Dir-Programmatic Sales

NCM Careers•New York, NY

4d•$150,000 - $200,000•Onsite

About The Position

National CineMedia (NCM) is seeking a Director, Programmatic Sales to lead its programmatic advertising efforts. This role will serve as the internal Center of Excellence for programmatic cinema advertising, focusing on partner development and revenue generation across various programmatic channels. The Director will collaborate with the national sales team, local/regional sales force, and ad operations to create a cohesive go-to-market strategy that complements direct sales. This is a high-impact role for an individual with deep programmatic expertise, commercial acumen, and cross-functional leadership skills to establish programmatic as a significant revenue stream for NCM.

Requirements

4–6+ years of experience in digital or media advertising.
At least 2–4 years of programmatic sales or programmatic business development experience.
Deep working knowledge of the programmatic ecosystem: DSPs, SSPs, PMPs, deal IDs, header bidding, open auction, and programmatic guaranteed structures.
Proven track record of building programmatic revenue, growing DSP relationships, and closing programmatic deals with agencies and brand advertisers.
Strong experience working cross-functionally — partnering with direct sales teams, ad operations, product, and data/analytics functions.
Demonstrated ability to serve as a trusted internal resource and educator, bringing programmatic expertise to sellers.
Excellent communicator with ability to translate technical programmatic concepts into compelling business narratives.
Bachelor's degree required.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree or media industry certifications a plus.
Experience with video, CTV, or out-of-home (OOH) programmatic channels.
Experience in cinema, experiential, or premium video advertising a significant advantage.
Existing relationships with senior programmatic buyers at major agency holding companies and independent trading desks.
Experience with audience data platforms, clean rooms (LiveRamp, InfoSum, Habu), or identity resolution solutions.
Familiarity with yield management tools, GAM (Google Ad Manager), or CMS/SSP platforms used in premium video environments.
Prior experience building or scaling a programmatic revenue function from an early stage.

Responsibilities

Own and grow NCM's programmatic advertising revenue across private marketplace (PMP), programmatic guaranteed (PG), and open auction channels.
Set and execute an annual programmatic revenue plan in partnership with the CRO, establishing NCM as a premier programmatic cinema destination.
Identify and develop new programmatic demand sources, including agency trading desks, DSPs, and independent programmatic buyers.
Develop pricing strategy, floor pricing, and deal structure frameworks to protect brand equity and maximize yield.
Serve as the primary programmatic resource and internal expert for NCM's sales teams, training them on programmatic concepts and workflows.
Partner with national account executives to package and pitch programmatic solutions alongside direct and data-driven buys.
Support local and regional sales teams in accessing programmatic demand.
Develop internal playbooks, sales tools, and competitive positioning to accelerate programmatic literacy and deal velocity.
Act as a subject-matter expert for RFPs, agency reviews, and client presentations involving programmatic.
Cultivate and manage strategic relationships with key DSPs and SSP/technology partners.
Drive adoption of NCM inventory across programmatic buying platforms.
Collaborate with ad tech and data teams to develop audience segments, measurement solutions, and attribution capabilities.
Stay current on marketplace developments including CTV/video programmatic trends, identity solutions, and data collaboration opportunities.
Oversee programmatic deal execution end-to-end, from setup and troubleshooting to delivery and optimization.
Partner with ad operations and yield management to ensure programmatic inventory is properly categorized, priced, and trafficked.
Build dashboards and reporting cadences to track programmatic revenue, fill rates, CPMs, and deal performance.
Provide regular updates to CRO and senior leadership on programmatic pipeline, market trends, and competitive dynamics.