Media Operations Manager

Ulta Beauty, Inc.•Bolingbrook, IL

6d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Media Operations Manager is the operational backbone of our paid media function. This role owns the systems, processes, tools, and workflows that enable the media team to execute efficiently and at scale — ensuring that campaigns move from planning to activation to measurement with speed and precision. This position will oversee the performance of external agencies and technology vendors by ensuring that SLAs are met, relevant policies and guidelines are upheld, and partners can deliver excellence and innovation. This is a highly cross-functional role, sitting at the intersection of Marketing, Finance, and external agency and vendor partners. The right candidate is a process builder and systems thinker who thrives on bringing order to complexity.

Requirements

6+ years of experience in media operations, marketing operations, or a related field.
Demonstrated track record of building or improving operational processes in a fast-moving environment.
Experience managing media budgets and working cross-functionally with finance.
Strong project management skills: proficiency in project management tools (e.g., Monday.com) and best practices. Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
Strong communication: ability to clearly articulate project goals, updates, and challenges to stakeholders.
Problem-solving mindset: ability to anticipate roadblocks and provide proactive solutions.
Solid analytical skills: ability to interpret data and provide actionable insights.
Ability to work both independently and as part of a collaborative team.
Strong proficiency with Microsoft Office Excel and PowerPoint.

Nice To Haves

Agency experience preferred

Responsibilities

Build and oversee campaign planning process and standardized back-out timing for Ulta-Funded marketing across Paid Media Strategy including Paid Media, Affiliate, and Search.
Design, document, and scale operational frameworks - continuously improve end-to-end media operations workflows — from briefing and trafficking to QA, reporting, and oversee billing operations.
Establish and maintain a campaign calendar and intake process to align media execution with integrated marketing planning cycles.
Identify bottlenecks and operational gaps; build scalable solutions that reduce manual effort and improve turnaround time.
Partner with IM Operations & larger Marketing Operations to ensure Paid Media Strategy timing is aligned to larger Integrated Marketing planning lifecycle.
Partner with Retail Media Network (UB Media) campaign planning processes and how RMN timing connects with the Marketing enterprise.
Oversees Paid Media process for Creative Deliverables – ensuring Paid Media planning cycle aligns with Asset Planning and Production Cycles.
Hosts weekly status and planning meetings with Paid Media Team to align key milestones and action across the Media team.
Interfaces daily/weekly with Project Management agency team.
Evaluate, implement, and manage integrations between media tools and broader marketing systems (i.e. Media Tools, Monday.com).
Manage MediaTools change management internally and with finance.
Serve as the primary operational liaison with media agencies and vendors — overseeing timelines, deliverables, and accountability.
Establish agency SLAs & ensure SLAs and reporting requirements are met; escalate issues when needed.
Own onboarding and offboarding of agency and vendor relationships, including access management and contract tracking.
Partner with agency project management leaders to build and maintain operational reporting that surfaces performance, pacing, and process health for internal stakeholders.
Partner with cross-functional partners (Strategic Analytics, Integrated Marketing) on templates including Media Plan templates, Mid-Flight and Post-Campaign Reporting Templates, Hindsight, etc.
Oversee calendar and expectations for key ET deliverables including Sales Lock, GTM, Quarterly Performance Review (ensuring teams know schedule and expectations).
Create standardization across internal & external agency parties including documentation, naming conventions, etc.
Partners with FP&A partners to align on Purchase Order strategy and set-up; overseas set-up end-to-end in partnership with Procurement (Ulta) and Agency Partner.
Submits Purchase orders (annual or quarterly) on behalf of Paid Media Business leads.
Provides framework for invoice approvals for Paid Media Business leads (does not physically own/approve invoices).
Business POC for any troubleshooting to partner with Ulta FP&A and agency teams on unpaid invoices, PO re-adjustments, etc.