Senior Manager, Strategic Insights & retail Media Operations

dentsu•New York, NY

17d•$72,000 - $95,000•Hybrid

About The Position

We're seeking a strategic operator who bridges data-driven insights with operational excellence. This role combines brand analytics, audience strategy, and operational innovation to drive non-endemic advertiser growth while optimizing the frameworks that make retail media networks scale. You'll be part analyst, part architect—building both the case for why non-endemic brands should invest in retail media networks AND the systems that enable seamless execution at scale. You'll report to the Group Director, Commerce & Retail Media and partner closely with internal Dentsu teams, agency media planners, and retail/commerce network partners. This is a highly cross-functional role requiring deep operational expertise, strong storytelling instincts, and a passion for turning insights into action. The ideal candidate combines deep analytical expertise with a passion for process improvement and product innovation. They understand the end-to-end lifecycle of both strategic insights and operational frameworks—from market research through execution to measurement and continuous improvement.

Requirements

Systems thinker who sees both how to improve the organization and the strategy behind each process
Data-driven storyteller who explains complex findings simply to non-technical audiences, using visuals and clear takeaways over dense detail
Cross-functional influencer who aligns technical, operational, and client-facing teams without direct authority
Turns operational challenges and market opportunities into practical, scalable solutions
Curious about AI, automation, and emerging tech, and eager to use them to improve operations and insights
Comfortable with ambiguity and skilled at building the structure and governance that help organizations grow
Proactive communicator and collaborator who bridges technical, operational, and business teams
Passionate about non-endemic growth in retail media and how seemingly unrelated brands create value for retailers
3–6+ years in retail media, commerce media, shopper marketing, media analytics, or advertising operations (agency, platform, retailer, or network side)
Demonstrated success building sales/performance narratives that moved media budget—you know how to make data influence decision-making
Experience designing, improving, or scaling operational workflows within retail media, eCommerce, digital advertising, or SaaS environments
Track record leading process improvement or operational transformation initiatives
Comfort with audience data, overlap analysis, and first-party data (loyalty data, clean-room environments a plus)

Nice To Haves

Experience with RMN/CMN ecosystem players, measurement partners, or retail-specific analytics platforms
Background in sports, retail, or hospitality vertical media networks
Familiarity with loyalty-driven monetization models
Experience supporting self-service advertising products or platform operations
Background implementing automation, AI-enabled workflows, or operational tooling
Knowledge of ad serving technologies, order management systems, or campaign management platforms

Responsibilities

Build the case for non-endemic brands in retail media networks using sales lift, incrementality, and attribution data, plus industry and market trends
Partner with internal Dentsu teams on audience overlap and first-party data to find customer-base alignment opportunities
Turn audience and performance data into strategic POVs and business cases that give agency media teams clear reasons to shift budget into RMNs/CMNs
Contribute insights to presentations, POVs, and expansion strategies for retail/commerce clients
Monitor the competitive landscape, advertiser demand, and market trends to bring outside-in intelligence into strategy work
Design scalable operational frameworks and continuous improvement roadmaps for retail media workflows across managed-service and self-service products
Evaluate existing processes and find ways to simplify, standardize, automate, and scale operations across teams
Partner with Product and Engineering to prioritize operational enhancements and improve platform usability based on day-to-day operational insights
Create standard operating procedures, governance models, and playbooks that improve consistency and decision-making
Use data, automation, AI, and operational tooling to lead continuous improvement and boost productivity
Lead change management and adoption of new processes and platform capabilities, including documentation and training
Turn complex data and operational challenges into clear narratives that shape budget decisions and strategic direction
Create data visualizations and POVs for agency media planners and retail partners, focused on clear takeaways rather than dense reporting
Connect insights, operations, and strategy so all teams see how data and process improvements drive business outcomes
Influence without direct authority across internal Dentsu teams (Audiences, Analytics, Account Management), Product/Engineering, and external agency partners
Advise leadership on operational risks, workflow gaps, and dependencies, and recommend scalable solutions that strengthen governance and maturity