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Programmatic Associate Director Jobs (NOW HIRING)

This role oversees all campaign activity and deliverables, leading the team's Programmatic Associate Directors, Managers, and Analysts, and facilitates the training and development of the team.The ...

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Programmatic Associate Director information

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$32.5K

$75.2K

$112.5K

How much do programmatic associate director jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 17, 2026, the average yearly pay for programmatic associate director in the United States is $75,201.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $61,500.00 and $85,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges faced by a Programmatic Associate Director when managing multiple client campaigns, and how can they be effectively addressed?

Programmatic Associate Directors often juggle several client campaigns simultaneously, which can lead to challenges like balancing diverse client objectives, ensuring campaign performance, and managing tight deadlines. To address these, effective prioritization, clear communication with both internal teams and clients, and leveraging campaign management tools are essential. Regular performance reviews and proactive problem-solving also help prevent issues from escalating, while fostering strong team collaboration ensures that campaigns run smoothly and deliver value to clients.

What is the difference between Programmatic Associate Director vs Programmatic Manager?

AspectProgrammatic Associate DirectorProgrammatic Manager
ResponsibilitiesOversees strategic planning, manages teams, and develops high-level programmatic campaignsExecutes campaigns, manages day-to-day operations, and reports on performance
Required CredentialsBachelor's degree, experience in programmatic advertising, leadership skillsBachelor's degree, hands-on experience with programmatic platforms
Work EnvironmentStrategic, leadership-focused, often in a managerial settingOperational, execution-focused, often in a team environment

The Programmatic Associate Director typically holds a higher strategic role, overseeing teams and campaign planning, while the Programmatic Manager focuses on executing and managing daily campaign activities. Both roles require experience in programmatic advertising, but the Associate Director emphasizes leadership and strategy.

What is a Programmatic Associate Director?

A Programmatic Associate Director is a senior role in digital advertising responsible for overseeing programmatic media buying strategies and campaigns. They manage teams, develop data-driven strategies, and collaborate with clients to achieve campaign objectives using automated ad technology. Their responsibilities often include optimizing budgets, analyzing performance metrics, and staying up to date with the latest programmatic trends and tools. This role requires strong analytical skills, leadership abilities, and in-depth knowledge of digital advertising platforms.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Programmatic Associate Director, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Programmatic Associate Director, you need expertise in digital advertising, data analytics, and campaign management, often supported by a degree in marketing or a related field. Familiarity with demand-side platforms (DSPs), ad servers, and industry certifications like IAB Digital Media Buying and Planning are commonly required. Strong leadership, strategic thinking, and effective communication are crucial soft skills for managing teams and client relationships. These abilities ensure successful execution and optimization of programmatic campaigns, leading to measurable business results and client satisfaction.
More about Programmatic Associate Director jobs
What cities are hiring for Programmatic Associate Director jobs? Cities with the most Programmatic Associate Director job openings:
What states have the most Programmatic Associate Director jobs? States with the most job openings for Programmatic Associate Director jobs include:
Associate Director, Commerce Programmatic

Associate Director, Commerce Programmatic

WPP Media

Chicago, IL • On-site

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 3 days ago


WPP Media rating

8.8

Company rating: 8.8 out of 10

Based on 12 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

6th of 67 rated media


Job description

About WPP Media
WPP is the creative transformation company. We use the power of creativity to build better futures for our people, planet, clients and communities. For more information, visit wpp.com.
WPP Media is WPP's global media collective. In a world where media is everywhere and in everything, we bring the best platform, people, and partners together to create limitless opportunities for growth. For more information, visit wppmedia.com.
At WPP Media, we believe in the power of our culture and our people. It's what elevates us to deliver exceptional experiences for both our clients and each other. In this role it will be critical to embrace WPP & WPP Media's shared core values:

  • Be Extraordinary by Leading Collectively to Inspire transformational Creativity.
  • Create an Open environment by Balancing People and Client Experiences by Cultivating Trust.
  • Lead Optimistically by Championing Growth and Development to Mobilize the Enterprise.


