Director of Sales, Programmatic Advertising
About The Position
The Guardian is a global news organization that delivers fearless, independent journalism. From breaking news and award-winning investigations to in-depth coverage of technology, sports, film, culture, and lifestyle, the Guardian offers a global view that deepens our audiences' understanding of America and the world. Headquartered in New York City, Guardian US is an entirely digital operation that seeks to engage US readers by combining the Guardian's international coverage with US voices and expertise. Core coverage areas include US politics, technology, the climate emergency, economic and racial inequality, health, sports, culture, and more. Guardian US launched in 2011 and has bureaus in New York, Washington DC, New Orleans, and Los Angeles. The Guardian is an independently owned, mission-driven organization funded by readers around the globe. It's the talent, energy, and commitment our people bring to The Guardian that makes us who we are. Across our business, we have some of the most creative thinkers in media and beyond, award-winning journalists, cutting-edge commercial teams, digital talent, and more. We are seeking a Programmatic Sales Lead to drive revenue growth across programmatic channels for The Guardian US. This role requires a highly motivated and strategic seller with a deep understanding of the AdTech landscape and experience building programmatic relationships with agencies, brands, and technology partners. You will be instrumental in maximizing The Guardian's programmatic revenue potential through deal-based activity.
Requirements
- 5+ years of experience in digital advertising with a focus on programmatic sales, account management, or platform-side business development.
- Demonstrated success in building and closing programmatic revenue partnerships with agency and brand partners.
- Deep understanding of the AdTech ecosystem including DSPs, SSPs, DMPs, ad servers, and data targeting strategies.
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to derive actionable insights from campaign performance data.
- Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills — adept at both internal cross-functional collaboration and external client-facing engagements.
- Strategic and consultative approach to sales, focused on long-term value creation and client satisfaction.
- Passion for mission-driven media and an understanding of how premium content plays a role in the programmatic marketplace.
Nice To Haves
- Experience in a news publishing or international media environment (preferred).
Responsibilities
- Serve as the programmatic lead within the Revenue Organization, maintaining strong visibility in the marketplace and actively developing new revenue opportunities.
- Build, manage, and grow a robust pipeline of programmatic partnerships through 1:1 deals, preferred deals, and private marketplaces (PMPs).
- Establish and deepen relationships with trading desks, DSPs, agencies, and client teams to ensure The Guardian is top-of-mind in programmatic planning.
- Work collaboratively with Direct sales team to identify and activate existing and new partners through proactive outreach, joint business planning, and solution-based selling.
- Monitor campaign performance and provide strategic insights for optimization, renewal, and upsell opportunities.
- Collaborate closely with Ad Ops, Yield, Product, and Marketing to ensure smooth delivery, inventory strategy alignment, and go-to-market planning for programmatic products.
- Act as an internal advocate and thought leader on all things programmatic — including first-party data strategies, SSP partnerships, and evolving privacy regulations.
- Provide accurate forecasting, reporting, and tracking for all programmatic revenue lines and consistently maintain a clear path to quarterly goals.
Benefits
- 20 days of vacation leave in addition to 12 company holidays and 2 personal days
- Unlimited sick time
- Employee Assistance Programs
- 401(k) Match
- Subsidized healthcare coverage including medical, vision, and dental
- Medical and Dependent Flexible Spending Accounts
- Generous parental leave with 100% pay
- Long Term and Short Term Disability insurance
- Life insurance
- Commuter benefits
- Wellhub
- Work/Life balance: Flexible hybrid schedule
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
Education Level
No Education Listed
