Manager, Strategy & Activation (B2B) Chicago

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 Places to Work in 2022, and Digiday named Kepler the Most Innovative Media Agency in both 2025 and 2026, validating our investment in our team, our tech, 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 development 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. Role Overview: The Manager, Strategy & Activation position will be a leader on key client relationships, responsible for developing and executing integrated performance marketing and account-based marketing (ABM) strategies. In this role, you’ll be responsible for deeply understanding clients’ business challenges, goals, target accounts, and audiences, becoming the trusted “go-to” strategic partner for clients. You’ll succeed as a Strategy & Activation Manager if you’re a proven leader, have exceptional communication and analytical skills, and are a creative problem solver with a strong understanding of performance marketing, B2B marketing, ABM, and today’s evolving digital media landscape. What You Will Do: Serve as a strategic lead across digital performance channels including Paid Social, Programmatic/Display, Paid Search, Online Video, and emerging digital platforms Develop and execute integrated B2B and account-based marketing strategies aligned to client business objectives, target accounts, buying groups, and customer journeys Act as the primary point of contact for assigned clients; proactively manage communication, elevate issues when needed, and build strong client relationships Partner with clients to understand business goals, KPIs, audience and account strategies, competitive dynamics, and the B2B buyer journey Lead campaign strategy, planning, activation, and optimization across performance media and account-based marketing (ABM) programs to drive measurable business outcomes Monitor and manage all aspects of campaign performance, pacing, optimization recommendations, and reporting insights across performance and ABM initiatives Translate performance data and audience/account insights into actionable recommendations and strategic narratives for clients and internal stakeholders Lead client status meetings, performance discussions, and strategic planning sessions both remotely and on-site Manage and mentor a team of 1–3 Senior Analysts and/or Analysts Drive operational excellence and contribute to process improvements that increase efficiency and campaign effectiveness Desired Skills and Experience: 3–5+ years of experience in digital media planning, activation, performance marketing, and/or account-based marketing Hands-on experience across Paid Social, Programmatic/Display, Paid Search, and digital campaign management platforms Experience developing and executing B2B marketing strategies across account and audience targeting, segmentation, personalization, and multichannel activation. Experience with account-based marketing (ABM) is a plus. Strong understanding of performance KPIs, attribution methodologies, audience targeting, account targeting, and optimization strategies Familiarity with platforms such as Google Ads, Meta Ads Manager, LinkedIn Campaign Manager, TikTok Ads, SA360, DV360, The Trade Desk, or similar media technologies preferred Strong analytical skills; comfort working with large datasets, Excel, reporting tools, and digital measurement platforms Strong ability to build relationships and confidently manage day-to-day client communications Excellent presentation, written, and verbal communication skills Strong organizational and time management skills with the ability to prioritize in a fast-paced environment Ability to thrive in an entrepreneurial, collaborative, and team-oriented culture Transparency is fundamental to Kepler’s culture. Our compensation strategy is designed to attract, reward, and retain the talented employees that drive Kepler’s growth and success. We aim to offer competitive direct compensation and a rich indirect compensation program that demonstrates the value we place on our employees and their wellbeing. Total Compensation: Target Annualized Discretionary Bonus: 5% ($4,500 - $5,500) Target Total Cash: $94,500 - $115,500 Healthcare/Dental/Vision Unlimited PTO 401k Contributions $75/mo Wellness Stipend $2,000/yr Annual Tuition Stipend Parental Leave - 16 week primary caregiver / 6 week secondary caregiver leave Annual Work From Anywhere 4 weeks per year #J-18808-Ljbffr