Executive Director, Data Management

Adelphi Group•Chicago, IL

2d•$150,000 - $250,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Executive Director, Data Management works with the SVP, Data Management to guide development and ongoing operation of PHD’s business intelligence tools and technologies, technical solutions, and data governance processes. The role helps grow the Data Management practice for US offices and establishes data as a foundation for other PHD media disciplines. It requires familiarity with syndicated and proprietary media analytics and technology tools, strong communication and relationship-building skills, and an orientation toward automation. The role establishes agency-level Data Management practices and thought leadership, oversees their application across PHD accounts, and serves as a subject matter expert on Data Management and business intelligence in pitches and client engagements. It sets departmental data strategy and standards across data ingestion, harmonization, storage, governance, and dashboard visualization; supports data quality and business rules; and leads cross-functional efforts to resolve complex data issues and implement improvements. The Executive Director leads data governance and documentation programs, promoting coordinated practices for data integrity, quality, compliance, campaign validation, optimization, and reconciliation. The role supervises Directors and Managers, develops direct reports, coordinates onshore and offshore teams, manages client and internal relationships, and oversees staffing, project planning, resource allocation, timelines, and departmental requirements.

Requirements

At least 15 years of experience in data management, data engineering, data operations, and/or business intelligence.
At least 10 years of experience in an advertising agency.
At least 10 years of experience with digital media data, including ad server, digital, search, social, video, or offline data.
At least 10 years of experience in an agile development environment.
At least 10 years of experience in a management role.
At least 10 years of experience in client-facing work.
Attention to detail.
Strong verbal and communication skills.
Strong organizational and project management skills.
Ability to multitask effectively.
Project scoping experience.
Ability to drive adoption, training, and ownership of departmental requirements and projects.
Curiosity and problem-solving skills, with an interest in finding solutions and sharing them broadly.
Advanced Excel skills are required.
Experience writing business and technical requirements documents and comfort with business rules design and BI tool administration.

Nice To Haves

Experience managing an offshore team.
SQL is preferred.
Python is a nice to have.
Media planning platform experience with MediaTools, Lumina, or Hudson is a bonus.
Familiarity with Tableau, PowerBI, Datorama, Looker/Looker Studio, or Domo.
Familiarity with ETL tools such as Adverity or Datorama, and Alteryx.
Familiarity with Snowflake, AWS Redshift or S3, Starburst.io, Datorama, or Domo.
Familiarity with media platforms including DCM, DV360, Google Ads, DoubleVerify, IAS, TradeDesk, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, TikTok, or Prisma.
Familiarity with project management tools including HIVE, Asana, Smartsheet, or Microsoft Teams.

Responsibilities

Establish agency-level Data Management practices and thought leadership with senior leadership, and oversee application across PHD accounts.
Participate in business pitches as a subject matter expert on Data Management and business intelligence and their potential applications to client needs.
Write client statements of work and service-line agreements for contract negotiations, renegotiations, and renewals.
Work with finance and other leadership to establish resource rate cards, platform costs, and business engagement requirements.
Staff accounts according to client needs, anticipate future staffing requirements, and interview and hire employees.
Serve as an escalation contact for critical business issues and support short-term plans to prioritize needs and resolve urgent issues.
Analyze employee time utilization to minimize over-burns and ensure hours are scoped to the appropriate projects.
Evaluate new and existing business intelligence tools and platforms against changing media data requirements and organizational best practices.
Establish departmental data strategy and solutions, including standards for data ingestion, harmonization, storage, governance, and dashboard visualization.
Serve as a subject matter expert on data quality and business rules, ensuring onshore and offshore data teams follow best practices.
Collaborate with Media and Ad Ops to establish taxonomy naming standards, adoption strategy, and execution workflows, and promote technology for taxonomy creation and implementation.
Lead cross-functional and cross-organizational teams in understanding complex data issues, setting priorities, developing improvement plans, allocating resources, and implementing solutions.
Promote adoption of in-house media Data Operations tools and processes and stay current on digital operations changes.
Lead development of a comprehensive data management and integrity program and coordinate governance adoption across accounts.
Consult junior employees on industry data standards, data quality, compliance, and mitigation of impacts.
Drive cross-discipline documentation and standardization for validating campaign data implementation, optimization, and reconciliation.
Oversee documentation of project processes, workflows, and technical implementations; identify and propose solutions to data quality issues and operational inefficiencies.
Supervise Directors and Managers performing data operations, data quality assurance, and client management tasks; guide and support team development.
Develop direct reports by tailoring client, agency, and personal goals to emphasize individual strengths.
Act as a liaison among internal team leads and onshore and offshore data operations teams to improve campaign data validation, optimization, and reconciliation.
Build positive relationships with internal teams, including Client Business Lead, Strategy, Digital Investment, Programmatic, Search, and Social.
Communicate roles, responsibilities, expectations, and department RACIs clearly.
Create and manage project timelines and tasks using project management tools such as HIVE and Microsoft Teams.
Develop project plans for new implementations and change logs for ongoing data and account management.