Director, Strategy & Activation

Kepler Group•Philadelphia, PA

4d•Remote

About The Position

Kepler executes engineered marketing, where every message and ad delivered helps create a more personalized and productive relationship between brands and their consumers. We do this by acting as clients’ agency of record, as their in-house team, or some hybrid of the two – and by harnessing data and technology across all paid digital media and data-driven CRM channels. Kepler prides itself on being a great place to work. In fact, we’re proud to share that AdAge recognized Kepler among the Best Place to Work in 2022, validating our investment in our team and our clients. We're transparent with our employees. You'll hear updates on company financials, how we're performing against bonus goals, and how we're responding to challenges we face. We're growing. For you, that means unparalleled growth opportunities and a role in shaping the direction of the company. We're fun. You'll work with and learn from the smartest people in the industry and have a blast doing it. THE ROLE The Director, Strategy & Activation position serves as the senior business lead across key client partnerships, with overall responsibility for account success, strategic direction, team leadership, and business growth. In this role, you will own and lead client relationships at the highest levels, acting as a trusted advisor to senior stakeholders while ensuring integrated media strategies drive measurable business outcomes. As a Director, you will balance strategic leadership with a strong understanding of performance media activation across Search, Social, Programmatic, Online Video, and emerging channels. You will guide teams in developing innovative, data-driven marketing solutions while fostering strong collaboration across internal disciplines. This role requires a leader who can effectively navigate complex client challenges, identify growth opportunities, and inspire teams to deliver exceptional results. You'll succeed as a Director, Strategy & Activation if you are a proven client leader with deep digital media expertise, exceptional business acumen, strong people management capabilities, and a track record of driving both client success and account growth.

Requirements

8–10+ years of experience in digital media strategy, cross-channel planning, activation, and performance marketing
Significant experience leading large-scale, integrated digital marketing programs across Paid Search, Paid Social, Programmatic/Display, and related performance media channels
Demonstrated success owning senior client relationships and serving as a strategic advisor to executive-level stakeholders
Proven experience leading account strategy and driving business outcomes across complex client portfolios
Strong understanding of performance KPIs, attribution methodologies, audience strategy, measurement frameworks, and optimization approaches
Deep familiarity with platforms such as Google Ads, SA360, Meta Ads Manager, TikTok Ads, DV360, The Trade Desk, or similar media technologies preferred
Strong analytical capabilities with the ability to connect performance insights to broader business objectives and growth opportunities
Ability to balance strategic vision with a strong understanding of campaign execution and operational excellence
Proven track record of identifying and driving account growth opportunities through innovative thinking and strategic leadership
Experience managing and developing high-performing teams, including leadership of Associate Directors and other people managers
Exceptional client-facing, presentation, written, and verbal communication skills
Strong organizational, project management, and stakeholder management skills with the ability to navigate multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
Ability to thrive in an entrepreneurial, collaborative, and team-oriented culture

Responsibilities

Serve as the senior strategic and business lead across key client accounts, maintaining overall ownership of account health, client satisfaction, and performance outcomes
Build and cultivate executive-level client relationships, acting as a trusted advisor and primary strategic partner to senior client stakeholders
Lead the development of integrated cross-channel media strategies spanning Paid Search, Paid Social, Programmatic/Display, Online Video, and emerging digital platforms
Guide long-term account planning by aligning media strategy with clients' business objectives, growth priorities, and evolving market dynamics
Oversee strategic direction across campaign planning, activation, optimization, budget allocation, measurement, and reporting to ensure programs deliver against business goals
Identify opportunities to grow client partnerships through proactive strategic recommendations, innovation, testing initiatives, and expanded service offerings
Translate complex performance data, market intelligence, and industry trends into clear business recommendations and executive-level narratives
Lead high-impact client meetings, quarterly business reviews, annual planning sessions, and executive presentations
Partner closely with channel specialists, analytics, creative, ad operations, and leadership teams to develop integrated solutions that drive measurable business impact
Provide strategic oversight and leadership across multiple accounts, ensuring consistency, quality, and operational excellence throughout client programs
Manage and develop a team of Associate Directors, Managers, Senior Analysts, and Analysts by providing coaching, mentorship, performance management, and career development support
Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, innovation, and continuous learning across the team
Contribute to agency growth initiatives through thought leadership, cross-functional collaboration, new business support, and process innovation