Associate Director - Performance Strategy and Planning

Agency:

Hearts & Science

Job Function:

Media

Job Subfunction:

Media Planning and Buying

Job Description:

As an Associate Director, Performance Marketing, you will play a key leadership role in driving performance across digital media channels for a large, fast-paced retail client. This role requires deep performance marketing expertise, a foundation of hands-on platform experience, a strong analytical mindset, and the ability to translate complex performance trends into clear, actionable strategies and recommendations.

You will co-lead cross-functional performance management across channel activation teams, agency partners, and clients, driving day-to-day strategic direction, budget stewardship, reporting, and optimization initiatives. The ideal candidate is comfortable operating in a dynamic environment where priorities can shift quickly and is confident leading complex workstreams, influencing stakeholders, and independently driving recommendations from insight through execution.

As an Associate Director, Performance Marketing, you will report directly to the Senior Director and serve as a strategic partner in developing and executing cross-channel performance strategies, while independently leading key client workstreams and cross-functional initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Lead the day-to-day management of cross-channel performance marketing initiatives, partnering closely with Paid Search, Paid Social, Digital/Google Demand Gen, Affiliate, and other channel teams to drive performance against client objectives
• Provide strategic direction to channel activation teams by evaluating performance, surfacing optimization opportunities, aligning pacing and budget priorities, and ensuring timely execution against broader client and business objectives
• Lead channel and cross-channel performance analysis to identify trends, opportunities, risks, and strategic optimization recommendations that improve overall business performance
• Lead the development of clear, compelling performance insights, executive-ready narratives, and strategic recommendations for recurring reports, presentations, and client communications
• Partner closely with Planning, Budget Management, Marketing Science, Digital/Google Demand Gen, and channel activation teams to develop holistic media recommendations, guide investment decisions, and ensure alignment with broader client and business objectives
• Lead cross-functional workstreams by setting priorities across channel teams, assigning and managing deliverables, communicating performance updates, and driving timely execution of optimizations, budget changes, strategic initiatives, and client requests
• Own day-to-day budget stewardship and forecasting across assigned workstreams, proactively identifying risks, opportunities, and investment recommendations while partnering with channel teams on execution
• Independently export, synthesize, and analyze data from media platforms and reporting sources to investigate performance trends, answer complex business questions, and inform strategic recommendation
• Translate complex channel and cross-channel performance data into clear takeaways and recommendations for clients, internal stakeholders, and the Senior Director
• Serve as a primary client contact for assigned workstreams, independently leading meetings, presentations, and day-to-day communications while partnering with the Senior Director on broader strategic initiatives and senior-level client engagements
• Lead cross-channel projects and strategic initiatives, establishing clear ownership, timelines, and accountability across internal and external stakeholders to ensure successful delivery against client objectives
• Drive continuous improvement across campaign performance, reporting, workflows, and cross-functional ways of working, identifying opportunities to increase efficiency and effectiveness
• Develop a deep understanding of the client’s business, promotional calendar, product priorities, and broader ecommerce landscape to provide relevant performance context and forward-looking recommendations
• Apply and help interpret measurement frameworks and methodologies, including Multi-Touch Attribution (MTA), Marketing Mix Modeling (MMM), incrementality testing, and other performance measurement solutions

Qualifications

• 4+ years of experience in performance marketing, digital media, or a related field, preferably within an agency environment
• Previous hands-on experience managing and optimizing Paid Search campaigns is strongly preferred; candidates with significant hands-on Paid Social experience will also be considered
• Deep understanding of digital media platforms, campaign optimization, budget management, and performance measurement gained through previous hands-on activation experience
• Advanced analytical skills and experience working with large data sets to identify trends, diagnose performance drivers, and develop strategic, actionable recommendations
• Ability to independently export, manipulate, synthesize, and analyze data from multiple platforms and reporting sources
• Experience leading cross-channel digital media programs and partnering with multiple activation teams to deliver integrated performance strategies
• Demonstrated experience independently leading client relationships, presentations, and day-to-day communications, with the ability to build trust and credibility with senior client stakeholders
• Proven ability to influence cross-functional teams, prioritize competing business needs, and lead complex initiatives across multiple stakeholders without relying on highly structured processes
• Comfortable taking ownership and making informed decisions in a fast-paced, dynamic environment with evolving priorities and varying levels of ambiguity
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to distill complex performance data into clear, persuasive insights and recommendations for both digital and non-digital audiences
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Excel and experience using data to inform media strategy, investment decisions, and business recommendations
• Retail and/or ecommerce client experience is preferred
• Familiarity with MTA, MMM, incrementality testing, and other media measurement methodologies is a plus, not required
• Experience with platforms such as Google Ads, Microsoft Advertising, Meta Ads Manager, Google Demand Gen, and relevant analytics and reporting tools is preferred

The ideal candidate is a strategic, proactive, and collaborative performance marketing leader who can connect the dots across channels, confidently guide cross-functional teams, independently own client workstreams, and translate complex performance data into actionable business recommendations. They should leverage their hands-on activation background to challenge assumptions, influence channel strategy, and serve as a trusted partner to internal teams and clients, while surfacing clear recommendations and escalation points to the Senior Director.





$70,000 - $125,000

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