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Senior Programmatic Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

MW Partner

Programmatic Media Buyer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

Execute programmatic campaigns, ensuring campaigns are built, launched, optimized, and reported on successfully and within specified scope * Vet and qualify inbound campaign assignments; lead ...

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Senior Programmatic information

How does a Senior Programmatic professional typically collaborate with cross-functional teams to execute successful digital campaigns?

A Senior Programmatic professional works closely with various cross-functional teams, such as creative, analytics, sales, and account management, to ensure digital campaigns are seamlessly executed. They provide strategic input during campaign planning, help translate client goals into actionable programmatic tactics, and collaborate with creative teams to ensure ad assets meet technical specifications. Additionally, they partner with analytics and data teams to monitor campaign performance and optimize results in real time, ensuring that KPIs are met and clients are satisfied. This role requires strong communication and project management skills to align all stakeholders and drive campaign success.

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

To thrive as a Senior Programmatic Specialist, you need deep expertise in digital advertising, data analysis, campaign optimization, and a strong understanding of programmatic buying, often supported by a relevant degree and several years of industry experience. Proficiency with demand-side platforms (DSPs) such as The Trade Desk or DV360, analytics tools like Google Analytics, and certifications in platforms or digital marketing are typically required. Strong analytical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and effective communication skills set candidates apart in this role. These skills are crucial for delivering high-performing campaigns, maximizing ROI, and collaborating with clients and cross-functional teams in a fast-evolving digital landscape.

What is a Senior Programmatic?

A Senior Programmatic is a digital advertising professional who specializes in managing, optimizing, and strategizing programmatic ad campaigns. They use automated technology and data-driven approaches to buy and place ads across various digital platforms, ensuring campaigns reach the right audience efficiently. Senior Programmatics often oversee a team, collaborate with clients, analyze campaign performance, and stay updated on industry trends to maximize advertising results. Their expertise helps organizations achieve their marketing goals through advanced targeting and real-time bidding technologies.

What is the difference between Senior Programmatic vs Programmatic Specialist?

AspectSenior ProgrammaticProgrammatic Specialist
CredentialsExperience in programmatic advertising, certifications like Google Ads or DSP certificationsEntry to mid-level experience, similar certifications often required
Work EnvironmentStrategic planning, campaign optimization, team leadershipCampaign setup, execution, reporting
Industry UsageUsed across digital advertising agencies, media companies, brandsCommonly employed in similar settings, often as a stepping stone to senior roles

The main difference between Senior Programmatic and Programmatic Specialist lies in experience and responsibilities. Senior Programmatic professionals typically handle strategic planning, oversee campaigns, and lead teams, while Programmatic Specialists focus on executing campaigns and reporting. Both roles require similar certifications and are integral to digital advertising teams, but the senior role involves more leadership and strategic decision-making.

What are the most commonly searched types of Programmatic jobs in California? The most popular types of Programmatic jobs in California are:
What are popular job titles related to Senior Programmatic jobs in California? For Senior Programmatic jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Senior Programmatic jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Senior Programmatic jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Senior Programmatic jobs? Cities in California with the most Senior Programmatic job openings:
Senior Programmatic jobs near you
Infographic showing various Senior Programmatic job openings in California as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 89% Full Time, 9% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 88% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution.
Senior Programmatic Account Manager - Key Accounts

Senior Programmatic Account Manager - Key Accounts

Samba

Los Angeles, CA • Hybrid

$90K - $100K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 7 days ago

Job description

Samba is a media intelligence company. We know what the world is watching, reading, and thinking about — in real time, at scale, across every screen. Our data exists with the consent of over a billion people, organized into the most complete picture of consumer attention ever built. The biggest brands in the world use that picture to make smarter decisions. We think it’s the most interesting data asset on the planet, because it’s the most culturally relevant. 

As a Senior Programmatic Account Manager on Samba TV's Key Accounts team, you'll own the most strategic Media & Entertainment relationships in our book of business — the studios, streamers, networks, and gaming brands that drive cultural conversation, plus their agency partners across the major holding companies (WPP, Omnicom/OMG, Publicis, Dentsu, Havas) and brand-direct teams. You'll ensure these partners derive maximum value from Samba's audience targeting and measurement solutions during the moments that matter most: theatrical openings, series premieres, tune-in windows, and franchise tentpoles. You'll work closely with Sales to grow these accounts, drive sophisticated activation strategies across HoldCo and brand-direct workflows, and deliver a seamless experience across planning, activation, and measurement. Your efforts will directly impact retention and growth of Samba's highest-value M&E accounts.
 
