Ad Monetization Lead
Skillz Inc.•New York, NY
•Hybrid
About The Position
This is a strategic, business-owner role responsible for building Skillz's ad monetization function. It is best suited for candidates with deep ad monetization expertise who are motivated by scaling an ad operations business from zero to one, building demand, and scaling yield.
Requirements
- Deep Ad Monetization Expertise — Demonstrated mastery of mobile ad mediation (AppLovin MAX, Google Ad Manager, and equivalent platforms), waterfall vs. bidding economics, eCPM optimization, and fill management
- Yield-Optimization Mindset — Data-driven, instrumentation-first, comfortable running structured experiments and reading P&L impact.
- Commercial Instincts — Has closed direct brand or agency deals; can pitch a competitive gaming audience to advertisers and translate inventory into commercial value.
- Cross-Functional Operator — Works fluently with product, engineering, FP&A, and developer relations; can drive alignment without authority.
- Builder Mentality — Comfortable in 0-to-1 ambiguity, creates structure where none exists, and treats this as building a business not running a function.
- 7–9 years in ad monetization, ad sales, ad operations, programmatic, or yield management at a mobile gaming, app, or publisher company
- Hands-on experience with AppLovin MAX, Google Ad Manager (GAM), or equivalent mediation platforms; direct waterfall/bidding configuration experience.
- Demonstrated track record of growing ad revenue at scale (e.g., 25%+ eCPM lift, multi-million-dollar incremental ARR, or new placement launches).
- Experience scaling rewarded video and/or interstitial ad formats in a live mobile app.
- Bachelor's or Master's degree with a strong academic record.
Responsibilities
- Own AppLovin MAX, GAM, and additional mediation platforms. Drive eCPM, fill rate, completion rate, and revenue per impression through floor pricing, frequency capping, waterfall vs. bidding optimization, and ongoing A/B testing.
- Build and manage relationships with ad networks, DSPs, and direct brand and agency advertisers. Close direct deals for sponsored tournaments, branded prize pools, and premium tournament inventory.
- Roll out rewarded video and interstitial placements across our top mobile titles. Enforce the event-design patterns pilots have validated to maximize yield.
- Own the core monetization dashboards covering ad performance, event economics, cohort performance, and cannibalization. Deliver weekly forecasts, monthly QBRs, and the annual revenue plan in partnership with FP&A.
- Monitor impression-vs-entry reconciliation, manage competitor ad blocking through third-party competitive monitoring tools, and enforce ad-quality and brand-safety review. Partner with engineering on fraud detection and validation roadmap.
Benefits
- 100% coverage for medical, dental, and vision expenses for both you and your dependents
- 401K matching
- Equity incentives
- Pre-tax benefit options
- Meditation and mental health resources
- Physical fitness coaching and classes
- Family planning assistance
- Health and parenting guidance
- Virtual therapy sessions
- Competitive paid time off (PTO)
- Company holidays
- Free breakfast and catered lunches
- Snacks
- Full-size gym with showers
- Commuter benefits
- Insurance
- Team bonding events
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
