Media Channels & Activation Manager

Target•Minneapolis, MN

22h•Hybrid

About The Position

A role within Target’s Media organization places you at the center of how we connect with guests through data-driven, performance-focused media strategies. You’ll partner cross-functionally with marketing, merchandising, analytics, and finance to translate media insights into actions that drive enterprise growth and customer engagement. As a trusted expert in paid performance media, you’ll influence strategy, guide investment decisions, and help shape how we activate across search and social platforms. In a fast-paced retail environment, you’ll also identify and scale innovative capabilities—from emerging channels to AI-driven solutions—ensuring Target remains at the forefront of media excellence and continues to strengthen its connection with guests. As a Manager, Paid Performance Media, you will support the strategy, and lead the execution, and optimization of Target’s digital media investments across paid search and social platforms, including Google, Bing, Meta, TikTok, Pinterest, Apple, and Snapchat. In this role, you are accountable not only for campaign performance, but for shaping scalable, full-funnel media strategies that drive new customer acquisition, customer engagement, and measurable business outcomes. You will oversee day-to-day activation while elevating the team’s approach through advanced optimization frameworks, test-and-learn agendas, and data-driven decisioning. This includes guiding bidding strategies, audience architecture, creative and content planning, and budget allocation to maximize efficiency and impact across channels. You will translate complex data into clear, actionable insights, delivering executive-level reporting and recommendations to key stakeholders. You will also establish and evolve best-in-class processes, ensuring consistency and scalability across campaign setup, trafficking, measurement, and performance pacing. You are expected to stay ahead of the rapidly evolving paid media landscape, proactively identifying emerging trends, platform innovations, and industry shifts, and translating them into forward-looking strategies that advance Target’s enterprise media capabilities. Additionally, you will play a key role in partnering with team members, influencing cross-functional partners, and driving alignment across broader marketing and business objectives.

Requirements

4-year college degree with relevant business marketing experience, or equivalent experience
5+ years paid digital marketing experience; emphasis in paid search and paid social retail strategies
Activation and media strategy experience with paid search and/or social platforms including, but not limited to: Google Ads, Pinterest, Meta Ads, Tiktok, Apple Search Ads, Snapchat, Microsoft Ads
Detailed knowledge and experience with paid search and paid social bid management platforms (i.e. Search Ads 360, Skai, Marin, etc.)
Intimate knowledge of technical aspects of data configuration, optimization and measurement of paid media campaigns activated to drive enterprise outcomes (i.e. pixels, attribution, CAPI, prospecting vs. retargeting, etc.)
Effective communication and relationship building, uniting teams towards common goals and outcomes
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with an ability to analyze data and effectively story tell
Highly organized and detail oriented, with a lens towards streamlining and managing multiple projects
Comfortable navigating through ambiguity with a strong sense of prioritization for action
Ability to work with all levels of management with a high level of autonomy, motivation, and self-direction, tailoring messages as appropriate

Responsibilities

Evolve and support the paid search & social performance media strategy, aligning to enterprise growth objectives and full-funnel outcomes
Lead end-to-end execution across platforms—from strategic planning and activation through measurement, optimization, and closed-loop reporting
Drive performance through advanced optimization strategies, including audience design, bidding frameworks, creative strategy, and budget allocation
Build, manage, and influence strong relationships with internal and external partners, establishing trust, credibility, and accountability
Serve as a subject matter expert in paid performance media, bringing forward innovative approaches across search and social platforms
Partner cross-functionally with marketing, merchandising, analytics, and product teams to develop integrated strategies that connect external media signals to internal business outcomes
Champion a culture of inclusivity, connection, and drive while mentoring and developing team members
Steer a robust test-and-learn agenda, identifying and scaling new opportunities to drive incremental performance and unlock new capabilities
Evaluate, test, and scale AI-driven media solutions (e.g., Performance Max, Demand Gen, AI-powered bidding/creative, emerging platforms) to improve efficiency and business outcomes
Establish, standardize, and scale best practices, processes, and frameworks to improve consistency, efficiency, and performance across campaigns
Support and operationalize multi-channel performance media roadmaps, ensuring alignment with broader marketing strategies and enterprise priorities
Continuously monitor industry trends, platform changes, and competitive dynamics, translating insights into forward-looking strategies