Associate Director, Paid Social

About Code3

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. 

With teams across the U.S., you’ll find more than a job at Code3. You’ll find a place to grow, make an impact, and do your best work alongside a team that’s invested in your success.

Paid social has evolved far beyond media buying. Success today requires understanding consumer behavior, creative performance, platform innovation, and how culture influences the way people discover and buy products. Our team partners with clients to build full funnel strategies that connect all of those pieces — combining data, creativity, testing, and measurement to drive meaningful business results.

We believe the best ideas come from people who are endlessly curious, willing to challenge conventional thinking, and excited to experiment. We work collaboratively across media, creative, measurement, strategy, and platform partnerships to continuously push our clients and ourselves forward.

About The Role

The Associate Director, Paid Social is responsible for independently leading paid social strategy, performance, and client relationships across a portfolio of accounts while developing and mentoring a high-performing team. As the senior paid social lead on their accounts, this person brings deep expertise in performance marketing and/or CPG brand strategy, with the ability to translate complex business challenges into actionable, full-funnel strategies that drive measurable growth.

We're looking for a confident, highly proactive leader who takes ownership, brings strong strategic perspectives, and isn't afraid to roll up their sleeves. Someone who can lead client conversations, diagnose performance challenges, build and optimize campaigns, and confidently make decisions without requiring constant senior leadership involvement. They balance big-picture strategic thinking with deep technical expertise and a strong understanding of what drives performance inside the platforms.

Beyond account leadership, this role is responsible for developing senior strategists and media buyers, elevating the quality of strategic thinking and execution, and fostering a culture of accountability, curiosity, and knowledge sharing. The Associate Director will partner closely with Paid Social Directors while maintaining independent ownership of their accounts, proactively communicating risks and opportunities, and escalating complex challenges when appropriate.

Success in this role requires someone who can confidently lead both clients and teams, operate with urgency and autonomy, and consistently deliver exceptional strategic and operational work.

Hands-on experience within paid social advertising platforms, including the ability to independently build, audit, and optimize campaigns, is a requirement for this role.

What you’ll do:

• Independently lead paid social strategy, performance, and client relationships across a portfolio of accounts, overseeing full funnel media planning, creative strategy, testing, measurement, and ongoing optimization.
• Serve as the senior paid social expert and trusted strategic advisor for assigned clients, confidently leading strategic conversations, navigating performance challenges, and delivering proactive, data-backed recommendations.
• Maintain deep hands-on platform expertise, with the ability to independently audit accounts, build campaigns, troubleshoot technical issues, diagnose performance trends, and implement optimizations when needed.
• Lead, mentor, and develop senior strategists and media buyers, establishing clear expectations, providing actionable feedback, and fostering a culture of accountability, strategic thinking, and continuous improvement.
• Ensure operational excellence across campaign activation, QA, pacing, budget management, reporting, and client communication, proactively identifying risks and resolving challenges before they escalate.
• Collaborate with Paid Social Directors and cross-functional teams to advance creative innovation, testing strategies, and measurement best practices while contributing insights and knowledge sharing across the broader practice.

Who will love this role: 

• A highly organized, self-sufficient leader who takes ownership, moves with urgency, and thrives on independently managing complex client accounts and competing priorities.
• A strategic thinker who loves getting into the details, has strong opinions backed by data, and isn't afraid to jump into an ad account to solve a problem.
• A confident client-facing leader who builds trust, communicates clearly, and enjoys challenging conventional thinking to deliver better business results.
• A people-first manager who enjoys developing senior talent, setting high standards, and building teams that consistently deliver exceptional work.
• An endlessly curious paid social enthusiast who is passionate about eCommerce and/or CPG marketing, creative innovation, consumer behavior, platform developments, and sharing knowledge with others.

You should have: 

• 6+ years of paid social experience, including agency experience independently leading strategy, performance, and client relationships across multiple accounts, with a strong background working with eCommerce and/or CPG brands.
• Proven track record developing and executing full-funnel, performance-driven paid social strategies that deliver measurable business outcomes, with expertise in customer acquisition, creative effectiveness, audience strategy, testing, optimization, and measurement. Experience with eCommerce KPIs (ROAS, CAC, LTV) and/or CPG measurement approaches (brand lift, sales lift, incrementality) is strongly preferred.
• Advanced hands-on expertise across major paid social platforms, particularly Meta and TikTok, with strong working knowledge of Pinterest, Snapchat, YouTube, Reddit, and emerging platforms.
• Demonstrated ability to independently build and optimize campaigns, audit account structures, troubleshoot technical issues, and develop actionable strategies to improve performance.
• Proven experience managing and mentoring paid social teams, developing senior talent, setting clear expectations, and driving accountability for performance and execution.
• Exceptional written, verbal, and presentation skills, with experience independently leading client relationships, delivering strategic recommendations, and navigating challenging conversations.
• Strong understanding of creative strategy, testing methodologies, attribution, and performance measurement, with the ability to connect media performance to broader business objectives.
• Advanced Excel skills (pivot tables required); experience with eCommerce analytics and attribution platforms such as GA4, Northbeam, or Triple Whale is preferred. Relevant platform certifications are a plus.

Position also offers a bonus based on company and client success.

The base salary range will be determined based on the candidate’s experience and geographic location. Certain positions may also be eligible for a bonus, with eligibility and details discussed during the recruitment process. 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.

Salary Range

$113,000—$134,500 USD

Working at Code3

At Code3, we believe great work happens when people feel supported, trusted, and empowered to do their best. We’re proud to offer a competitive rewards package, meaningful opportunities for growth, and a culture that’s collaborative, inclusive, and—most importantly—human.

Here’s what you can expect as a Coder:

• Remote-first workplace designed to support flexibility and connection
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits, plus a generous retirement program
• Thoughtful parental leave and return-to-work program
• Flexible Time Off, sabbatical opportunities, paid holidays, quarterly Company “Recharge” Days, and a holiday closure in December
• Ongoing learning and development opportunities to help you grow your skills and career
• A commitment to transparent DEIB practices and building a workplace where everyone can thrive

A Few Things to Know

All candidates who receive an offer will be required to successfully complete a background check.

Want to get to know us a little better? Check out Life at Code3 to learn more about our people, culture, and what it’s like to be a Coder.

Our Interview Process

During this first call, we’ll get to know you, learn more about your experience, and talk about what you’re looking for in your next opportunity. We’ll also explore alignment with our company and values, and depending on the role, we may ask a few technical or role-specific questions. From there, the process can look a little different depending on the role. You can expect to meet several members of the team and, for some positions, complete a skills assessment such as a Take-Home Assignment or Live Exercise. We’ll make sure you know what to expect every step of the way. Your Talent Acquisition partner will walk you through the full process during your initial conversation.

Inclusive Workforce

At Code3, we’re committed to creating a culture where people from all backgrounds feel welcome, supported, and empowered to bring their authentic selves to work. We want every Coder to feel included and have the opportunity to contribute fully to our vision and goals. All applicants will receive fair consideration for employment. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, gender identity, national origin, disability, or any other applicable legally protected characteristic in the location where the candidate is applying.

If you have an accessibility need or would benefit from an accommodation during the application or interview process, please let us know at [email protected]. We’re happy to work with you to make the process as comfortable and accessible as possible.

For more information about the data we collect and how we use it, please refer to our Privacy Policy.

We use AI technology to help streamline parts of our hiring workflow. People are at the heart of our hiring process, and all candidate decisions are made by our Talent Acquisition Team.

Please note that we do not accept unsolicited resumes or candidate submissions from third-party recruitment firms.