Interim Associate Paid Media Director (Maternity Leave Coverage)
Reports To: CEO, Erik Lambert
Department: Paid Media
Status: Independent contractor (1099)
Coverage Period: End of February through end of May 2027 (approx. 3 months). Test projects to occur between Nov-Dec (paid), then at least 2 weeks of overlap and account transition starting in early February
Hours/Week: 20-40 hours per week
Location: Fully remote, preferred Colorado; must be available during Mountain Time business hours for client and team meetings
About Bonfire Collective
Bonfire Collective is an integrated marketing agency serving changemakers in the outdoor industry and environmental world. We are strategists and creatives who live by the values of Work Smart. Play Hard. Care Deeply.
Role Purpose
You’ll step in as the senior paid media lead for every Bonfire client account, keeping campaigns performing and clients confident while our Paid Media Director is out on maternity leave. You’ll have day-to-day execution support from a full-time media team member, and you’ll support new business as opportunities come in.
This is a continuity role, not a rebuild. We need someone who can ramp quickly into live accounts, make sound budget and strategy calls independently, and hand everything back cleanly at the end.
Key Responsibilities
Client Strategy and Account Leadership
- Serve as a senior point of contact for key accounts, providing strategic oversight and ensuring alignment between media strategies and broader client goals.
- Guide development of full-funnel media strategies and budgets across paid social, search, programmatic, video, OOH, and emerging channels, ensuring creative, placement, and context work together.
- Oversee execution of paid media campaigns during launch, including trafficking and QA, and assisting as needed.
- Lead Meta and Google Ads strategy: campaign structure, audiences, bidding, creative testing, and optimization.
- Make in-flight budget allocation and pacing decisions within approved client budgets.
- Oversee influencer and content creator partnerships connected to paid campaigns, including briefs, partnership ads, and performance reporting.
- Lead negotiations with publishers to achieve the best possible rates for clients while upholding existing relationships.
- Champion the integration of paid media, creative, storytelling, and brand strategy to deliver cohesive marketing solutions.
- Drive excellence in campaign performance, planning, and reporting across all client work.
Team Collaboration
- Set priorities and give direction on paid media work to the full-time media team member supporting execution.
- Coordinate with Bonfire’s creative, account, and strategy teams so media fits into broader campaign plans.
- Participate in brainstorming sessions at a variety of campaign stages.
- Bring vendor contracts or commitments that affect multiple clients or the agency to the CEO for sign-off.
New Business
- Lead or support new business efforts by contributing to proposals, pitches, and media strategy development.
- Represent the media discipline in prospective client conversations and presentations, articulating value and innovation.
Transition
- Document account status, open decisions, and upcoming flights throughout the engagement.
- Hand accounts back to the Paid Media Director at the end of the coverage period.
Ideal Strengths & Skills
Must-Have Skills
- 7+ years of experience in paid media strategy, planning, and buying, preferably in both agency and client-side settings.
- Expertise in full-funnel media strategy across: paid social, search, programmatic display and video, streaming (CTV and audio), and select offline channels including OOH, print, and partnerships.
- Expert-level Meta and Google Ads strategy across search, Performance Max, YouTube, and Meta’s full funnel.
- 3+ years of proven leadership experience managing and developing media teams across planning, buying, and analytics.
- Strong collaborator with the ability to work cross-functionally and communicate with stakeholders at all levels.
- Experience in new business or business development efforts within an agency environment.
- Excellent communication, presentation, and data storytelling skills — can lead conversations with both clients and internal teams.
- Strong understanding of media performance metrics, attribution, and optimization strategies.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience working with nonprofit, outdoor, and startup clients is a plus.
- Experience managing or overseeing influencer and content creator programs.
- Experience with Claude, StackAdapt, Popfly, DashThis, and Google Tag Manager.
What Success Looks Like:
- Campaigns meet or exceed client KPIs through the leave, and clients experience no drop in strategic support.
- Budget and optimization decisions are made confidently and documented.
- Creator partnerships run on schedule and report clear results.
- The supporting media team member feels directed and unblocked.
- New business pitches include strong media thinking.
- Accounts are handed back with clear notes on what changed, what’s next, and what needs attention.
Wellness & Culture Contribution
Every Bonfire employee helps steward our culture and wellbeing. This role is expected to:
- Model Bonfire’s values daily
- Advocate for sustainable workloads for clients, colleagues, and self
- Support wellness initiatives as a participant and culture champion
- Contribute to team recognition, collaboration, and creative exploration
Compensation & Benefits
- $90–$120 per hour, depending on experience
Work Environment & Logistics
- Classification: Independent contractor (1099), targeting 20-40 hours per week
- Core schedule: Must be available for key internal and partner meetings during business hours; otherwise, your schedule is self-managed
- Location: Fully remote, preferred Colorado Front Range based; must be available during Mountain Time business hours for client and team meetings
- Travel: Occasional travel for internal and external events and retreats
Equal Opportunity Statement
Bonfire Collective is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.
How to Apply:
If you’re interested in this contract position, please fill out an application here.
