Digital & Social Marketing Associate - J.D. Irving, Toronto

About the Role

As the marketing landscape continues its evolution towards a digital-first, data-driven model, the Digital and Social Activation Marketing Associate plays a pivotal role in driving growth across J.D. Irving's key consumer brands. This includes the Royale brand in Canada, the Scotties brand in the U.S., and the private label business. The successful candidate will leverage retail media, SEO, social media, and advanced digital marketing technologies to effectively connect with consumers throughout their purchasing journey. This position focuses on optimising campaigns across various retailer platforms, managing digital content and assets, translating data into actionable insights, and collaborating cross-functionally to enhance brand visibility, shopper engagement, and overall marketing effectiveness. Success in this rapidly evolving digital environment will be measured through strong execution, continuous optimisation, and the ability to deliver measurable business results.

J.D. Irving is committed to supporting its employees with a robust benefits programme, including:

• Flexible medical, dental, and vision plan
• Employee & family assistance program
• RRSP matching program
• Health & Wellness reimbursements
• Product purchase program
• Opportunities to take part in job-related training and development
• Growth and progression opportunities within Irving Consumer Products and the larger network of the J.D. Irving group of companies
• Hybrid flexible work options (if applicable)

Key Duties

This dynamic marketing role encompasses a variety of responsibilities focused on digital activation and brand growth across multiple platforms. Key duties are segmented into retail media, social media content development, and marketing technology support, ensuring comprehensive digital engagement.

Retail Media Responsibilities:

• Execute and optimize retail media search campaigns across Amazon Ads, Walmart Connect, Loblaw Advance, and other digital platforms
• Monitor campaign performance and recommend improvements to increase visibility, traffic, engagement, and conversion
• Support SEO and AEO initiatives that improve product and brand discoverability across retailer apps and websites
• Conduct keyword research, audience analysis, and competitive reviews to identify growth opportunities
• Assist with landing page optimization, A/B testing, and content recommendations to improve performance
• Analyze campaign results and prepare insights and recommendations for stakeholders
• Support ongoing management and optimization of Irving-owned websites including Royale.ca, Scottiesfacial.com, and IrvingConsumerProducts.com

Social Media Content Development Responsibilities:

• Support development and execution of social media strategies across Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok, and emerging platforms
• Manage content calendars and coordinate content development with internal teams and agency partners
• Help create, adapt, and publish engaging content that aligns with brand objectives
• Conduct social listening to identify consumer insights, emerging trends, and opportunities for engagement
• Monitor channel performance and provide recommendations to improve reach, engagement, and effectiveness
• Coordinate with Brand Teams, Shopper Marketing, Corporate Communications, Legal, and agency partners to ensure content is accurate, compliant, and on-brand
• Explore and leverage AI-powered tools to improve content development and workflow efficiency
• Develop strong understanding of the categories our brands compete in as well as a strong understanding of our products and brand strategies to help develop social media content calendars and social media content

Marketing Technology Support:

• Support marketing technology initiatives that improve efficiency, scalability, and effectiveness
• Assist with implementation and optimization of tools including website platforms, Product Information Management (PIM), Digital Asset Management (DAM), and related marketing technologies
• Participate in vendor reviews, system testing, business requirements gathering, and training activities

Other Duties as Assigned:

• Packaging Approvals
• Assistance with budgeting and invoices
• Assistance with protecting trademarks

Qualifications

To succeed in this Digital and Social Activation Marketing Associate role, candidates should possess a blend of educational background and practical experience in digital marketing and brand management. Key qualifications include:

• University degree or College Diploma with specialization in business or communication
• 1-3 years of relevant experience in brand management or marketing agency
• Familiar with Loblaw Advance, Walmart Connect or Amazon Ads
• Proven success running social media campaigns for business or organization
• Understanding of platform best practices and engagement drivers across Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest
• Strong written communication and content creation skills
• Experience analyzing social media performance metrics
• Understanding of SEO, SEM, ecommerce marketing, paid search, and emerging AI-driven search technologies
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Detail-oriented with excellent project management and organizational skills
• Curiosity and willingness to learn in a rapidly evolving digital environment