Marketing & Advertising, Media, Information Technology, Business Services

Manager, Media Activation

Toronto, ONOnsiteFull TimeManager / HeadCA$60,000–CA$70,000 /yrPosted 1 month ago

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Required skills

programmatic
paid social
Google Ads
DV360
YouTube
campaign execution
performance analysis
data integrity
tracking
budget pacing

Nice to have

Google Marketing Platform
certifications

Role summary

WPP Media is seeking a Manager, Activation to join their Media Futures Group, serving Google. This role focuses on the setup, execution, and optimization of programmatic and digital campaigns, primarily using Google Ads and DV360, with a strong emphasis on YouTube activation. The Manager will oversee media buys, manage publisher relationships, collaborate with internal teams and external vendors, and analyze campaign performance to meet KPIs. The position requires 3-5 years of experience in programmatic and paid social campaign activation, strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage 1-2 direct reports. Familiarity with Google Ads and DV360 is highly preferred, and relevant certifications are a plus. This is a hybrid role with competitive salary and benefits.

About WPP Media

WPP is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands. With exceptional talent, trusted data and intelligence, and world-class partnerships – all united by our pioneering agentic marketing platform, WPP Open – we help clients navigate change, capture opportunity, and deliver transformational growth. 

WPP Media is WPP's AI-driven media operating unit, bringing together media, data, and partnerships to deliver creative personalisation at scale. Connected through WPP Open and powered by Open Intelligence, clients see exactly where, how, and why their media investment is working.

For more information, visit wppmedia.com.

Manager, Activation

About WPP Media

WPP Media is WPP's AI-driven media operating unit, bringing together media, data, and partnerships to deliver creative personalization at scale. Connected through WPP Open and powered by Open Intelligence, clients see exactly where, how, and why their media investment is working.

Manager, Activation – Media Futures Group

Who We Are Looking For

The Media Activation team is responsible for providing thoughtful and exciting recommendations for Social, Display, and Video, owning supplier relationships and then executing those recommendations expertly. The Media Activation team leverages their mastery of each channel to make sure its recommendations are consistently excellent and innovative, and that in-channel performance and data integrity are maximized.

We are seeking an analytical, detail-oriented, and highly motivated Manager, Activation to join Media Futures Group, a dedicated division serving Google.

In this role, you will support a variety of different brands and campaigns, acting as a crucial team player to drive activation success. If you have a solid understanding of digital media—with a primary focus on programmatic advertising—and are eager to learn, adapt, and grow within a collaborative, fast-paced team, we want to hear from you!

What You’ll Do:

Campaign Activation: Lead the setup, execution, and day-to-day management of programmatic & digital campaigns (i.e. Newsletter & podcasts), primarily focusing on Google Ads and DV360.

Media Support: Oversee media buys with a heavy emphasis on YouTube activation, while collaborating with various external vendors.

Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with planning and account teams to support multiple lines of business across the Google portfolio.

Performance Analysis: Monitor, analyze, and optimize campaigns to ensure key performance indicators (KPIs) and client objectives are met, demonstrating a strong analytical mindset.

Management of digital publishers: Serve as a point of contact for key external partners while actively managing day-to-day relationships, coordinate reporting and proactively resolve campaign execution issues to ensure successful delivery.

Data Integrity: Maintain an exceptional level of attention to detail to ensure accurate tracking, budget pacing, and flawless execution.

What We’re Looking For

Experience: 3 to 5 years of hands-on experience activating programmatic and paid social campaigns.

Platform Expertise: Strong working familiarity with Google Ads and DV360 is highly preferred. Experience or understanding of Paid Social is a plus.

Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written are particularly important in developing client relationships and maintaining efficient communication across the team

Communication with client stakeholders and effective management of assigned tasks is critical in this role

High Attention to Detail: A meticulous approach to campaign setup, numbers, and tracking.

Strong understanding of optimization levers, testing approaches across media buying platforms

Curious & Eager to Learn: An open mind with a passion for digital marketing and a desire to be trained up on new platforms and strategies.

Adaptability: The ability to easily pivot and support different campaign types and brands as client priorities shift.

Communication Skills: Strong verbal and written communication skills to effectively collaborate with internal teams and vendor partners.

Certifications: Certifications in Google Ads, DV360, or other major programmatic platforms are a strong bonus.

Oversee a team of 1-2 direct reports

Life at WPP Media & Benefits

Our passion for shaping the next era of media includes investing in our employees to help them do their best work, and we’re just as committed to employee growth as we are to responsible media investment. WPP Media employees can tap into the global WPP Media & WPP networks to pursue their passions, grow their networks, and learn at the cutting edge of marketing and advertising. We have a variety of employee resource groups and host frequent in-office events showcasing team wins, sharing thought leadership, and celebrating holidays and milestone events. Our benefits include competitive medical, group retirement plans, vision, and dental insurance, significant paid time off, preferential partner discounts, and employee mental health awareness days.

WPP Media is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to particular characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.We believe the best work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That's why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office around four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.

Please read our Privacy Notice (https://www.wppmedia.com/pages/privacy-policy)for more information on how we process the information you provide.

While we appreciate all applications received, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

The base salary for this position at the time of this posting may range between the values at the bottom of this posting. Individual compensation varies based on job-related factors, including location, business needs, level of responsibility, experience, and qualifications.

-$60,000—$70,000 CAD

Please read our Privacy Notice for more information on how we process the information you provide.

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