Associate Director, Paid Media Strategy

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Job Description:

We’re looking for an experienced strategist to join our Performance Marketing team in Irvine, CA to lead paid media strategy and planning across PC and Console games.  In this role you will manage a small team while also working in close collaboration with the larger Performance Marketing team and publishing org – including but not limited to brand marketing, product marketing, finance, PR, Global Insights, and more.  You will be responsible for designing the paid media campaign strategy for campaigns covering the full player lifecycle and then working with in-house teams to bring them to market.

In this role you will be the liaison to franchise partner, demonstrating your strategic vision to inform, consult, and recommend innovative solutions to unique business challenges and product briefs.  For a given campaign - spend, audiences, flighting, KPIs, channel mix, creative, and landing page destinations are just a few of the elements you will have a say in shaping.

The ideal candidate is knowledgeable about paid media (both branding and conversion campaigns), self-motivated, curious, a critical thinker, and a team player.  Strong teamwork with the Performance Marketing and other publishing and regional teams will be key to success.  If you have a passion for entertainment, performance marketing, and enjoy a collaborative environment, we encourage you to apply! 

Responsibilities:

• Set and see-through strategic plans for paid media campaigns, built off the annual and product goals set by the franchise leaders
• Develop global strategic frameworks that define approach to the campaign, including target audiences, channel mix, flighting, measurement, and spend
• Use framework to brief Activation and Analytics for tactical plans; review tactical components of media plans to ensure objectives are met
• Participate in the annual budget planning process, recommending paid media spend required to achieve game and business goals; work with Activation and regional teams to ensure media plans and campaign pacing align with approved budgets
• Represent Performance Marketing in cross-functional and executive reviews to share campaign strategy and performance
• Collaborate with Activation, Analytics, and other cross-functional groups to design test ideas
• Partner with Performance Marketing Project Management team to lead key operational tasks that enable Activation & Analytics teams to successfully launch and optimize campaigns

Requirements:

• 10+ years of paid media planning or buying experience from an advertising agency or similar role
• Thorough understanding of the fundamentals of online/offline media planning and buying
• Successful record working on conversion and brand-building campaigns
• Strong analytical skills, including the ability to break down complex data scenarios into digestible components
• Ability to interpret, articulate, and present campaign results to varying audiences
• Willingness and ability to recommend and test new ideas, measure success, and pivot as needed
• Detail and process-oriented attitude with strong project management skills
• Ability to build positive working relationships with cross-functional teams
• Ability to manage multiple projects with concurrent deadlines
• Comfortable working as an individual contributor within a large team environment

Pluses

• Proficiency in collaborating within a large, sophisticated organization on large scale projects
• Familiarity with paid media planning tools
• Passion for video games and gaming / marketing trends
• While game industry experience is not a requirement, previous work in gaming or entertainment is a plus

Your Platform

Best known for iconic video game universes including Warcraft®, Overwatch®, Diablo®, and StarCraft®, Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. (www.blizzard.com), a division of Activision Blizzard, which was acquired by Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), is a premier developer and publisher of entertainment experiences. Blizzard Entertainment has created some of the industry’s most critically acclaimed and genre-defining games over the last 30 years, with a track record that includes multiple Game of the Year awards. Blizzard Entertainment engages tens of millions of players around the world with titles available on PC via Battle.net®, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, iOS, and Android.

Our World

Activision Blizzard, Inc., is one of the world's largest and most successful interactive entertainment companies and is at the intersection of media, technology and entertainment. We are home to some of the most beloved entertainment franchises including Call of Duty®, World of Warcraft®, Overwatch®, Diablo®, Candy Crush™ and Bubble Witch™. Our combined entertainment network delights hundreds of millions of monthly active users in 196 countries, making us the largest gaming network on the planet!

Our ability to build immersive and innovative worlds is only enhanced by diverse teams working in an inclusive environment.  We aspire to have a culture where everyone can thrive in order to connect and engage the world through epic entertainment. We provide a suite of benefits that promote physical, emotional and financial well-being for ‘Every World’ - we’ve got our employees covered!

The videogame industry and therefore our business is fast-paced and will continue to evolve. As such, the duties and responsibilities of this role may be changed as directed by the Company at any time to promote and support our business and relationships with industry partners.

We love hearing from anyone who is enthusiastic about changing the games industry. Not sure you meet all qualifications? Let us decide! Research shows that women and members of other under-represented groups tend to not apply to jobs when they think they may not meet every qualification, when, in fact, they often do! We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and strongly encourage you to apply.

We are committed to working with and providing reasonable assistance to individuals with physical and mental disabilities. If you are a disabled individual requiring an accommodation to apply for an open position, please email your request to accommodationrequests@activisionblizzard.com. General employment questions cannot be accepted or processed here. Thank you for your interest.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status, among other characteristics.

Rewards

We provide a suite of benefits that promote physical, emotional and financial well-being for ‘Every World’ - we’ve got our employees covered!  Subject to eligibility requirements, the Company offers comprehensive benefits including:

• Medical, dental, vision, health savings account or health reimbursement account, healthcare spending accounts, dependent care spending accounts, life and AD&D insurance, disability insurance;
• 401(k) with Company match, tuition reimbursement, charitable donation matching;
• Paid holidays and vacation, paid sick time, floating holidays, compassion and bereavement leaves, parental leave;
• Mental health & wellbeing programs, fitness programs, free and discounted games, and a variety of other voluntary benefit programs like supplemental life & disability, legal service, ID protection, rental insurance, and others;
• If the Company requires that you move geographic locations for the job, then you may also be eligible for relocation assistance.

Eligibility to participate in these benefits may vary for part time and temporary full-time employees and interns with the Company.  You can learn more by visiting .