Programmatic Sales Jobs (NOW HIRING)

ABOUT NCM:

National CineMedia (NCM) is America's largest cinema advertising network, connecting brands with highly engaged audiences across approximately 1,600 theaters and 20,000+ screens nationwide. NCM's premium, brand-safe environment delivers captive audiences — including families, young adults, and entertainment enthusiasts — at unmatched scale and attention levels that digital platforms cannot replicate. 

As NCM continues to expand its data-driven and programmatic advertising capabilities, the company is investing in dedicated programmatic sales leadership to accelerate growth, deepen DSP/SSP partnerships, and drive incremental revenue across its national, regional, and local sales channels. 

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Director, Programmatic Sales will serve as NCM’s internal Center of Excellence (COE) for all programmatic cinema advertising — leading partner development and revenue execution across programmatic channels. This leader will work in close collaboration with NCM’s full national sales team, local/regional sales force, and ad operations to build a cohesive programmatic go-to-market motion that complements and amplifies direct sales efforts. 

This is a high-visibility, high-impact role for a builder: someone who combines deep programmatic marketplace expertise with the commercial instincts and cross-functional leadership skills to make programmatic a meaningful and growing revenue pillar for NCM. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Programmatic Revenue Leadership 

• Own and grow NCM's programmatic advertising revenue across private marketplace (PMP), programmatic guaranteed (PG), and open auction channels 

• Set and execute against an annual programmatic revenue plan in partnership with the CRO, establishing NCM as the premier programmatic cinema destination for brand advertisers 

• Identify and develop new programmatic demand sources, including agency trading desks, DSPs, and independent programmatic buyers 

• Develop pricing strategy, floor pricing, and deal structure frameworks that protect brand equity while maximizing yield 

Center of Excellence — Cross-Functional Enablement 

• Serve as the primary programmatic resource and internal expert for NCM's national, regional, and local sales teams — training sellers on programmatic deal structures, terminology, and buyer workflows 

• Partner with national account executives to package and pitch programmatic solutions alongside direct and data-driven buys, creating integrated multi-channel proposals 

• Support local and regional sales teams in accessing programmatic demand where it can supplement or replace direct sold inventory 

• Develop internal playbooks, sales tools, and competitive positioning to accelerate programmatic literacy and deal velocity across the broader sales organization 

• Act as subject-matter expert for RFPs, agency reviews, and client presentations where programmatic is a component of the proposal 

 DSP, SSP & Technology Partnerships 

• Cultivate and manage strategic relationships with key DSPs (The Trade Desk, DV360, Amazon DSP, Xandr, Yahoo DSP, etc.) and SSP/technology partners 

• Drive adoption of NCM inventory across programmatic buying platforms, ensuring NCM is prioritized in media planning for entertainment and cinema-adjacent campaigns 

• Collaborate with ad tech and data teams to develop audience segments, measurement solutions, and attribution capabilities that differentiate NCM's programmatic offering 

• Stay current on marketplace developments including CTV/video programmatic trends, identity solutions, and clean room/data collaboration opportunities relevant to cinema advertising 

Revenue Operations & Yield Management 

• Oversee programmatic deal execution end-to-end — from deal ID setup and troubleshooting to delivery oversight and optimization 

• Partner with ad operations and yield management to ensure programmatic inventory is properly categorized, priced, and trafficked 

• Build dashboards and reporting cadences to track programmatic revenue, fill rates, CPMs, and deal performance against plan 

• Provide regular updates to CRO and senior leadership on programmatic pipeline, market trends, and competitive dynamics 

QUALIFICATIONS:

Required 

• 4–6+ years of experience in digital or media advertising, with at least 2–4 years of programmatic sales or programmatic business development experience 

• Deep working knowledge of the programmatic ecosystem: DSPs, SSPs, PMPs, deal IDs, header bidding, open auction, and programmatic guaranteed structures 

• Proven track record of building programmatic revenue, growing DSP relationships, and closing programmatic deals with agencies and brand advertisers 

• Strong experience working cross-functionally — partnering with direct sales teams, ad operations, product, and data/analytics functions 

• Demonstrated ability to serve as a trusted internal resource and educator, bringing programmatic expertise to sellers who are earlier in their learning curve 

• Excellent communicator with ability to translate technical programmatic concepts into compelling business narratives for clients, agencies, and internal stakeholders 

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree or media industry certifications a plus 

Preferred 

• Experience with video, CTV, or out-of-home (OOH) programmatic channels — experience in cinema, experiential, or premium video advertising a significant advantage 

• Existing relationships with senior programmatic buyers at major agency holding companies (Publicis, GroupM, IPG Mediabrands, Dentsu, Omnicom) and independent trading desks 

• Experience with audience data platforms, clean rooms (LiveRamp, InfoSum, Habu), or identity resolution solutions 

• Familiarity with yield management tools, GAM (Google Ad Manager), or CMS/SSP platforms used in premium video environments 

• Prior experience building or scaling a programmatic revenue function from an early stage 

 Leadership Competencies 

Commercial Drive 

Hunter mentality with a disciplined, strategic approach to revenue building. Comfortable setting ambitious targets and holding themselves and partners accountable. 

Collaborative Leadership 

Thrives in a matrixed environment, influencing without direct authority and earning credibility with peers in national and local sales. 

Marketplace Expertise 

Recognized internally and externally as a go-to expert on programmatic landscape, deal structures, and emerging ad tech. 

Builder's Mindset 

Energized by creating structure and process where little exists. Comfortable navigating ambiguity and making decisions with imperfect information. 

Client Orientation 

Builds lasting relationships with agency and brand partners grounded in delivering measurable business outcomes. 

Analytical Acumen 

Comfortable with data — from pricing yield analysis to deal performance reporting — and uses insights to drive better decisions. 

Why NCM 

NCM sits at the intersection of culture and commerce — delivering advertising in one of the most premium, brand-safe, and emotionally resonant environments available to marketers. With the resurgence of theatrical film, a growing slate of PG and family-friendly titles, and heightened advertiser interest in attention-based metrics, NCM is uniquely positioned for growth. 

This Director role offers the opportunity to build something meaningful: to define how programmatic fits into the future of cinema advertising, to partner closely with senior revenue leadership, and to help NCM capture a growing share of programmatic video budgets that have historically bypassed the big screen. 

WORKING CONDITIONS 

Work Conditions:    

This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, and filing cabinets.  

 Physical Conditions:     

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. To request an accommodation, please contact Human Resources at (303) 792-8899 or email: HR@ncm.com.  

****Out-of-market applicants are welcome. Please be advised that NCM does not pay any relocation expenses****  

SALARY RANGE & BENEFIT OPTIONS FOR NEW YORK APPLICANTS:  

Salary Range: Base Salary of approximately $150,000-$200,000 annually plus bonus - compensation is commensurate with skills & experience.  

Benefits Options:  

• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• 401(k) Retirement Plan
• Life & Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance
• Short and Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Paid Holidays
• Paid Leave (parental, vacation, personal days and sick)
• Commuter benefits
• Pet insurance

This information is provided as the company's good faith and reasonable estimate of the compensation range and benefits offered for this position. The compensation offered to the successful applicant may vary based on factors including experience, skills, education, location, and other job-related reasons. 

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