Programmatic Media Buyer

Cars Commerce•Chicago, IL

8d•$93,100 - $114,050•Remote

About The Position

At Cars Commerce, we’re fanatical about simplifying everything about car buying and selling. We do right by our customers and consumers to better connect the industry with simplified and tierless technology to enhance, measure and drive local automotive retail. Whether through our No.1 most recognized marketplace, Cars.com, our industry-leading digital experience, Dealer Inspire, our trade and appraisal technology, AccuTrade, our reputation-based digital wholesale auction marketplace, Dealerclub, or our new Cars Commerce Media Network, Cars Commerce is essential for success in the automotive industry. No one ever travels alone here: at its core, Cars Commerce is collaboration. In fact, it’s built into the very fabric of our shared values. We like to say we Rise Together – putting people at the center of what we do, from consumer to customer to community. Life at Cars Commerce makes it easy when we share the ethos to be Open to All, encouraging open-minded communication because we know diverse thinking yields better outcomes. But critical to our success is Caring to Challenge and Taking Ownership, fueling a competitive spirit in a respectful environment where we think about tomorrow but act today. At our foundation, we have integrity, Doing the Right Thing, even when it’s hard. It’s our shared commitment to these values that makes Cars Commerce a place where growth becomes not only possible, but downright unavoidable. But don't take our word for it. We are proud to be named one of Built In's 2026 Best Places to Work in Chicago and across the U.S. Ready to make your mark? Join a team that's driving real change in the automotive industry. As a Programmatic Media Buyer, you'll plan, build, and execute programmatic video campaigns across CTV and OLV environments as a key contributor in our Consumer Marketing Team. You'll own the full lifecycle from campaign setup and trafficking through pacing, optimization, and reporting. Working primarily in Google DV360 and the broader Google Marketing Platform ecosystem, you'll develop audience strategies that leverage first-party, third-party, and Google audience data, execute PMP and programmatic guaranteed deals, and apply bid strategies, frequency controls, and value based optimization to drive efficient, scalable performance. You'll also partner closely with Marketing Analytics to design incrementally tests, connect campaign decisions to MMM signals, and make sure we're optimizing toward business value rather than just platform-reported conversions. This is a hands-on role with real channel ownership. You'll work cross-functionally to turn performance data into clear recommendations and creative testing plans. You'll also bring a point of view on emerging GMP features, privacy and identity solutions. If you want to operate a strategic channel inside an audience-driven technology company that's simplifying everything about buying and selling cars, and you Care to Challenge, Take Ownership, and Rise Together with the team around you, this role is for you.

Requirements

3–5 years of experience in digital media, with proven success in programmatic buying
Hands-on experience managing campaigns in Google DV360 (required)
Familiarity with the Google Marketing Platform ecosystem (Campaign Manager 360, GA4, Floodlight)
Experience executing PMP deals and working with publishers/vendors
Working knowledge of supply-path optimization and curation, including curated deal IDs
Strong understanding of programmatic buying models, auction dynamics, and inventory types (OLV/CTV primary, nice to have display and audio)
Proficiency in data analysis and reporting tools (Excel, Google Sheets, Looker Studio); SQL a plus
Experience with audience segmentation, targeting strategies, and data integrations
Familiarity with measurement frameworks beyond last-touch — incrementality testing, MMM, and value-based measurement
Strong analytical mindset with the ability to translate data into actionable insights
Excellent attention to detail and ability to manage multiple campaigns simultaneously in a deadline-driven environment
Strong communication and collaboration skills

Nice To Haves

Media agency experience
GMP Certifications (DV360, CM360)
Exposure to other DSPs (The Trade Desk, Amazon DSP, etc.)
Experience in two-sided marketplaces or high-consideration purchase categories (automotive, real estate, travel, financial services)
Exposure to custom bidding scripts or value-based bidding implementations

Responsibilities

Plan, build, and execute programmatic campaigns within Google DV360 across video (CTV/OLV) environments
Manage full campaign lifecycle including campaign setup, trafficking, QA, pacing, and optimization
Develop and implement audience strategies leveraging first-party, third-party, and Google audience data
Activate first-party data through clean room and identity solutions (e.g., Google PAIR, Ads Data Hub) to support audience targeting and measurement in a signal-loss environment
Execute and optimize private marketplace (PMP) and programmatic guaranteed deals
Evaluate and apply supply-path optimization (SPO) principles, including curated deal IDs and SSP/curation partner selection, to improve media quality and efficiency
Monitor campaign pacing, delivery, and performance against budget and KPIs, and forecast spend to ensure accurate allocation across flights and channels
Analyze performance data to identify trends, insights, and optimization opportunities across creatives, inventory, and audiences
Implement bid strategies, frequency controls, and targeting refinements to improve efficiency and scale
Apply value-based optimization, including custom bidding and conversion value signals, to align media delivery with downstream business value rather than flat conversion volume.
Partner with internal teams to ensure accurate conversion tracking and with Marketing Analytics to design and interpret incrementality tests (geo holdouts, conversion lift) and connect campaign decisions to MMM and incrementality signals and not just platform-reported conversions
Develop weekly and monthly performance reports, highlighting performance insights and strategic recommendations
Partner with creative teams to design and execute structured creative tests (A/B, multivariate, DCO), and translate results into creative briefs and asset roadmaps
Evaluate emerging GMP features, beta programs, and industry developments in privacy and identity for applicability to Cars.com; pilot and codify what works