1

Performance Media Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Vuori is looking for a Performance Media Specialist to join our E-Commerce team and support the day-to-day execution, reporting, and optimization of paid media campaigns across streaming and emerging ...

Performance Media Strategy & Leadership * Partner closely with the DTC team to build robust performance media plans that deliver efficient new customer and revenue growth. * Shape creative strategy ...

Performance Media Strategy & Leadership * Partner closely with the DTC team to build robust performance media plans that deliver efficient new customer and revenue growth. * Shape creative strategy ...

Manager, Media

Culver City, CA · On-site

$134K - $140K/yr

This includes working in collaboration with the internal media team, the internal performance media group, cross-functional marketing teams, the media agency and outside third parties, including ...

Manager, Media

Culver City, CA

$134K - $140K/yr

This includes working in collaboration with the internal media team, the internal performance media group, cross-functional marketing teams, the media agency and outside third parties, including ...

Drive performance and efficacy across individual and collective media channels. * Leverage insights to influence media business strategies, and inform tactical planning, execution and optimization.

next page

Showing results 1-20

Performance Media information

See California salary details

$39.5K

$98.2K

$151.5K

How much do performance media jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 29, 2026, the average yearly pay for performance media in California is $98,224.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $64,600.00 and $124,400.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the main challenges faced by professionals in Performance Media roles, and how can they be overcome?

One of the main challenges in a Performance Media role is staying updated with rapidly evolving digital advertising platforms and algorithms. Professionals often need to continuously test and optimize campaigns across multiple channels to achieve the best ROI. Collaboration with creative, analytics, and client teams is essential to ensure messaging and targeting are aligned with business goals. To overcome these challenges, it's important to invest in ongoing education, leverage automation tools, and maintain clear communication with stakeholders. Additionally, developing strong data analysis skills helps in making informed decisions and adapting quickly to performance trends.

What is the difference between Performance Media vs Digital Marketing Specialist?

AspectPerformance MediaDigital Marketing Specialist
CredentialsExperience with paid media platforms, certifications like Google Ads or Facebook BlueprintBroader marketing knowledge, certifications in digital marketing, content creation
Work EnvironmentPrimarily focused on paid advertising campaigns, data analysis, and optimizationEncompasses content, social media, email marketing, and overall digital strategy
Industry UsageCommonly used in advertising agencies, e-commerce, and brands with a focus on paid mediaUsed across various industries for overall digital marketing efforts

Performance Media specialists focus on managing and optimizing paid advertising campaigns across platforms like Google Ads and Facebook. Digital Marketing Specialists have a broader role, covering content, social media, and overall digital strategy. While Performance Media roles are more specialized in paid media, Digital Marketing Specialists handle a wider range of digital marketing activities.

What is performance media?

Performance media refers to digital advertising strategies focused on driving measurable actions, such as clicks, leads, or sales, rather than simply increasing brand awareness. It typically includes channels like paid search, social media ads, display advertising, and affiliate marketing. The success of performance media campaigns is tracked using key performance indicators (KPIs) such as cost per acquisition (CPA), return on ad spend (ROAS), and conversion rates. This approach allows advertisers to optimize campaigns in real-time and allocate budgets to the best-performing channels.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Performance Media Specialist, and why are they important?

To excel as a Performance Media Specialist, you need strong analytical skills, digital marketing knowledge, and experience with paid media channels, often supported by a relevant degree or certifications like Google Ads or Facebook Blueprint. Familiarity with ad platforms (Google Ads, Meta Ads Manager), analytics tools (Google Analytics), and bid management systems is typically required. Exceptional attention to detail, creativity, and the ability to interpret data for optimization are crucial soft skills. These skills ensure campaigns are data-driven, results-focused, and continuously improved for maximum ROI.
What job categories do people searching Performance Media jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Performance Media jobs in California are:
Infographic showing various Performance Media job openings in California as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 72% Full Time, 22% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 82% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 15% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $98,224 per year, or $47.2 per hour.
Associate Director, Performance Media

Associate Director, Performance Media

CourtAvenue

San Diego, CA

Full-time

Posted yesterday


Job description

Modifly is a performance-driven marketing agency that partners with enterprise clients to deliver strategic media solutions. Our team of creatives, technologists, and strategists is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of digital marketing to achieve outstanding client results.

About the Role

Performance media moves fast: new platforms, new AI tools, new signals to chase every quarter. We're looking for someone who genuinely loves being in the middle of that, and wants to build the systems that help a whole team get better at it together.

As Associate Director, Performance Media, you'll lead our Centers of Excellence across Paid Search, Paid Social, Programmatic, Retail Media, and emerging channels, setting the standards, frameworks, and training that help our specialists do their best work. You'll stay hands-on: jumping into platforms to troubleshoot, test, and optimize alongside your team, not just reviewing their work from a distance.

This role is built for someone who knows performance media inside and out and is ready to bring that expertise to a team, whether you've been managing people for years or you're a strong senior specialist ready for your first shot at leading. You'll partner closely with Media Strategy, Analytics, Creative, and Data.

