Programmatic Director

PUBLICIS GROUPE•New York, NY

28d

About The Position

We are looking for a Programmatic Director to lead the agency's best-in-class programmatic practice into its next phase of evolution and growth. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of building and executing winning programmatic strategies for brands on retail media platforms; is a tinkerer and out-of-the-box thinker who is always looking for innovative ways to help clients find an edge; and is a strong leader who can inspire a team to achieve results they didn't previously think possible. Candidates must reside within a commutable distance of Mars United Commerce's Chicago or Bentonville office.

Requirements

7+ years of digital media experience, with a strong background in Amazon DSP, The Trade Desk and DV360; retail media experience across multiple platforms highly preferred.
Proven leadership experience managing teams, developing talent, and fostering a high- performance culture.
Deep understanding of the digital media landscape, media measurement, and attribution methodologies.
Experience in ad operations, including trafficking, troubleshooting, and managing programmatic ad delivery. Familiarity with ad serving platforms, troubleshooting discrepancies, and optimizing campaign delivery is a plus.
Demonstrated ability to lead strategic conversations with senior clients and internal stakeholders.
High proficiency in data analysis and visualization using Excel/Google Sheets (e.g., pivot tables, VLOOKUP, advanced formulas).
Exceptional organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and maintain attention to detail in a fast-paced environment.
Proactive communicator across platforms such as Slack, Zoom, and email, with a collaborative and solutions-oriented mindset.

Responsibilities

Own the strategic vision for programmatic advertising initiatives across key brands, primarily on Amazon DSP, while expanding to platforms such as The Trade Desk, DV360, and other emerging retail media networks (e.g., Instacart, CitrusAd, Criteo, Quotient).
Translate client objectives into strategic, data-driven media plans and oversee their flawless execution, optimization, and performance.
Act as a trusted advisor to senior clients, leading strategic conversations, campaign reviews, QBRs, and innovation roadmaps.
Lead, mentor, and grow a high-performing programmatic team including Senior Managers, Managers, and Specialists. Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous learning.
Establish team goals, provide ongoing coaching and development plans, and conduct performance evaluations.
Implement training initiatives for hands-on DSP activation and cross-platform capabilities, empowering team members to deliver best-in-class execution.
Partner closely with eCommerce, Strategy, and Analytics teams to deliver cohesive omnichannel plans that align with brand goals and retail channel strategies.
Oversee campaign setup and performance management while ensuring consistency in measurement, reporting, and optimization frameworks.
Drive actionable insights and strategic recommendations based on performance data, client goals, and competitive analysis.
Ensure clear communication of KPIs, campaign performance, and optimizations across internal and external stakeholders.
Own programmatic budget stewardship, pacing, financial accuracy, and reconciliation in partnership with the Finance and Client teams.
Lead vendor management, evaluating partner performance and introducing new solutions aligned with strategic goals.
Maintain oversight of campaign trackers, timelines, documentation, and financial reporting across programmatic initiatives.