Associate Director, Media Strategy & Client Partnerships

Code3 is an integrated marketing agency, powering business growth for digital disruptors and Fortune 500 leaders alike. Our power is at the intersection of Connections, Creative and Commerce – that’s what is in our DNA. By harvesting insights and utilizing audience data, we work with our clients to develop scroll-stopping content and creative that performs and elevates the brands we work with across all digital media platforms.

Our people are energized by challenges and sprint to find unorthodox solutions. We plan, activate and measure as one team, and we’re not afraid to push boundaries and test our way to success. Coders are Relentless, Gritty, Nimble humans who are always striving to be better.

Who You Are

Code3 is looking for a strategic and client-obsessed Associate Director, Media Strategy & Client Partnerships to lead connected media strategy for a portfolio of DTC brands. This role sits at the center of our client teams, driving performance across paid search, paid social, programmatic, and affiliate channels while serving as the primary strategic partner to clients.

The ideal candidate brings deep expertise of the eCommerce space including DTC & Marketplaces, media strategy, a strong creative point of view, and hands-on fluency in GA4 and understanding of Shopify. This person understands how connected media channels work in concert to move a customer from awareness to conversion and how to translate that into compelling narratives for clients and actionable direction for internal teams.

What you’ll do:

Client Leadership & Strategy Across Channels

• Serve as the strategic partner for a portfolio of eCommerce (DTC & Marketplace)  clients, owning the overall media strategy and relationship across paid search, paid social, programmatic, and affiliate channels.
• Lead integrated media strategies that connect channel performance to client business goals; translating media metrics into business outcomes clients care about.
• Develop and present the media mix and recommendations, quarterly business reviews, and campaign recaps with clear, client-ready storytelling.
• Apply critical evaluation of client briefs and align channel strategies to holistic brand goals; communicate any challenges or misalignments proactively.
• Understand the client’s business KPIs and serve as a connector between media performance and overall business success.
• Ensure client needs and requests match approved scope and staffing plans; serve as point of escalation for scope conversations.
• Partner with creative teams to bring a strong creative strategy perspective to media recommendations; including ad formats, messaging frameworks, and creative testing roadmaps.
• Leverage GA4 and Shopify data to develop insights, track customer journeys, and inform strategic recommendations at both the campaign and portfolio level.

Team Collaboration & Internal Alignment

• Translate client feedback into actionable next steps that help teams meet and exceed expectations.
• Collaborate with Finance and Practice leaders to support profitability goals through effective resourcing, pricing, and SOW management.
• Define clear expectations and cross-functional needs to drive successful client outcomes.

Revenue Growth & Profitability 

• Oversee quarterly and annual strategic plans for client accounts; participate in new business pitches as a connected media subject matter expert.
• Partner with Finance and Practice leaders on SOW management, pricing, and profitability goals.
• Proactively identify upsell and cross-sell opportunities across the connected media portfolio.
• Monitor portfolio financial health and maintain accurate updates in the Client Health Tracker and revenue workbooks; communicate changes and rationale to Pod Leaders.
• Oversee budget allocation for client projects, ensuring optimal utilization of resources and maximizing ROI.

Performance Leadership & Business Growth

• Lead teams responsible for activation, media strategy, and creative execution to ensure accounts perform against business goals and growth targets.
• Monitor media + channel trends, search visibility, competitive activity, and category dynamics to identify optimization opportunities.
• Evaluate retail media, marketplace sales, and conversion performance using dashboards, reporting tools, and commerce analytics platforms.
• Identify portfolio growth opportunities through expanded marketplace support, media investment, content optimization, and integrated channel strategies.
• Serve as a trusted partner to client stakeholders by delivering strategic insights and forward-looking commerce recommendations.

Who will love this role:

• A connected media strategist who brings equal parts analytical rigor and creative curiosity to the work.
• A client champion who thrives on building trusted relationships and making clients look brilliant in their organizations.
• A proactive problem solver who anticipates challenges before they become fires.
• A collaborative team leader who energizes cross-functional teams and fosters a culture of accountability and growth.
• A compelling storyteller who can translate complex performance data into clear strategic narratives.
• A curious learner who stays ahead of trends in DTC media, creative strategy, and marketing technology.

You should have:

• 5+ years of experience in digital marketing with a strong focus on DTC paid media strategy; including paid search, paid social, programmatic, and/or affiliate channels.
• Deep understanding of how connected media channels work together across the full consumer funnel from awareness through conversion and retention.
• Proven track record managing complex client relationships and multi-channel integrated strategies in an agency or in-house environment.
• Proficiency in GA4: experience using it to analyze customer journeys, build audiences, and develop performance insights.
• Proficiency in Shopify: experience leveraging Shopify data and ecosystem (including integrations with media platforms) to drive DTC strategy.
• Strong creative strategy experience: a point of view on how great creative drives performance, with the ability to brief, evaluate, and iterate on creative in partnership with creative teams.
• Financial and business acumen: ability to manage SOWs, understand profitability drivers, and contribute to revenue forecasting.
• Strong executive presence and presentation skills; ability to communicate complex media concepts to clients in a clear and compelling way.
• Experience mentoring junior team members and driving cross-functional collaboration.

Perks and Benefits:

• Full medical, dental, and vision benefits as well as generous retirement program 
• Thoughtful parental leave and return program
• Flexible Time Off, holidays, quarterly Company “Recharge” Days, and holiday closure in December
• Ongoing learning and development opportunities

Code3’s people are what set us apart. We’re dedicated to hiring, retaining, and developing a group of remarkable Coders. By prioritizing our commitment to fostering an inclusive, equitable, and safe environment, we are living our mission of fueling the growth of our people. It’s this focus that empowers Coders to not only achieve great work for our clients, but also propel their own development forward and upward.

If you have any special needs that we can accommodate, please reach out to our team at [email protected] so we can make accommodations.

Salary Information: The base salary range for this position is $124,500 - $137,500 and is commensurate with candidate experience and location. The position also offers a bonus based on company and client success.

For candidates that are based in California, we encourage you to review this important information for California residents here. For best results, open the link in a new tab.