Managing Director, Paid Media

Darkroom is seeking a Managing Director of Paid Media to lead our paid media practice — the operational and strategic backbone of our client growth engine. You will drive performance, innovation, and growth across an integrated ecosystem of channels — Meta, TikTok, Google, Snap, Pinterest, AppLovin, and beyond — with a clear focus on scaling eCommerce and omnichannel brands through measurable, profitable media strategies. You are a media operator at heart — someone who has personally scaled 8-figure Meta budgets, built DTC growth machines from scratch, and led elite media teams inside agencies or high-growth consumer brands. You understand how media strategy, creative, and measurement intertwine to drive customer acquisition, retention, and P&L performance across sales channels (namely, Amazon, DTC, and at Retail). This is the most senior paid media role at Darkroom — responsible for setting the vision, standards, and strategy for the department, while directly influencing how we grow client revenue across every channel (Retail, DTC, Amazon, TikTok Shop).

You will partner closely with the SVP, Strategy and executive team to refine and scale Darkroom’s media practice for the next era of digital growth. Being successful in this role requires mastery of the DTC function, mastery of the Meta channel (with proven in-platform experience managing eight-figure budgets), and a clear understanding of how paid media drives omni-channel business growth. Critical functions in your first 90 days include auditing the department’s service offerings alongside the CEO, ensuring alignment across Darkroom’s broader portfolio, and implementing operational processes that scale. Ongoing responsibilities will include team leadership, performance management, and cross-department collaboration to unify creative, media, and retail efforts into one revenue-driving ecosystem.

This position is based in New York, NY, and requires U.S. work authorization.

• Own media strategy across Meta, Google, TikTok, AppLovin, and emerging platforms — with deep expertise in Meta performance, creative strategy, and measurement.

• Build and scale client P&Ls for DTC and omni-channel brands; model pro forma revenue, margin, and contribution scenarios.

• Develop innovative full-funnel growth strategies grounded in data, creative diversity, and performance insights.

• Partner with data and analytics teams to implement MMM, MTA, and in-platform attribution models; communicate insights clearly to clients and executives.

• Oversee client onboarding and ongoing strategy audits; ensure media plans ladder to profitable growth and scalable CAC/LTV dynamics.

• Lead monthly executive reviews with client leadership to assess performance, forecast growth, and ensure alignment across marketing and finance teams.

• Serve as the primary escalation point for client and internal challenges; operate as the accountable owner of performance and client satisfaction.

• Lead and scale a best-in-class Paid Media Department — including Media Directors, Strategists, and Paid Social/Search Managers.

• Establish operational frameworks, workflows, and training systems to standardize excellence across all client accounts.

• Directly manage 10+ team members (and growing), ensuring strong KPI accountability, time allocation, and client success metrics.

• Partner with Recruiting to hire elite media talent with a DTC and Meta-first mindset.

• Conduct quarterly reviews and establish growth plans that align with both individual and departmental goals.

• Build a culture of curiosity, testing, and accountability — one that attracts the most capable paid media minds in the industry.

• Oversee department-wide budgets, staffing, and financial performance, ensuring efficient resource allocation and sustainable margins.

• Partner with Finance to own ad spend reporting, forecasting, and revenue contribution models.

• Collaborate with the CEO to refine service models, improve margin, and reduce churn through operational excellence and client success.

• Lead the creation of a unified reporting and mission control dashboard that visualizes performance, health, and growth across all client accounts.

• 10+ years in paid media and growth marketing, with 7+ years in DTC/eCommerce.

• Proven Meta expert — managed $10M+ monthly spend and scaled eCommerce brands across Beauty, CPG, Apparel, and Skincare.

• Deep understanding of media measurement, MMM/MTA, and the latest Meta and platform updates (ask: “Explain Andromeda” — if you can’t, this role isn’t the right fit).

• Prior experience leading media teams within top-tier agencies (Power Digital, MuteSix, Tinuiti, Metric Digital, WPromote) or scaling internal brand media functions.

• Mastery of the DTC P&L, contribution margin, and how traffic, CPM, CVR, and AOV interact to drive growth.

• Strategic yet deeply operational — capable of designing a growth playbook and managing execution down to the platform level.

• Strong understanding of creative strategy and testing within Meta — and how creative and media integrate for compounding performance.

• High EQ, low ego leader who thrives in fast-paced, client-facing, data-driven environments.

• Based in New York City with deep relationships and network within the digital performance ecosystem.

Darkroom is not a typical agency. We are looking for A players who want to build something great. We move fast, think deeply, and expect every team member to bring insight and rigor to everything they touch. We hold a high bar for performance, creativity, and ownership — but we also support each other relentlessly. No egos, no red tape — just world-class talent building something remarkable.

We believe in autonomy with accountability, truth over comfort, and outcomes over optics.

Darkroom is an equal opportunity workplace—we are dedicated to equal employment opportunities regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national orientation, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, or Veteran status. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements.