At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead paid media strategy and manage client relationships across major platforms.
- Company: Navigator, a cutting-edge ad tech platform in the travel industry.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, performance-based bonuses, and opportunities for growth.
- Other info: Join a dynamic team where your ideas will directly impact product development.
- Why this job: Shape the future of advertising with AI-driven tools and work with top travel brands.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in paid media with strong client management skills.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 ÂŁ per year.
Navigator is a travel-focused ad tech platform built for scale, precision, and impact. Following our recent Series A funding round, we are evolving from a digital consultancy into a data-driven advertising platform at the intersection of travel intelligence and multi-channel media execution. We ingest second-party data from leading travel companies including OTAs, airlines, and metasearch platforms, segment audiences across all our data partners, then syndicate those audiences across every major advertising platform. Wherever our clients’ travellers are, we have a way of reaching them.
We are building toward an “agentic advertising” future where AI-driven automation handles execution with expert human-in-the-loop decision-making. This is an opportunity to shape that platform while working with elite hospitality and travel brands at the forefront of digital advertising.
About the Role
This is a senior, hybrid role that sits at the intersection of paid media leadership and client ownership. You will own both the strategy conversations with clients and the hands-on platform work, bridging account management and media execution without losing the thread between the two.
You will serve as the primary point of contact for a portfolio of clients, lead paid media strategy across Meta, Google, TikTok, and programmatic channels, and take responsibility for the commercial outcomes of every account you touch. This is not a role for someone who wants to do one or the other - it demands both.
As Navigator scales its AI-augmented media platform, you will help guide that automation rather than simply execute within it. Your input will directly influence how the paid media function evolves.
What You’ll Do
- Client Relationship Management
- Serve as the primary point of contact for a portfolio of clients, owning the relationship from onboarding through to renewal.
- Lead strategic planning conversations, quarterly reviews, annual media planning, and performance narratives that connect channel data to business outcomes.
- Handle difficult client conversations with confidence, including missed targets, creative pivots, budget reallocations, and expectation resets.
- Translate client briefs into clear internal direction and push back constructively when briefs need sharpening.
- Build and maintain trust with senior client stakeholders, representing Navigator’s point of view on media strategy.
- Paid Media Execution
- Own campaign set-up, optimisation, and reporting across Meta (primary), Google Ads (Search, Display, YouTube), TikTok, and programmatic platforms including DV360.
- Build, troubleshoot, and manage custom audience segments using data from multiple partners with varying taxonomies and data structures.
- Monitor campaign pacing, delivery, and performance against client KPIs (ROAS, CPA, CAC, LTV) and make proactive optimisation calls without waiting to be asked.
- Manage media plans from briefing to live, including budget forecasting and performance pacing across multiple clients.
- Work with pixel and tracking setups with sufficient technical fluency across events, attribution, and CAPI to diagnose problems and coordinate fixes with the data team.
- Understand and navigate attribution models (last-click, data-driven, and others) to inform platform budget allocation.
- Produce weekly performance summaries and monthly reports with clear, client-ready narratives that go beyond vanity metrics.
- Commercial & Strategic Contribution
- Identify opportunities to scale client budgets and improve performance while maintaining commercial efficiency.
- Translate performance insights into commercial opportunities and strategic recommendations.
- Stay ahead of platform updates, privacy changes, betas, and emerging ad tech capabilities.
- Contribute to Navigator’s point of view on media - what is working, what is changing, and where the market is heading.
What We’re Looking For
- 5+ years in paid media, with a meaningful portion in a client-facing or account management capacity.
- Strong hands-on experience in Meta Ads Manager, including campaign structure, audience strategy, creative testing, and bid management.
- Solid working knowledge across Google Ads (Search, Display, YouTube), TikTok, and programmatic buying (DV360, The Trade Desk, or equivalent).
- Deep understanding of biddable media: auction mechanics, bid strategies, attribution, and incrementality.
- Proven ability to build and manage custom audience segments and work with structured data, custom parameters, and tracking troubleshooting.
- Proven ability to manage client relationships independently, including high-stakes or sensitive conversations without escalating everything upward.
- Commercially astute - you understand margin, pacing, and revenue dynamics, not just campaign performance.
- Proven track record managing budgets of ÂŁ100K+/month across multiple clients.
- Strong written and verbal communicator: you write concise, clear client-facing reports and can present performance data without losing the room.
- Organised and self-directing with the ability to manage multiple accounts simultaneously.
Nice to Have
- Experience in travel, hospitality, or similarly considered-purchase verticals.
- Familiarity with GTM for tracking implementation and QA.
- Experience working within a client-agency format.
- Understanding of how operational data feeds machine learning systems.
Why Navigator
- Shape the Platform: your input will directly influence product development as we build AI-augmented media buying tools.
- Series A-Funded Growth: join a company with ambitious plans to lead the “agentic advertising” category.
- Technical Complexity: work with proprietary data partnerships and solve real segmentation challenges, not just run standard campaigns.
- Visible Impact: a lean, senior team where your opinion will be heard and your work will matter.
- Interesting Accounts: we work across travel, hospitality, and entertainment with some of the world’s biggest brands.
- Long-Term Incentives: competitive compensation with a performance-based bonus tied to company milestones.
Senior Paid Media Account Director employer: Navigator
Contact Detail:
Navigator Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Paid Media Account Director
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the travel and advertising industry. Attend events, join online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio that highlights your best work in paid media. Include case studies that demonstrate your ability to drive results for clients. This will give potential employers a clear picture of what you can bring to the table.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its clients. Understand their media strategies and be ready to discuss how you can contribute to their goals. Tailor your answers to show you’re not just a fit for the role, but for their specific needs.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in being part of our team at Navigator.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Paid Media Account Director
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Senior Paid Media Account Director role. Highlight your experience in paid media, especially with platforms like Meta and Google, and show how your skills align with our mission at Navigator.
Showcase Your Client Management Skills: Since this role involves a lot of client interaction, share specific examples of how you've successfully managed client relationships in the past. We want to see how you handle tough conversations and maintain trust with stakeholders.
Demonstrate Your Technical Know-How: We’re looking for someone who understands the nitty-gritty of paid media execution. Include details about your hands-on experience with campaign setup, optimisation, and reporting across various platforms. Don’t forget to mention any technical fluency you have!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates during the process. We can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Navigator
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you’re well-versed in the latest trends and tools in paid media, especially on platforms like Meta, Google, and TikTok. Brush up on your knowledge of audience segmentation and campaign optimisation strategies, as these will be crucial in demonstrating your expertise during the interview.
✨Showcase Your Client Management Skills
Prepare to discuss specific examples of how you've successfully managed client relationships, particularly in high-stakes situations. Think about times when you had to handle difficult conversations or pivot strategies, and be ready to explain how you navigated those challenges.
✨Be Data-Driven
Since this role involves a lot of data analysis, come prepared with examples of how you've used data to drive decisions and improve campaign performance. Highlight your experience with KPIs and how you’ve translated insights into actionable strategies for clients.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
Interviews are a two-way street, so think of some thoughtful questions to ask about Navigator’s approach to AI-driven advertising and how they envision the future of their platform. This shows your genuine interest in the company and helps you assess if it’s the right fit for you.