Director, Activation

Kepler Group•New York, NY

17h•$140,000 - $160,000

About The Position

The Director, Activation provides strategic and operational leadership for a team of digital media professionals responsible for developing, executing, and optimizing performance-driven media campaigns across multiple channels. The role combines hands-on media expertise with client partnership and people leadership. The Director leads and develops a multi-level team of Associate Directors, Managers, Senior Analysts, and Analysts; sets strategic direction; builds leadership capabilities; and ensures excellence in campaign strategy and execution. As a senior leader in the Activation organization, the Director serves as a trusted advisor to clients and internal stakeholders, drives innovation across media platforms, and identifies opportunities to improve performance, strengthen team capabilities, and deliver business results. Kepler’s Activation teams work across paid search, paid social, programmatic display and video, connected TV, audio, digital out-of-home, and emerging media channels. They combine platform expertise, strategic thinking, data-driven insights, and knowledge of the digital landscape to help clients achieve business goals.

Requirements

8–10+ years of hands-on digital media experience, with deep expertise in performance marketing across multiple paid media channels, including paid search, paid social, and programmatic.
Experience leading and developing larger, multi-level teams, including Associate Directors, Managers, and senior individual contributors.
Ability to coach and develop other leaders while building high-performing, collaborative teams.
Extensive knowledge of major digital media platforms, campaign management tools, and analytics solutions.
Experience developing cross-channel media strategies, overseeing campaign performance, and translating data into actionable business recommendations.
Strong client-facing experience, including leading strategic discussions, presentations, and senior-level partnerships.
Strong analytical, communication, presentation, and problem-solving skills.
Ability to manage competing priorities, drive innovation, and thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

Responsibilities

Provide strategic direction, coaching, and mentorship to a multi-level team of Associate Directors, Managers, Senior Analysts, and Analysts, fostering accountability, collaboration, and professional growth.
Oversee the development, execution, and optimization of cross-channel media campaigns across paid search, paid social, programmatic, and other digital channels, aligning campaigns with client objectives and business outcomes.
Maintain strong media platform knowledge and serve as a subject matter expert, guiding campaign strategy, troubleshooting performance challenges, and identifying opportunities for optimization and innovation.
Build trusted relationships with senior client stakeholders and media partners, lead strategic discussions, and translate campaign performance and industry trends into actionable recommendations.
Monitor emerging media trends, platform capabilities, and technologies; establish best practices, improve workflows, and identify opportunities to scale team capabilities and efficiency.
Collaborate with senior leadership and cross-functional teams to develop integrated media solutions, support broader business initiatives, and evolve the Activation organization.

Benefits

Healthcare, dental, and vision coverage
Unlimited PTO
401(k) contributions
$75 per month wellness stipend
$100 per month mobile phone stipend
$50 per month internet stipend
$500 annual learning stipend
$2,000 annual tuition stipend
One-time $200 new-hire home office equipment stipend
Parental leave: 16 weeks for primary caregivers and 6 weeks for secondary caregivers
Annual work-from-anywhere allowance of 4 weeks per year
Target annualized discretionary bonus of 10%