Associate Director, Digital and Video Investment

About the role

The Associate Director leads daily investment and activation across digital, programmatic, and national video media for assigned client accounts. Working with the Director, this individual translates client business objectives into tactical recommendations, oversees negotiations and campaign execution, and ensures investments deliver against campaign goals.

The role combines client and partner relationship management with team leadership, staff development, and operational oversight. The Associate Director is accountable for the quality, accuracy, and timeliness of team deliverables, from planning and activation through optimization, reporting, and budget stewardship.

Key Responsibilities

Investment Strategy and Marketplace Expertise

• Lead RFPs and tactical recommendations across linear television, streaming and connected TV, online video, and other digital and programmatic channels, aligning audiences, platforms, and content opportunities with client objectives.
• Oversee national video and direct digital negotiations, partner selection, and expenditures; coordinate negotiations across channels to maximize client value and budget efficiency.
• Maintain expertise in the media marketplace, buying platforms, direct buying processes, and dentsu products; build relationships with media partners and identify relevant innovation and testing opportunities.

Campaign Activation and Performance

• Oversee campaign setup, activation, pacing, optimization, and delivery across direct and programmatic buys, with close oversight of hands-on platform execution.
• Ensure consistent QA and adherence to campaign management best practices; monitor budgets and performance, identify risks, and implement timely course corrections.
• Review tactical plans, campaign deliverables, and reporting for accuracy and quality; translate results into clear insights, optimization rationale, and actionable recommendations.

Client and Internal Relationships

• Build trusted client relationships, understand their business and goals, and manage expectations, priorities, and deliverable timelines.
• Lead day-to-day client discussions and presentations, clearly explaining recommendations and results while representing the client perspective in team feedback.
• Maintain effective communication with planning, creative, analytics, and other agency teams; keep leadership informed of campaign health, client issues, and growth opportunities.

Team Leadership and Development

• Manage daily team workflow, delegate responsibilities, and balance workloads and priorities to deliver high-quality work on time.
• Train, coach, and mentor direct reports across digital and video investment; identify development needs, provide timely feedback, and complete accurate performance reviews.
• Promote accountability, collaboration, and knowledge sharing; resolve issues and ensure the team receives relevant client, agency, and account updates.

Agency Growth and Innovation

• Support the Director with central initiatives, new business pitches, and opportunities to grow existing client relationships.
• Contribute marketplace perspectives, thought leadership, and shareable resources that strengthen investment knowledge and practices across dentsu.
• Evaluate emerging technology, partner solutions, and buying approaches; share test results and support the development of new capabilities.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience.
• 6+ years of relevant media investment experience, with demonstrated expertise spanning video, digital, and programmatic buying.
• Proven experience managing investment or activation teams, including developing talent, delegating effectively, and fostering accountability.
• Strong knowledge of linear television, streaming and connected TV, online video, and broader digital channels, including direct and programmatic buying models.
• Proficiency with DSPs, ad servers, ad verification tools, planning and financial systems, audience and data platforms, and analytics and reporting dashboards.
• Strong negotiation, analytical, and quantitative skills, with the ability to connect media performance and investment decisions to client business objectives.
• Excellent written and verbal communication and presentation skills; able to adapt recommendations to different audiences and address client concerns professionally.
• Strong project management, attention to detail, and follow-through; able to prioritize multiple workstreams and solve problems proactively.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Word; a collaborative approach to working across teams and disciplines.

Pay and benefits

The annual salary range for this position is $82,800-$110,400. Placement within the salary range is based on a variety of factors, including relevant experience, knowledge, skills, and other factors permitted by law.

Benefits available with this position include

• Medical, vision, and dental insurance,
• Life insurance,
• Short-term and long-term disability insurance,
• 401k,
• Flexible paid time off,
• At least 15 paid holidays per year,
• Paid sick and safe leave, and
• Paid parental leave.

• Dentsu also complies with applicable state and local laws regarding employee leave benefits, including, but not limited to providing time off pursuant to the Colorado Healthy Families and Workplaces Act, in accordance with its plans and policies.
• To begin the application process, please click on the "Apply" button at the top of this job posting. Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis, and qualified candidates will be contacted for next steps.

• #LI-AD5
• Location: New York
• Brand: Carat
• Time Type: Full time
• Contract Type: Permanent

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