Director, Social Strategy

Who We Are   
Horizon Next is one of the industry's most innovative and data-driven marketing organizations and sits at the intersection of three constantly changing landscapes: people, data, and media. Our business provides strategic leadership to accelerate growth for our clients through brand strategy, media planning and investment, and best in class analytics across all channels. As the leader in innovative business solutions, we are always pushing ourselves to understand what’s next: our next innovation, our next advancement in analytics, the market’s next media evolution, and your next breakthrough idea. Horizon Next operates with the single goal that tomorrow must outperform today.   

At Horizon Next, we understand the value that different perspectives can bring to our clients and culture, so we strive for an environment where our employees feel welcomed, safe and empowered. We value YOU and believe that your authentic voice and unique perspective allows us to create a more rewarding culture, and experience, together.  

Our simple recipe for success? We hire talented people (thinkers, doers, dreamers, makers), challenge them and give them every opportunity to grow.  

 
What You’ll Do  

Campaign Management & Execution – 5% 

• Supervise RFP creation and review of social partners, proposal analyses, and partner negotiations  

• Oversee junior team campaign buying from set-up to keyword selection through to targeting buckets, optimization, and pacing/reporting; implement QA processes 

• Guide junior team members in campaign set-up, including testing methodologies, reporting requirements, and optimization requirements, for ensuring full impact and efficiency of each campaign 

• Ensure team follows QA process and daily pacing 

Social Media Strategy – 35% 

• Lead strategic social plan development in tandem with the Digital & Business Solutions teams 

• Integrate social insights into overall planning process, incorporating data, research, and analytics into recommendations in order to deeply understand the role marketplace media plays in larger media objectives 

• Partner closely with other Horizon Next teams (Business Solutions, Investment, etc.), building cross team relationships and incorporating relevant extensions 

• Drive team brainstorms to kick off plan and consideration set development 

• Oversee creation and development of media specific documents such as media plans, objectives and strategies decks, and other related functions 

• Stay abreast of industry trends, develop POVs related to overall social marketplace buying 

• Work with AMD and Supervisor to oversee junior team members and manage expectations with higher ups in the creation of media specific documents such as media plans, objectives and strategies decks, and other related functions  

• Provide final sign off on RFP creation and review of partners/site responses, act as point of escalation for partner negotiations and stewardship of key partnerships 

Reporting & Analysis – 5% 

• Lead in development of processes with Horizon Next Analytics & Business Intelligence teams to aggregate data and ensure standardization across Next accounts  

• Oversee the development of learning agendas including testing methodologies, reporting requirements, and optimization requirements, for ensuring full impact and efficiency of each campaign 

• Act as escalation point for junior team members as they work through optimization strategies, proactively communicating challenges and opportunities across social  

• Help AMD coach junior team members on impactful insight writing that is routed in data and action but pulls in larger social strategy and provide final sign off 

Relationship Management – 20% 

• Have foresight and understanding of projects to maintain and adjust timing of deliverables for team at large, communicating changes to managers and leadership  

• Apply knowledge of current/previous clients’ specific business and industry to enhance and further relationships  

• Maintain a strong presence across Horizon Next departments (i.e. Business Solutions, Operations, Analytics, Biddable Teams), building trust and accountability   

• Act as escalation point for junior team members when faced with challenges navigating conversations with internal and external partners and clients 

• Primary social lead working closely with clients to ensure prioritization of projects, understanding of goals and media that aligns with objectives to drive client business 

Team Management, Supervision and Delegation – 30% 

• Assist in creating growth plans for junior team members and providing clear career goals for the AMD 

• Act as a resource for performance reviews, coaching to maximize success, identifying training needs for improved performance, setting goals for career development and ensuring actions are taken  

• Provide education and training on best practices, media principals, and social industry at large   

• Participate in interview process for junior team members roles  

• Guide team in setting goals and project tasks and timelines, ensuring team members have challenging, level-appropriate projects and opportunities to learn new skills, contributing to overall team success 

• Responsible for leaning into Horizon Next initiatives while encouraging junior team members to participate and engage within the larger Next Social community 

Agency Stewardship – 5% 

• Responsible for upholding a sense of community and knowledge sharing within the Horizon Next social business 

• Dispel high-level POVs on industry trends and updates across both clients and team members 

• Ensure the account is upholding the Horizon brand ethos that business is personal, creating a deep sense of team culture  

• Responsible for financial tracking of partner investments, as part of the larger Horizon umbrella 

Who You Are  

• A left and right brain thinker – a data powered strategist  

• A collaborative, team-oriented manager with strong delegation and organization skills  

• Confident in navigating conversations with senior leadership internally and externally 

• A problem solver with foresight and the ability to develop creative solutions  

• Detail oriented with commitment to follow through  

• Nimble and flexible to succeed in a fast-paced environment  

• A strong leader, excited to manage and grow team members 

• Interested in the social landscape and a desire to innovate and keep up with trends  

• Committed to the success of Horizon as a whole, including how your accounts can contribute 

• A supporter of and advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion 

Preferred Skills & Experience 

• 6-7+ years of experience developing strategic media recommendations and stewarding social media account projects, acting as a client contact 

• Deep understanding of advanced analytics and performance media  

• Strong familiarity with marketing principles, analytics and concepts  

• Exceptionally skilled in Excel and PowerPoint with the ability to discuss how those functions can or should be applied relative to the social media planning process  

• Expert in negotiating and constructing social media plans, with understanding of planning, buying and activation 

• Experience buying ads on Facebook and Instagram is crucial, additional platforms preferred  

• Exposure to advanced targeting/retargeting tactics in social, used both 1st and 3rd party data 

• Experience owning the full social strategy process inclusive of working with partners, clients and internal stakeholders 

• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills; able to confidently present and “sell through” ideas both internally and to Clients, while coaching team members on these skills 

• Comfort owning and managing budget/investment levels in social media across multiple accounts 

• Strong experience navigating cross-department relationships 

• Leadership and supervisory experience in terms of developing media professionals, including strategic and management skills  
   

Certificates, Licenses and Registrations 
This role does not require certificates, licenses and/or registrations 
 
Physical Activity and Work Environment 
This role does not require any physical activity 

The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees and are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified. Furthermore, they do not establish a contract for employment and are subject to change at the discretion of the employer. 

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