ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, PAID SOCIAL MEDIA - Ars X Machina (AXM)

SUMMARY:

The Associate Director, Paid Social Media is responsible for developing and overseeing the execution of  strategic paid social media campaigns across AXM clients, achieving client goals, and increasing engagement across all relevant platforms. This individual will lead the paid social strategy for clients and work with social team members to manage client paid social budgets, oversee social campaign development, and collaborate with analytics and client creative teams to optimize content and targeting. The role requires both a creative and data-driven approach to ensure the success of paid social media initiatives.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:

Strategy Development:

• Develop and implement comprehensive paid social media strategies and recommendations aligned with our client’s broader marketing goals
• Create detailed targeting recommendations that map to our client’s target audiences

Campaign Management:

• Oversee the planning, execution and management of paid social campaigns across platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Reddit, YouTube and other emerging channels
• Create and test various ad creatives, including images, videos, and copy to maximize engagement and conversions

Budget Oversight:

• Manage the paid social media budget from a strategic perspective, ensuring efficient allocation across campaigns to meet client goal
• Work with social teams to regularly report on budget performance and recommend spend adjustments based on campaign success

Performance Analysis & Optimization:

• Use in platform analytics tools to track key performance indicators (KPIs) such as reach, engagement, click-through rates (CTR), and conversions
• Recommend measurement solutions within social platforms that align with client goals (in partnership with the analytics team)
• Ensure social campaigns are being properly monitored and stewarded and provide optimization recommendations based on performance data, including A/B testing and refining targeting strategies

Collaboration with Cross-Functional Teams:

• Work closely with internal Media, Investment and Analytics teams to ensure strategic alignment as well as with client account and creative teams to ensure alignment in messaging and creative execution
• Coordinate with external agencies, (including but not limited to creative, organic, and influencer agencies) and vendors when needed for campaign execution

Trend Monitoring & Innovation:

• Stay updated on the latest trends in social media marketing and advertising, ensuring the agency and clients stay at the forefront of industry best practices, providing POVs as needed
• Explore new and emerging social media platforms and advertising techniques to continually evolve clients’ social strategies
• Develop paid social test and learn strategies across clients
• Stay on top of the latest product updates and changes across key platforms and communicate relevant info to the broader team and agency as applicable
• Identify and attend conferences that are relevant; speak on relevant panels
• Support agency wide initiatives through development of thought leadership content for agency blogs, articles, etc

Reporting & Insights:

• Provide detailed reports to senior management on paid social media performance, highlighting successes, areas for improvement, and key takeaways
• Leverage insights from social media data to inform broader marketing strategies and campaigns

Team Leadership & Development:

• Lead and mentor the paid social team, fostering a collaborative and creative environment
• Provide ongoing training to ensure the team stays up-to-date with the latest industry tools, trends, and best practices
• Participate in New Business work as needed 
• Work closely with the Group Director, Investment to evaluate staffing needs and staffing shifts 

REQUIREMENTS:

• 7-10+ years in a management role 
• Excellent knowledge of Paid Social Media platforms, capabilities and offerings
• Ability to develop and lead the paid social advertising strategy across multiple clients and campaigns
• Ability to lead a paid social media team
• Strong experience presenting to senior-level client contacts
• Extensive in-platform activation experience with campaign set up and campaign management 
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to manage expectations and priorities, both internally with teams and externally with clients
• Acute attention to detail
• Strong experience working within Google Workspace & Tools and Microsoft Suite 
• Relevant industry certifications 
• Knowledge of Organic Social Media and Influencer Media experience a huge plus

ABOUT ARS X MACHINA (AXM):

AXM (formerly Media Matters Worldwide) is a full-service media planning and buying agency headquartered in San Francisco, with remote employees throughout the US. We develop plans across all media—Digital, TV, Radio, Print, Outdoor, Social, Mobile, Email, Direct Mail, and Search. We handle all aspects of media, from beginning to end—research, planning, negotiating, insertion orders, billing, tracking, and optimization. We work with B2B and B2C campaigns—direct response and brand campaigns. We pride ourselves on our negotiation skills, leadership, relationships with our clients and vendors, efficiency (we move faster than big agencies), transparency and high level of client service.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and skills required of personnel so classified.