Director, Activation Strategy

Job Description:

Director, Activation Strategy

Location: New York, NY | Chicago, IL | Detroit, MI
Hybrid

About the Role

Dentsu is seeking a Director, Activation Strategy to lead the development of media activation strategies that enable our proprietary identity, data, and technology solutions to drive measurable business outcomes across today's evolving digital ecosystem.

This role partners closely with media investment, activation, analytics, and technology teams to shape how campaigns are planned, executed, optimized, and measured across channels. You'll leverage your activation expertise while influencing broader strategic decisions that improve performance and maximize client media investments.

What You'll Do

• Develop activation strategies aligned to client business goals by leveraging advanced audience techniques (including 1P, 3P, LAL, propensity modeling, etc.), targeting based on contextual signals, campaign optimization, and measurement feedback.
• Partner with media investment and activation teams across Programmatic, Social, Retail Media, CTV, Search, and emerging channels.
• Create testing, measurement, and optimization frameworks to improve campaign performance.
• Translate insights into actionable recommendations that drive business results.
• Evaluate new platform capabilities, technologies, and activation approaches.
• Serve as a strategic advisor to internal stakeholders and client teams.

What We're Looking For

• 8+ years of experience in media activation, media investment, performance marketing, or digital media strategy.
• Deep expertise in one or more activation channels, including Programmatic, Social, Search, Retail Media, or CTV.
• Experience with leading ad platforms and activation technologies.
• Strong understanding of measurement, attribution, testing, and optimization.
• Experience leveraging audience, CRM, and first-party data to inform activation strategies.
• Ability to connect media performance to business outcomes.
• Strong stakeholder management, communication, and leadership skills.

Why This Role?

This is an opportunity for a strong activation leader to move beyond campaign execution and play a key role in shaping activation strategy, media performance, and growth for leading global brands.

At dentsu, we believe great work happens when we’re connected. Our way of working combines flexibility with in-person collaboration to spark ideas and strengthen our teams. Employees who live within a commutable distance of one of our hub offices, currently located in Chicago, metro Detroit, Los Angeles, and New York City, are required and expected to work from the office three days per week (two days per week for employees based in Los Angeles). Dentsu may designate other Hub offices at any time. Those who live outside a commutable range may be designated as remote, depending on the role and business needs. Regardless of your work location, we expect our employees to be flexible to meet the needs of our Company and clients, which may include attendance in an office.

The annual salary range for this position is $136,850 - $170,000. 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. For further details regarding Dentsu benefits, please visit www.dentsubenefitsplus.com.

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.

Location:

New York

Brand:

Amplifi

Time Type:

Full time

Contract Type:

Permanent

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About dentsu

For over 120 years, innovation has been a core tenet of our offering – exploring new ways to reach, engage and nurture relationships with audiences. Together we drive a multiplier effect for clients at a global scale, through the development of Integrated Growth Solutions that are underpinned by our promise to clients: innovating to impact.

Be a force for good. Sustainability is a vital part of our business and an important area of focus for our clients. We’re leading the way – helping to build a more sustainable planet.

Dream loud. In this moment of transformation, we need our people to be fearless, embracing change and ambiguity, driven by the love for their work and excitement for the future.

Team without limits. We create opportunities for connection and collaboration between our colleagues and clients, building a sense of belonging and having some fun along the way.

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