Director, Paid Media – Media Planning & Activation

North Bethesda, MD (On-site)

$163K/yr – $192K/yrDirector/ExecutiveFull time

Posted 3 months ago

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Job Summary

Drive enterprise‑level paid media strategy and measurement across all channels to maximize incremental lift and business outcomes.

  • Primary ownership: full‑funnel paid media strategy, activation, and performance governance.
  • Must-have: 10+ years in enterprise paid media with leadership and $50M+ budgets.
  • Standout: Proven cross‑functional leadership, advanced measurement (incrementality/attribution), and agency management.

Job Description

Responsibilities

    Lead full‑funnel paid media strategy and activation across Paid Search, Metasearch/Hotel Ads, Paid Social, Programmatic Display & Video, CTV/OLV, and Affiliate Marketing, with a strong emphasis on performance and incrementality. Translate business and marketing objectives into integrated channel strategies, audience approaches, investment recommendations, and measurable performance expectations. Establish and evolve paid media standards, best practices, and guardrails that guide planning and activation across internal teams, agencies, and partners. Lead the Media Planning & Activation team, setting clear priorities, operating rhythms, and quality standards for planning, activation, optimization, and reporting. Own quarterly and annual media and financial planning processes; align priorities and tradeoffs with Brand Marketing, Analytics, and Finance. Coach and develop managers and individual contributors, building bench strength, planning rigor, and strong performance accountability. Lead performance management forums including pacing, optimization reviews, and QBRs; ensure insights are actionable and followed through. Ensure reporting clearly connects paid media performance to business outcomes, risks, and recommended actions. Advance measurement frameworks including incrementality testing, attribution, and media effectiveness analysis to improve decision‑making. Partner closely with Brand Marketing, Analytics, Revenue Management, Finance, and Technology to enable integrated execution and decision‑making across the funnel. Serve as a senior subject matter expert, providing POVs, tradeoffs, and recommendations to leadership on media investment, channel mix, audience strategy, and performance drivers. Act as senior client lead for paid media agencies, setting expectations, operating principles, and performance standards. Orchestrate and prioritize agency partnerships across segments and channels; drive accountability for high‑quality outputs and measurable impact. Lead test‑and‑learn initiatives and adoption of new platforms, media capabilities, and AdTech to improve full‑funnel effectiveness and scalability. Stay current on industry, platform, and regulatory changes; evolve strategy, measurement, and operating standards accordingly.

Requirements

    10+ years of experience managing enterprise‑level, full‑funnel paid media programs, with deep focus on Paid Search, Programmatic Display & Video, Paid Social, and Affiliate Marketing. 5+ years of people leadership experience managing teams, agency partners, and large‑scale budgets ($50M+ annual media spend preferred). Expert‑level knowledge of Paid Search (Google, Bing), Paid Social (Meta, TikTok, Pinterest, Reddit), Programmatic Display (DV360, The Trade Desk), and CTV/OLV. Proficiency with ad tech and analytics platforms such as Google Marketing Platform, Adobe Analytics, and Flashtalking. Strong understanding of first‑party data activation, identity resolution, and audience segmentation. Experience with incrementality testing, attribution models, and measurement frameworks (MMM, RBA, MTA, DDA). Deep understanding of bidding strategies, automation, machine learning, and AI‑driven optimizations. Proven ability to scale paid media programs, improve CAC efficiency, and drive incremental revenue growth. Strong analytical skills with the ability to translate complex data into clear insights and recommendations. Proven ability to lead cross‑functional initiatives with enterprise‑wide impact. Strong judgment and problem‑solving skills in ambiguous, fast‑moving environments. Executive‑ready communication skills with the ability to influence senior stakeholders in a matrixed organization. Bachelor’s degree required or an equivalent combination of education and relevant work experience; advanced degree preferred.

Benefits

    Competitive compensation and benefits, including medical, dental, and vision coverage Leave and paid time-off for holidays, vacation, personal, family, volunteer, sick, jury duty, bereavement, military, and religious observance Financial benefits for retirement and health savings Employee recognition programs Discounts at Choice hotels worldwide
Choice Hotels International logo

Choice Hotels International

3.4 Glassdoor

Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH) is one of the largest lodging franchisors in the world. The challenger in upscale and a leader in midscale and extended stay, Choice® has nearly 7,500 hotels, representing more than 630,000 rooms, in 45 countries and territories. A diverse portfolio of 22 brands that range from full-service upper upscale properties to midscale, extended stay, and economy enables Choice® to meet travelers' needs in more places and for more occasions while driving more value for franchise owners and shareholders. The award-winning Choice Privileges® rewards program and co-brand credit card options provide members with a fast and easy way to earn reward nights and personalized perks. For more information, visit www.choicehotels.com. At our worldwide corporate headquarters in the Washington metropolitan area (North Bethesda, MD), our IT center in Scottsdale, AZ, and Minneapolis, MN, and through our associates across the globe, we keep those hotels humming by serving as a champion for our franchisees. When you #MakeItYourChoice, you will have the environment, the tools, and the momentum to drive your career and organizational success.

Founded in 1941
Rockville, Maryland, USA
1.9K employees (138 in marketing)
54% recommend to a friend
57% CEO approval

Traffic Signals

Monthly Visitors
13.6M
Monthly Google Ads Budget
$885.1K
Traffic Source Mix
Search
47.3%
Direct
36.8%
Referral
13.9%
Social
0.3%
Paid
1.7%

Headcount Trend

Current headcount: ~1.9K

Marketing Team

Marketing Team Size
114 (6% of company)
Median Career Experience
15.5 years
Median Tenure
4 years
Marketing Roles Posted (Last 30 Days)
1

Funding

Total Funding
$600M
Last Raise
$600M
Post IPO Debt, 2 years ago

Funding History

  • Jun 2024
    Post IPO Debt • $600M

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