Location requirement: Must live within 50 miles of a Samba office. Required in office 3 days a week (Tuesday through Thursday), moving to 4 days a week (Monday through Thursday) starting January 4th, 2027, with the possibility of moving to 5 days a week in office after that.
RequirementsClient Growth, Retention & Satisfaction

  • Own day-to-day account management for a portfolio of key Media & Entertainment accounts — major studios, streamers, networks, and gaming brands — across both HoldCo agency partners (WPP, Omnicom/OMG, Publicis, Dentsu, Havas) and brand-direct teams

  • Partner with Sales to develop strategic account plans, drive renewals, and identify upsell and expansion opportunities across complex, multi-stakeholder M&E relationships

  • Ensure agency and brand teams are effectively activating Samba audience and contextual data across major DSPs, SSPs, DMPs, and social platforms — especially during tune-in, theatrical, and tentpole windows

  • Build trusted, senior-level relationships with programmatic, trading, strategy, analytics, and brand-side media stakeholders across HoldCo and brand-direct organizations

  • Lead executive business reviews focused on adoption, delivery, performance insights, and expansion across brand and agency teams

Campaign & Platform Execution

  • Oversee audience segment setup and delivery across SSPs and programmatic buying platforms for M&E campaigns spanning HoldCo environments and brand-direct activations

  • Support partners through the full activation lifecycle: planning, audience building, activation, and QA (without directly managing or optimizing campaigns), with particular attention to time-sensitive M&E launch windows

  • Provide platform education and training on how to request, build, and deploy Samba audiences within HoldCo programmatic workflows and brand-direct buying teams

  • Troubleshoot audience delivery or integration issues and coordinate with technical teams to resolve activation challenges efficiently — especially under launch-window pressure

Strategic Partnership & Cross-Functional Collaboration

  • Serve as a senior feedback loop between key M&E accounts and internal teams to improve ease of activation, workflow efficiency, and audience performance

  • Partner with Sales on pre-sale planning, platform demos, and aligning agency and brand goals with Samba's audience and measurement solutions

  • Represent Samba's audience products with deep subject-matter expertise and a consultative approach when working with senior agency and brand stakeholders

  • Collaborate with Product, Measurement, Revenue Operations, and Finance to deliver enhanced solutions for the complex, multi-agency, multi-brand account structures typical of major M&E clients

 Who You Are
 

  • Strategic – You operate at the account-strategy level, not just the ticket level, and can shape multi-quarter plans across brand and agency stakeholders

  • Curious – Always learning and staying current on programmatic trends, M&E marketing dynamics, agency operating models, and CTV innovation

  • Proactive – You anticipate client needs and identify opportunities to add value across both HoldCo agency teams and brand-direct stakeholders

  • Collaborative – You thrive in cross-functional environments and are comfortable navigating large, matrixed organizations across both holding companies and brand-direct marketing teams

What You Bring

  • 5–8+ years of experience in account management, client services, or programmatic strategy roles, with a track record of owning strategic accounts

  • Direct experience working with Media & Entertainment clients — studios, streamers, networks, or gaming brands — is strongly preferred

  • Experience working at or closely with agency holding companies such as WPP, Omnicom, Publicis, Dentsu, or Havas, and/or directly with brand-side media teams

  • Deep understanding of audience activation and programmatic buying across DSPs (e.g., The Trade Desk, DV360, Yahoo DSP)

  • Solid working knowledge of DMPs (e.g., LiveRamp, Lotame, Adform) and SSPs (e.g., OpenX, Magnite, Freewheel)

  • Background in programmatic trading or campaign management at a HoldCo, operating agency, or brand-direct team is a strong plus, even if not hands-on today

  • Familiarity with M&E-specific measurement needs — tune-in lift, theatrical attribution, franchise audience strategies — is a plus

  • Strong executive communication and problem-solving skills with a proactive, consultative approach

  • CRM and project management tool proficiency (Salesforce, Jira, Asana, Trello, etc.)

  • Strong Excel skills (SUMIFS, INDEX MATCH, pivot tables, VLOOKUP); SQL is a plus

  • Deep understanding of the digital advertising and programmatic ecosystem, particularly HoldCo and brand-direct workflows in the M&E vertical

  • BA/BS with a focus on marketing, business, data, or related experience

Samba expects to offer a base salary between $90,000 - $100,000 per year for roles to be performed in New York or California; actual base salary offered will depend on various factors, including but not limited to, location, experience, and performance. Base salary is just one component of Samba’s total compensation package for employees. Other rewards may include bonuses, short-term incentives, and long-term incentives. In addition, Samba provides health insurance, wellness offerings, life and disability insurance, a retirement savings plan, paid holidays and paid time off (PTO), and other employee benefits.
Samba is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.  We strive to empower connection with one another, reflect the communities we serve, and tackle meaningful projects that make a real impact.
 
Samba may collect personal information directly from you, as a job applicant, Samba may also receive personal information from third parties, for example, in connection with a background, employment or reference check, in accordance with the applicable law. For further details, please see Samba's Applicant Privacy Policy. For residents of the EU , Samba Inc. is the data controller.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.