Associate Director, Paid Social

About this role

Associate Director, Paid Social

London, hybrid

DEPT® is a Growth Invention company built to help the world’s most ambitious brands grow faster. Operating at the intersection of technology and marketing, our 4,000+ specialists deliver growth invention services across Brand & Media, Experience, Commerce, CRM, and Technology & Data. We’re 50|50 tech and marketing, partner-led, and first to move. Clients include Google, Lufthansa, Meta, eBay, and OpenAI. We have been certified B Corp and Climate Neutral since 2021.

JOB PURPOSE

As Associate Director, Paid Social, you will serve as the strategic mastermind and operational anchor for our largest, enterprise-level account in London. You are a seasoned performance media leader who balances high-level strategic vision with deep technical expertise in performance social, measurement structures and paid social processes.

In this role, you will lead a dedicated team of Senior Managers and Managers, translating complex data and consumer journeys into high-yield, full-funnel paid social strategies. You will sit at the intersection of performance excellence, client leadership, and cross-channel growth - ensuring our client’s ‘family of apps’ stay ahead in a rapidly evolving, automated social landscape.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

Strategic Leadership & Channel Growth

• Drive Full-Funnel Strategy: Own the overarching paid social roadmap for a global client, aligning social budgets and tactics with overarching business priorities.

• Master Platform Mechanics: Direct performance strategy across Meta, TikTok, Pinterest, Snapchat, and YouTube. Champion platform automation (e.g., Meta Advantage+ Shopping Campaigns / ASC+) while maintaining strategic controls over best practices and creative messaging.

• Measurement & Incrementality: Lead advanced measurement frameworks in partnership with data teams, implementing multiple complex single-cell, multi-cell, child and nested studies.

• Integrated Growth & Upsell: Collaborate with internal US counterparts to identify holistic growth levers, drive strategic upsells - to ensure that we are delivering a cohesive multi-channel strategy globally.

Client Governance & Senior Stakeholder Management

• Trusted Strategic Advisor: Serve as the primary senior strategist for executive-level client stakeholders, translating complex performance data and algorithm shifts into clear, compelling narratives.

• Escalation Authority: Act as the ultimate escalation point across your client portfolio, proactively mitigating performance dips, resolving channel conflicts, and navigating complex operational challenges.

• Budget Oversight & Forecasting: Maintain total accountability for multi-million-pound media budgets, accurate forecasting, quarterly pacing, and commercial delivery.

People Leadership, Delivery & Innovation

• Build & Mentor Talent: Lead, mentor, and grow a high-performing team of paid social managers and buyers. Drive retention, establish clear career development paths, and coach line managers on effective delegation and team leadership.

• Enforce & Evolve Standards: Implement robust QA frameworks, workflow processes (e.g., Asana, internal platform auditing), and campaign governance to ensure flawless execution and zero-error delivery.

• Test & Learn Culture: Build and scale a rigorous testing framework across the practice, leveraging platform innovation, previous learnings and testing priorities outlined in the strategic roadmap.

WHAT YOU BRING

• 7+ years of hands-on paid social planning & activation experience, with at least 3 years managing client relationships and leading direct reports/team structures of 10+ people.

• Expert-level knowledge of Meta Ads Manager (biggest priority), TikTok Ads Manager, Pinterest, Snapchat, and platform automation capabilities.

• Proven track record of setting, defending, and hitting strict KPIs. Fluent in advanced measurement, Excel, and analytics frameworks.

• A strong understanding of how Paid Social integrates with Search, Programmatic, CRO, and organic channels to drive holistic client growth.

• Dynamic, authentic, and polished presentation skills - confident in holding your own with marketing managers and C-level executives alike during any type of conversation.

• Demonstrated track-record of fostering a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performing team culture.

• Located in the UK and available to work from either our offices in London. Will also need to travel to our client’s offices in London on a monthly basis.

• Full working proficiency in the English language.

WE OFFER

• A flexible, hybrid working policy (2 days from the office, depending on location);

• An excellent salary based on experience and equal pay policies;

• Pension, free private healthcare, mental health support, and company sick pay scheme;

• 26 days paid holiday (plus UK Bank Holidays);

• Refreshments are provided in the office all week, as well as drinks at 4 pm on a Thursday;

• Help getting you to work with a season ticket loan and cycle to work scheme;

• Enhanced family friendly policies to support new parents;

• Social and Cultural Events, plenty of opportunities to connect with colleagues through organised activities and celebrations;

• Inspirational Talks, bringing the outside in with regular guest speakers and events;

• Learning and Development, supporting your growth with continuous opportunities to learn and advance;

• Buddy Programme: You will be paired with a ‘Buddy’ to help you through your first weeks’ at DEPT®;

• A reputation for doing good. DEPT® has been a Certified B Corp® since 2021 and named ‘Agency of the Year’ at both The Lovies and The Webby Awards;

• Awesome clients. Whether big or small, local or global — at DEPT® you’ll get the opportunity to work with big names and clients.

WHY DEPT®?

We are a Growth Invention company built to help the world’s most ambitious brands grow faster. Operating at the intersection of technology and marketing, we create what is…