Programmatic Account Director

Publicis Groupe UK; Greater London; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension

Life Assurance

Private Medical cover

Shared Parental Leave

Job summary

Starcom, part of Publicis Groupe, is seeking a Programmatic Account Director to shape best-in-class programmatic delivery for a high-profile international client portfolio across Europe. You will own strategy, lead a talented team, and build strong client partnerships to drive data-led campaigns with measurable value.

You will sit at the heart of innovation, evolving our programmatic product while collaborating across the Publicis Media network.

Qualifications

• Strong experience in programmatic media within a digital agency or vendor environment.
• Deep understanding of the digital advertising ecosystem, including DSPs, SSPs and ad serving.
• Proven ability to lead and develop teams, supporting performance and growth.
• Experience advising clients and translating business objectives into programmatic strategies.
• Commercial mindset with ability to identify revenue opportunities.
• Confidence working across multiple stakeholders in international client environments.
• Interest in automation, data solutions and evolving measurement approaches.

Responsibilities

• Lead the strategic direction and growth of programmatic activity across client accounts.
• Act as trusted advisor to senior stakeholders and build consultative relationships.
• Drive planning, activation, optimisation, and financial processes with accuracy.
• Oversee delivery of multi-channel programmatic campaigns (display, video, CTV, BVOD).
• Champion innovation through testing and new product development.
• Manage and develop a team of programmatic specialists.

Skills

Programmatic media

DSPs/SSPs

Ad tech partnerships

Team leadership

Client advisory

Strategic thinking

Commercial mindset

Stakeholder management

Innovation & data

Job description

Company Description

With a history that dates back over 80 years, Starcom is a global communications planning and media leader. We are an agency still grounded in our founding principle that people are at the centre of all we do. Each day, we apply this belief to harness the transformative power of data and technology to inspire and move people and business forward. With more than 7,000 employees in over 100 offices around the world, we are the flagship Publicis Media agency that uses our ‘Power of One’ business model, with teams that span multiple disciplines across clients such as Aldi, P&G, Primark, Samsung, Stellantis, and Visa.

We place a huge focus on our People, and have driven flagship D&I and L&D programmes within Publicis Media; our goal is to help every individual reach their fullest potential, and we encourage everyone to make “Brave Plays” in how they approach their work and their own career development. As a result, we have an exceptionally energised and committed talent base, all of us proud of our welcoming and supportive culture, as evidenced by our recognition as one of Campaign’s Best Places to Work for five years in a row, Media Week's Agency of the Year 2025 and one of the Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2025.

Overview

We are hiring a Programmatic Account Director to join the team, playing a pivotal role in shaping best-in-class programmatic delivery for a high-profile international client portfolio. This is an opportunity to influence strategy, build strong client partnerships, and lead a talented team delivering impactful, data‑led campaigns across Europe. You will sit at the heart of innovation, helping to evolve our programmatic product and drive measurable value for both our clients and the wider Publicis Media network. If you thrive on ownership, collaboration, and creating work you’re proud of, this role offers both scale and visibility.

Responsibilities

• Lead the strategic direction and growth of programmatic activity across multiple client accounts, aligning media approach with business goals
• Act as a trusted advisor to senior stakeholders, building strong, consultative relationships internally and externally
• Drive operational excellence across planning, activation, optimisation and financial processes, ensuring accuracy and consistency
• Oversee the delivery of complex, multi-channel programmatic campaigns across display, video, CTV and BVOD
• Champion innovation through testing, learning, and new product development, including data‑led and privacy‑first solutions
• Manage and develop a team of programmatic specialists, creating a supportive and high‑performing environment
• Contribute to new business opportunities and award submissions, showcasing the impact and quality of your team’s work

Qualifications

• Strong experience in programmatic media within a digital agency or vendor environment
• Deep understanding of the digital advertising ecosystem, including DSPs, SSPs and ad serving
• Proven ability to lead and develop teams, supporting performance, growth and inclusive working practices
• Experience advising clients and translating business objectives into effective programmatic strategies
• Commercial mindset, with the ability to identify and drive revenue growth opportunities
• Confidence working across multiple stakeholders and navigating complex, international client environments
• Interest in innovation, including automation, data solutions and evolving measurement approaches

Additional Information

Starcom offers a wide range of benefits to support our employees. Full details are shared when you join, but highlights include core benefits such as Pension, Life Assurance, and Private Medical cover, alongside enhanced policies like Reflection Days and Shared Parental Leave. You’ll also have access to a range of additional initiatives.

Publicis Groupe works primarily from the office or our clients' office four days per week.

At Starcom we are proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, and do not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, nationality, religion or belief, disability, age, citizenship, relationship status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other protected characteristic.

We are committed to providing a fair, accessible, and inclusive recruitment process. If you have any access needs - for example, related to disability, neurodivergence, or a health condition - please let us know. We’ll work with you to ensure the process works for you. Sharing this information will never impact your application.

Guided by our values, we listen with empathy, uplift each other, take responsibility, and embrace change - building a culture where everyone feels seen, respected, and genuinely included.