.
Build/maintain relationships with vendors to help maximize negotiations and provide best value for clients.