Senior Product Manager - Sponsored Product Ads (Hybrid - Seattle)

Nordstrom•Seattle, WA

3d•$142,000 - $220,500•Hybrid

About The Position

We are looking for a Senior Product Manager who will play a crucial role in driving revenue growth and advertiser success through our Sponsored Product Ads platform. You will own the product strategy for our highest grossing advertising product, helping brand partners reach customers at critical discovery and consideration moments across Nordstrom's digital properties. Job Summary As a member of the Nordstrom Product Management team, you will partner closely with the Nordstrom Media Network, and drive the strategy, roadmap, and execution for Sponsored Product Ads—our core search and browse advertising product. You will operate at the intersection of product, engineering, retail media sales, ad operations, analytics, and our vendor partner Criteo. You will use data-driven insights to build and implement a roadmap that scales Sponsored Product Ads performance, improves advertiser ROI, and enhances customer experience. You will own the technical vendor relationship with Criteo, defining requirements for platform capabilities, integrations, and reporting. You will make product decisions that align with our guiding principles: enhance the customer experience, connect customers with brands, drive partner performance, and build products that are uniquely Nordstrom.

Requirements

3+ years of product management experience in ad tech, retail media networks, or e-commerce platforms with demonstrated expertise in sponsored product or search advertising
Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Math, Business or related technical discipline preferred, or equivalent combination of education and experience
Strong technical aptitude with ability to work with vendor platforms, APIs, data feeds, and advertising technology infrastructure
Proven ability to manage vendor relationships, translating business requirements into technical specifications and holding partners accountable to roadmap commitments
Experience working with ad operations teams, understanding campaign setup, trafficking processes, bidding strategies, and optimization workflows
Proficient in data analysis and advertising performance metrics (Fill rate, CTR, CVR, ROAS)
Strong verbal and written communication skills, including presenting to various levels within a matrixed organization
Outstanding organizational and time management skills with ability to manage multiple workstreams simultaneously
Self-starter with strong drive and meticulous attention to detail—able to own initiatives end-to-end while ensuring nothing falls through the cracks

Nice To Haves

Experience with retail media networks, specifically sponsored product or search advertising in marketplace environments
Direct experience working with Criteo or similar sponsored product platforms (Citrus Ad, Pacvue, Flywheel, Skai)
Background in search relevancy algorithms, ranking systems, and auction mechanics
Experience conducting build vs. buy analyses and vendor selection processes
Understanding of retail media measurement methodologies including incrementality testing and attribution modeling
Familiarity with retail merchandising concepts, product catalogs, and inventory management
Knowledge of privacy regulations (GDPR, CCPA) and their impact on advertising products

Responsibilities

Product Strategy and Vision - Define and drive the product vision for Sponsored Product Ads, ensuring alignment with Nordstrom customer experience standards and Nordstrom Media Network revenue goals. Evangelize this vision with key stakeholders across NMN, Digita, Ad Operations, Analytics, and Engineering.
Technical Vendor Management - Own the strategic relationship with Criteo, defining platform roadmap requirements, feature prioritization, integration needs, and performance expectations. Translate business requirements into technical specifications for vendor development and internal engineering teams.
Platform Strategy & Technical Enablement - Define placement strategy, targeting capabilities, and ad quality standards for Sponsored Product Ads. Drive technical integration roadmap including API enhancements, data feed optimization, and measurement infrastructure.
Continuous Discovery and Insights - Monitor KPI performance for Sponsored Product Ads including fill rate, impression volume, click-through rates, conversion rates, ROAS, and incremental revenue. Keep current with competitive retail media offerings and industry best practices to identify feature gaps and optimization opportunities.
Prioritization and Planning – Define and prioritize the product roadmap balancing advertiser demand, platform scalability, customer experience impact, and technical feasibility. Drive towards quarterly revenue targets while maintaining ad relevance and customer satisfaction metrics.
Definition and Decomposition - Write user stories, acceptance criteria, and measurement plans for platform features, algorithm improvements, targeting capabilities and reporting enhancements. Define technical requirements for vendor integrations and internal system dependencies.
Governance & Compliance - Establish and maintain ad quality standards, brand safety guidelines, and policy frameworks for Sponsored Product Ads. Ensure compliance with advertising regulations, privacy requirements, and Nordstrom brand standards.
Collaboration and Influence - Collaborate with Nordstrom Media Network Sales and Ad Operations teams to translate advertiser needs into product requirements. Partner with Analytics to define measurement frameworks. Align with the site Customer Experience Product Teams on placement strategy and customer experience trade-offs.
Drive Impact - Work with Engineering to drive progress against deliverables through day-to-day backlog management, agile ceremonies, and launch planning. Conduct regular business reviews with Criteo to ensure platform performance and roadmap alignment.
Measurement & Reporting - Partner with Analytics teams to build comprehensive reporting showing product and campaign performance, incrementality analysis, and competitive benchmarking. Demonstrate ROI for brand advertisers and inform platform optimization priorities.