Paid Social Associate Director

Our client is seeking an Associate Director, Paid Social.

This is a 3 plus month hybrid W2 contract in Manhattan, NYC.

Job Summary

We are seeking an experienced Associate Director, Paid Social to lead paid social strategy, campaign execution, and account management across a portfolio of client engagements. This individual will serve as the primary point of contact for assigned accounts, providing strategic leadership, campaign oversight, and team mentorship to ensure business objectives are achieved through innovative social media advertising solutions.

The ideal candidate combines deep platform expertise, strong client relationship skills, and experience leading high-performing teams in a fast-paced digital media environment.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and execute paid social media strategies aligned with client business objectives and marketing goals.
• Lead the integration of paid social initiatives within broader media and marketing programs.
• Identify opportunities for innovation and recommend data-driven solutions to improve campaign performance.
• Provide strategic guidance on the role of paid social within the overall media mix.

Client Management

• Serve as the primary point of contact for assigned client accounts.
• Present strategic recommendations, performance insights, and optimization opportunities to clients and stakeholders.
• Build and maintain strong client relationships through proactive communication and consultative support.
• Escalate risks, challenges, and growth opportunities to senior leadership as needed.

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop Paid Social Associates and Managers.
• Provide ongoing coaching, performance feedback, and career development support.
• Foster collaboration, accountability, and continuous learning within the team.
• Support hiring, onboarding, and training initiatives when required.

Campaign & Operational Excellence

• Oversee campaign planning, activation, optimization, pacing, and performance reporting.
• Establish and maintain quality assurance standards and operational best practices.
• Improve workflow efficiencies and contribute to documentation of processes and procedures.
• Collaborate with internal teams and external platform partners to ensure successful campaign delivery.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in Marketing, Advertising, Communications, Business, Analytics, or a related field; equivalent professional experience may be considered.
• 5+ years of paid social media planning, buying, and optimization experience.
• Hands-on experience with major paid social platforms including:
• Meta (Facebook and Instagram)
• TikTok
• X (formerly Twitter)
• Pinterest
• LinkedIn
• Other emerging social advertising platforms
• Experience using social media management, campaign management, and advertising technology platforms.
• Strong understanding of audience targeting, measurement, attribution, optimization, and performance analysis.
• Demonstrated client-facing experience with the ability to manage senior stakeholder relationships.
• Previous experience leading, mentoring, and developing team members.
• Experience working in a digital marketing, media, or agency environment preferred.

Success Factors

Successful candidates will demonstrate:

• Adaptability and flexibility in dynamic environments.
• Strong independent execution and ownership.
• Excellence in client communication and stakeholder management.
• Advanced paid social expertise.
• Strong campaign pacing, optimization, and QA capabilities.
• Proactive issue identification and problem resolution.
• Ability to deliver value quickly within new client engagements.

Employment Type: Freelance / Contract

Job Function: Paid Social Media, Digital Marketing, Media Buying, Advertising Operations

Seniority Level: Associate Director / Senior Manager Level Experience Preferred

Medical, dental, and vision insurance are available to qualified candidates who meet eligibility requirements.