Director, Performance Strategy

About the role

Canvas Worldwide dares to be the challenger the ad industry needs. Do you "Challenge the Comfortable?" Then you'll fit right in here at Canvas.

Recognized as one of Ad Age's "Best Places to Work" for three consecutive years, Canvas Worldwide is an independent media agency committed to providing creative solutions for brands that challenge the status quo. Our clients include Hyundai, Kia, Genesis, MGM, Zillow and McDonald’s (to name a few…).

Our agency cultivates an environment where all are welcome to push outside their comfort zones to solve problems in new ways. We encourage the team to be its best by creating the most positive workplace experience for all. For instance, we outpace the industry on diversity and inclusion AND offer continuous training and workshops for career development. So, if you dare to challenge the comfortable… then keep reading.

The Role

Canvas is seeking a curious and strategic Media Leader to help spearhead the Performance Strategy within the Audience and Channel planning team on the Hyundai business. The Director actively leads and contributes to the strategic development, creation, execution, and stewardship of Hyundai performance media campaigns and associated deliverables.

This role is rooted in digital performance strategy, audience development, campaign execution, strategic measurement insights, and performance analysis, while also bringing a holistic understanding of how performance activity connects to broader Hyundai brand and business objectives. The Director will also ensure the infusion of tactical investment into the overall planning process.

The Director will partner closely with Brand Strategy, Investment, Social, Search, Programmatic, Analytics, Ad Ops, and partner agency teams to create integrated recommendations that are measurable, actionable, and built to drive outcomes.

The Director works directly with the team’s VP and helps guide and mentor Supervisors, Strategists, and Associates, serving as a day-to-day leader who supports client business goals, elevates the work, and contributes to the continued evolution of the Hyundai business.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

Client and Partner Agency

• Maintain excellent client and partner agency relationships, understanding the client’s key business and challenges
• Develop strong client presentations that bring the performance plan to life through strategic rationale, data visualization, concise narratives, insights, and action items
• Be a valuable contributor to internal and external meetings, serving as a media expert
• Identify, develop, and oversee the delivery of innovative strategies to deliver on the client’s desired results
• Maintain a sharp focus on performance and measurement
• Lead the development of clear, measurable objectives, strategies, and approaches that connect Hyundai business priorities to performance media planning and optimization
• Partner with the VP to provide thought leadership on Hyundai performance strategy, tactical approach, audience planning, testing opportunities, and measurement implications for senior client and partner agency stakeholders
• In partnership with the VP, ensure all client financial stewardship, reporting, budget management, authorization, and billing needs are met in a timely and accurate manner
• Other duties may be assigned, as needed

Internal

• Educate the team on the client’s business needs and provide growth opportunities for each team member
• Keep leadership teams informed of new developments internally and with the client and partner agencies
• Drive collaboration across all disciplines (Social, Analytics, Search, etc.) to create integrated plans that make an impact on customers and deliver on client business objectives
• Work in tandem with the team to ensure performance recommendations are integrated with Hyundai’s larger media strategy, consumer insights, and customer journey priorities
• Contribute to standardizing performance team capabilities, planning approaches, and workstreams to improve consistency, efficiency, and quality of Hyundai deliverables
• Manage multiple projects concurrently, including ongoing core workstreams and ad-hoc, quick-turn needs
• Stay active in the industry and maintain a strong understanding of media trends, marketplace developments, platform innovation, measurement evolution, and opportunities relevant to Hyundai’s performance goals

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree required; concentration in business, marketing, or advertising preferred
• 8-10 years of experience in Media Strategy/Planning with a focus on digital and performance channels; agency and management experience required
• Experience building strong, trust-based senior client relationships and translating business challenges into integrated media strategies that drive measurable outcomes

Technical Skills

• Mastery of Microsoft Office Suite products, including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint
• Strong knowledge of research tools (comScore, Kantar, Nielsen, etc.) and ability to analyze data to develop insights and action items
• Proficiency with digital activation and reporting platforms (Prisma, Campaign Manager 360/DoubleClick Campaign Manager, DoubleVerify, etc.)
• Strong understanding of performance measurement, optimization frameworks, audience strategy, and how digital campaign results inform broader media planning decisions

Soft Skills

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to maintain strong internal, external, and client relationships with managers, vendors, partner agencies, and clients
• Strong presentation skills
• Superior time management skills and ability to follow through; a strong ability to prioritize and handle multiple tasks with flexibility and to effectively communicate priorities to direct reports
• Superb organizational and analytical skills; ability to ensure strong attention to detail with high level of accuracy and precision
• Strong problem-solving, critical thinking, resourcefulness, and creative thinking skills to solve business problems
• Proven experience driving projects and campaigns from start to finish
• Eagerness to learn and a proactive approach to the work
• A strong leader, excited to manage and grow team members
• Contribute to an open and supportive working environment where opinions, views, and ideas are welcomed and shared