About EssenceMediacom: A Leading WPP Media Brand
EssenceMediacom is a new breed of media agency. Grounded in analytics & insights and powered by data & technology, we believe in the power of media and creative to drive breakthroughs for the world's best brands. We help clients understand the modern marketing paradox and discover the breakthroughs brands need to win with their consumers. We are designed for the new communications economy - built on data & technology, built for people & algorithms, built around diverse schools of thought, built to test & learn at scale, and, crucially, built to evolve.
Role Summary & Impact
The Associate Director, Programmatic Commerce will utilize their retail expertise to drive excellence in tactical activation and day-to-day management of programmatic-based activations. You will lead audience and creative strategy development, competitive research, day-to-day campaign setup, management, and reporting of programmatic media buys. This role will be focused on programmatic activations across several retailer media networks and DSPs, including but not limited to Amazon, CitrusAd, Criteo, The Trade Desk, Walmart, etc. The role will require an understanding of each of the platforms and DSP's programmatic offerings - from self-serve to managed service buys. You will connect directly with the retail media networks at each of the key customers on behalf of, and in partnership with the client. You will be supporting the Director, Programmatic Commerce as we seek to maximize retail media investment for our client accounts. An entrepreneurial spirit with a bias for action and problem-solving is necessary to be successful in this role.
Skills and Experience

    • Manage a team of direct reports and their career development.
    • Oversee programmatic media activations across several retailer media networks and DSPs, including but not limited to Amazon, CitrusAd, Criteo, The Trade Desk, Walmart, etc.
    • Execute campaign setup, bid recommendations, and budgeting to ensure overall client goal attainment, including the use of retail bid management technologies where applicable such as Pacvue, Skai, and Epsilo.
    • Maintain excellent relationships with key account stakeholders to maximize promotional opportunities and assist them in navigating the Commerce activation landscape.
    •  Ensure on-going campaign compliance to GroupM established guidelines and best practices.
    • Lead the incorporation of cross-channel testing and optimization strategies.
    • Prepare campaign performance reports on a weekly, monthly, and quarterly basis.
    • Synthesize key data points, identify trends, and recommend activities to maximize business results and deliver an optimal customer experience.
    • Address technical issues with media campaign serving.
    • Stay up to date on changing marketplace dynamics surrounding ad products, technology and measurement across programmatic partners.
    • Manage reconciliation, invoicing/billing, trafficking, and mapping data to our internal media campaign management platform.
    • Bachelor's Degree in Business, Analytics, Marketing, Communications, Advertising; OR equivalent professional work experience
    • 5+ years of experience in biddable performance media execution or paid ecommerce, with a strong preference for retail media programmatic execution.
    • Experience managing a team of direct reports.
    • Experience across the Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
    • Deep understanding of retail commercial elements such as profit margin, inventory levels, forecasting, and demand planning to inform media decisions.
    • Deep understanding of how different media channels work together and how retail media fits within the wider ecosystem.
    • Strong drive to understand the retail landscape and latest trends in commerce media.
    • Experience with retail bid management platforms, such as Pacvue or Skai.
    • Experience in campaign management and optimization across multiple retail platforms (Amazon, Instacart, Walmart, Target, Kroger, Criteo, Google, Meta, etc.).
    • Ability to collaborate and work effectively with internal teams and external partners.
    • A self-starter attitude that thrives in a fast-paced environment.
    • Excellent project-management skills; able to coordinate projects across multiple teams and functions.


Life at WPP Media & Benefits
Our passion for shaping the next era of media includes investing in our employees to help them do their best work, and we're just as committed to employee growth as we are to responsible media investment. WPP Media employees can tap into the global WPP Media & WPP networks to pursue their passions, grow their networks, and learn at the cutting edge of marketing and advertising. We have a variety of employee resource groups and host frequent in-office events showcasing team wins, sharing thought leadership, and celebrating holidays and milestone events. Our benefits include competitive medical, group retirement plans, vision, and dental insurance, significant paid time off, preferential partner discounts, and employee mental health awareness days.
WPP Media is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to particular characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.
We believe the best work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That's why we've adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office around four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.
WPP Media is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to, among others, individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans. If you need an accommodation because of a disability to search and apply for a career opportunity with WPP Media, please send an e-mail to GroupM Leave Administration at Leave.Administration@groupm.com or call (212) 297-8507 and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.
Please read our Privacy Notice (https://www.wppmedia.com/pages/privacy-policy) for more information on how we process the information you provide.


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