Associate Director, Programmatic

Mindgruve•San Diego, CA

5d•$105,000 - $120,000•Hybrid

About The Position

We are a global digital agency comprised of strategists, creatives, media experts, data scientists, and engineers driven by one common purpose — accelerate business growth through marketing and digital transformation. Named a top 3% Google Premier Partner and recognized by Inc. 5000 and Adweek’s 75 Fastest Growing Companies, we’re constantly looking for “A” players to join our team. The rapid growth is attributed to our strongest asset — our people. Our teams are highly collaborative and work closely with each client to set clear goals and objectives so that we can deliver exceptional results. Mindgruve is a place where every opinion is valued. Not only will you be empowered to contribute ideas, but you will also play a key role in the execution and driving success for brands across a variety of industries. Sound fun? Perfect — you’ll fit right in. The Associate Director, Programmatic owns integrated media strategy, planning, and buying across the programmatic team — serving as a senior client relationship lead, a cross-functional collaborator, and a mentor to the broader team. This role is responsible for vendor IO approvals, QBR ownership, new business contributions, and setting pillar-level goals, operating primarily across Amazon DSP, DV360, and The Trade Desk.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Advertising, Business, or a related field; advanced degree a plus
7-9 years of progressive experience in programmatic advertising or digital media
Proven experience managing a programmatic team and owning senior client relationships
Deep expertise across Amazon DSP, DV360, and The Trade Desk required
Expert-level knowledge of programmatic platforms, ad tech ecosystem, and measurement solutions
Strong leadership, mentorship, and organizational management capabilities
Executive presence with excellent client communication and presentation skills
Strategic thinker capable of connecting media performance to client business outcomes
Strong cross-functional collaborator across creative, analytics, and account teams
Strong customer service skills
Highly organized and detail oriented, with the ability to handle multiple simultaneously
Excellent communication skills, including verbal and written
Professional demeanor with the ability to interface with poise and confidence with leadership and clients
Ability to ensure confidentiality with business matters and employee privacy

Nice To Haves

Experience contributing to new business pitches and agency growth initiatives preferred
Bonus points if you’re bilingual in Spanish and/or Portuguese.

Responsibilities

Own integrated media strategy, planning, and buying across media teams
Own and lead client/campaign strategy and KPI development for assigned accounts
Maintain senior client relationships and act as a trusted programmatic advisor
Lead client reporting calls for high-priority accounts
Own and lead QBRs — narrative, performance, and forward-looking strategic recommendations
Handle makegood conversations with clients and partners
Provide insights on emerging technology, industry trends, and programmatic innovation
Own SME platform responsibilities — complete monthly and quarterly platform updates
Manage and mentor the programmatic team including day-to-day guidance and career development
Work closely with account management, project management, creative, and development teams
Establish and maintain project timelines across the programmatic pillar
Establish media team and pillar goals in partnership with Director-level leadership
QA insights produced by the team before client delivery
Approve all vendor IOs before distribution
Vet vendors and media tools for platform fit, performance, and strategic value
Contribute to new business pitches and RFP responses
Develop industry POVs for agency thought leadership and client education
Perform other related duties and projects as assigned