Associate Director, Programmatic

WHY DEPT®?

We are pioneers at heart. What this means, is that we are always leaning forward, thinking of what we can create tomorrow that does not exist today. We were born digital and we are a new model of agency, with a deep skillset in tech and marketing. That’s why we hire curious, self-driven, talented people who never stop innovating.

Our culture is big enough to cope and small enough to care. Meaning, that with people across 20+ countries, we’re big enough to provide you with the best tools, global opportunities, and benefits that help you thrive. While acting small by investing in you, your growth, your team, and giving you the autonomy to solve our clients' problems, no matter where you are in the world. 

About You

The Associate Director, Programmatic is responsible for leading the deployment function for one of our largest enterprise clients, ensuring programmatic strategies are translated into flawlessly executed campaigns at scale. Working in close partnership with our Strategy/Performance team in programmatic, Ad Ops, and Delivery teams, this role oversees the people, processes, and operational standards required to build, launch, optimize, and maintain complex enterprise media programs.

This role serves as the senior day-to-day leader for the deployment team, overseeing Managers and Associates across a distributed team structure while fostering a culture of accountability, precision, collaboration, and continuous improvement. The Associate Director is expected to be both a strong people leader and a hands-on programmatic expert, capable of driving deployment excellence, establishing scalable operational frameworks, and maintaining best-in-class quality standards across all campaigns. This role is also responsible for identifying, developing, and scaling AI-enabled workflows that improve deployment efficiency, quality assurance, operational consistency, and team productivity.

Success in this role requires a deep understanding of campaign architecture, platform implementation, quality assurance, launch management, and optimization execution. The Associate Director will act as the primary owner of deployment governance, ensuring media is built correctly, launched efficiently, and optimized accurately across all platforms within the programmatic ecosystem.

You’ll be responsible for:

• Lead and mentor a team of Managers and Associates across U.S.-based, nearshore, and offshore teams, fostering professional growth, accountability, and a high-performing team culture.
• Partner closely with the Strategy/Performance and Ad Ops teams to translate strategy into execution and ensure optimizations are implemented accurately and efficiently.
• Own the successful deployment lifecycle across all campaigns within your team's remit, overseeing campaign build, trafficking, QA, launch, optimization implementation, and post-launch validation to ensure accurate, efficient, and high-quality execution.
• Lead campaign architecture and account structure development, establishing scalable frameworks that support performance, reporting, optimization, and operational excellence.
• Serve as the senior escalation point for deployment challenges, launch risks, tracking discrepancies, platform troubleshooting, and operational issues while maintaining governance standards, quality assurance processes, and deployment best practices across the account.
• Identify, test, and operationalize AI-powered solutions that streamline campaign deployment, quality assurance, project management, documentation, and optimization workflows across the team.
• Lead internal project management across programmatic deployment efforts, developing deployment roadmaps, launch calendars, implementation checklists, and operational documentation that support timely, scalable, and error-free delivery.
• Collaborate effectively across functional departments, including Ad Operations, Data Science & Analytics, Integrated Media Strategy & Planning, Project Management, and other media craft teams to deliver seamless campaign execution.
• Continuously identify, build, and scale process improvements, automation, and AI-enabled workflows that enhance deployment velocity, quality assurance, documentation, operational efficiency, and overall team effectiveness.
• Promote DEPT®'s values while creating an inclusive, collaborative environment that supports learning, innovation, and growth.

You’ll need: 

• 5–7 years of programmatic media experience within an agency environment, including experience supporting large, complex, enterprise-level clients.
• Advanced proficiency across leading programmatic platforms, including The Trade Desk, DV360, Amazon DSP, and Google Ads. Deep expertise in Google Ads and YouTube is required for this role. 
• Deep expertise in campaign architecture, account structure development, media deployment, quality assurance, trafficking, launch management, and optimization implementation.
• Proven experience leading and developing teams, with the ability to coach, influence, and create opportunities for others to grow.
• Extensive experience managing complex deployment workflows across multiple stakeholders, timelines, and workstreams while maintaining exceptional attention to detail.
• Strong understanding of project management principles, operational planning, launch governance, and process development within enterprise media environments.
• Confident mastery of campaign troubleshooting, measurement validation, tracking verification, and quality assurance across complex programmatic campaigns.
• Demonstrated ability to build trust, stay organized, manage competing priorities, and deliver high-quality work in fast-paced, evolving environments.
• A "get sh*t done" mentality when it comes to solving operational challenges, removing blockers, and driving execution forward.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify risks, improve processes, and translate technical details into actionable recommendations.
• A collaborative, curious, and solutions-oriented approach aligned with DEPT®'s values and culture. to have:

Additional things that will impress us: 

• Trello or Project Management experience
• Natural curiosity around AI and automation, with a demonstrated ability to identify opportunities to transform operational workflows through practical application of emerging technologies.

WHAT DO WE OFFER?

We are a collaborative, open-door, best-idea-wins environment that fosters personal and company growth and has fun doing it. Here is a snapshot of our  benefits package:

• Healthcare, Dental, and Vision coverage
• 401k plan, plus matching
• PTO
• Paid Company Holidays
• Parental Leave

The anticipated salary range for this position is $XX,000 - $XX,000. Salary is based on a range of factors that include relevant experience, expertise, physical location, and organizational impact. This is based on a 40-hour workweek and leveling. Keep in mind, we're flexible. 

WE SUPPORT YOU BEING YOU: 

DEPT® is an equal opportunity employer (EOE). We believe our work is its best when our people feel safe and free to be themselves. We’re committed to an inclusive and barrier-free recruitment and selection process and workplace, regardless of anyone’s identity, background, beliefs, lifestyle or disabilities. So tell us about any accommodations you need. It’s totally confidential and only used to make sure you feel fully supported at every step. 

DEPT® participates in E-Verify, meaning your Form I-9 information will be sent to the federal government to confirm you are authorized to work in the U.S. 

We are a B Corp-certified company passionate about purpose-driven work.  Our hope is that you can feel good about the contributions DEPT® is making to the world and we always have an open door for your ideas in making the world a better place. 

DEPT® is a pioneering technology and marketing services company that creates integrated end-to-end digital experiences for brands such as Google, KFC, Philips, Audi, Twitch, Patagonia, eBay and more. Its team of 2,500+ digital specialists across 30+ locations on 5 continents delivers pioneering work on a global scale with a boutique culture. 

Learn more about DEPT®

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, & INCLUSION

At DEPT®, we take pride in creating an inclusive workplace where everyone has an equal opportunity to thrive. We actively seek to recruit, develop, nurture, and retain talented individuals from diverse backgrounds, with varying skills and perspectives.

Not sure you meet all qualifications? Apply, and let us decide! Research shows that women and members of underrepresented groups tend not to apply for jobs when they think they may not meet every requirement, when in fact they do. We believe in giving everyone a fair chance to shine. 

We also encourage you  to reach out to us and discuss any reasonable adjustments we can make to support you throughout the recruitment process and your time with us.

Want to know more about our dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion? Check out our efforts here.

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