What You'll Own Performance Media Leadership
  • Lead the Performance Media Centers of Excellence across Paid Search, Paid Social, Programmatic, Retail Media, and emerging activation channels.

  • Set the playbook: best practices, governance, quality standards, documentation, and operating procedures across every performance discipline.

  • Keep us ahead of the curve by evaluating new platforms, automation opportunities, AI solutions, and industry shifts.

  • Drive cross-channel planning strategies that maximize efficiency and business impact.

Channel Expertise & Activation
  • Be the go-to platform expert across Google Ads, Search Ads 360 (SA360), Microsoft Ads (Bing), DV360, Amazon DSP, Amazon Ads, Meta, TikTok, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Reddit.

  • Stay hands-on in core platforms, jumping in for campaign launches, optimizations, troubleshooting, audits, and escalations.

  • Lead advanced audience strategies, bidding methodologies, attribution approaches, automation initiatives, and measurement frameworks.

  • Champion activation quality across every performance channel.

Team Leadership & COE Development
  • Lead a team of about 4 Performance Specialists and Channel Leads.

  • Coach, mentor, and develop channel experts, helping them grow technically and in their careers.

  • Build the onboarding programs, certification paths, and training curricula that help the whole team level up.

  • Run quality assurance reviews and set the bar for executional excellence.

  • Encourage knowledge-sharing across channel teams so great ideas travel.

Performance Strategy
  • Build data-driven testing and optimization strategies that continuously improve channel performance.

  • Lead full-funnel planning across Search, Social, Programmatic, Retail Media, and emerging channels.

  • Design testing roadmaps and learning agendas that keep performance improving quarter over quarter.

  • Partner with Analytics on measurement plans, attribution strategies, incrementality testing, and reporting frameworks.

Client Engagement
  • Be the platform expert clients turn to for channel performance and optimization questions.

  • Bring your channel-level insights, optimization recommendations, and testing results into reporting reviews as needed.

  • Translate what's happening in the platforms into clear, useful takeaways for client contacts.

  • Help clients navigate the fast-changing media landscape, including privacy shifts, AI advancements, and new platform capabilities.

Financial & Operational Excellence
  • Keep media investment on track with accurate budget pacing, forecasting, and performance efficiency across accounts.

  • Own accountability for channel-level KPIs including ROAS, CPA, and CAC, partnering with Analytics and Media Strategy on incrementality testing.

  • Spot opportunities to work smarter, improving scalability without sacrificing quality.

  • Partner with leadership on resource planning, staffing, and building the team's capabilities.

  • Loop in Media Strategy leadership when client conversations move from execution into budget or business strategy.

What You Bring
  • 7-9 years in performance marketing, with working knowledge across Paid Search, Paid Social, and Programmatic. 

  • Experience mentoring, coaching, or informally leading channel specialists. Formal people-management experience is a plus, not a must. If you're a strong senior specialist ready for your first opportunity to lead a team, we want to hear from you.

  • Hands-on experience with at least four of: Google Ads, Meta, DV360, Amazon DSP or Amazon Ads, TikTok, LinkedIn, YouTube, Microsoft Ads, enough to execute, troubleshoot, and optimize directly when it counts.

  • Strong working knowledge of audience strategy, attribution, measurement, and conversion tracking across multi-channel campaigns.

  • Experience managing media investments of approximately $100M+ across accounts or business units.

  • The ability to turn performance data into clear, actionable recommendations for day-to-day client and internal conversations.

  • Strong communication and leadership skills, and comfort operating in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

Preferred Qualifications:
  • Depth across all three channel types (Search, Social, Programmatic).

  • Familiarity with Search Ads 360 and/or DV360 as distinct managed platforms.

  • Retail media experience, including Amazon Ads or other retail media networks.

  • Experience building operational processes, channel governance frameworks, or Centers of Excellence from the ground up.

  • Platform certifications across Google Marketing Platform, Meta, Amazon Ads, TikTok, or LinkedIn.

  • Experience across both regulated (Rx) and non-regulated (OTC) categories: a plus, not required; we'll help you learn the ropes.

How We Work
  • We follow a structured hybrid model: in the office midweek, remote on Mondays and Fridays.

  • Ideally based near our Chicago, IL or San Diego, CA offices.

$110,000 - $130,000 a year

CourtAvenue, INC. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. CourtAvenue recruits qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, status as a protected veteran, or genetic information.

CourtAvenue, INC. participates in the E-Verify program. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form (I-9) upon hire.


At Modifly, we are a diverse team of creatives, strategists, media buyers and collaborators. We harness the powers of modern media to build connections between brands and consumers for the purpose of driving revenue and growth. We start by listening, learning and collecting information. Next, we build out a customized strategy paired with meaningful content and artfully manage its distribution. The result? Data-driven, creative campaigns broadcast over modern media channels that create deep consumer relationships while delivering measurable insights into the impact on your brand's performance. Our motivation is rooted in innovation. We are change agents with a passion to help brands leverage emerging technology to unlock modern solutions.
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.
apply for this job