Programmatic Director - 12 Month FTC

Publicis Groupe ANZ; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension

Life Assurance

Private Medical cover

Reflection Days

Shared Parental Leave

Job summary

Zenith International, part of Publicis Groupe, is hiring a Programmatic Director in a 12-month FTC to shape and deliver world‑class programmatic strategies across a group of Zenith’s clients. You’ll influence full‑funnel activation, elevate performance, and lead a talented team within our international network.

This senior, hands‑on role sits at the intersection of strategy, innovation and operations, using data and collaboration to drive growth.

Qualifications

• Strong programmatic experience in a digital/media agency.
• Ability to translate strategy into activation that drives results.
• Proven leadership and team development skills.
• Excellent communication and client management abilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic and operational delivery of full‑funnel programmatic campaigns across display, video, YouTube, DCO and high‑impact formats.
• Ensuring consistently high standards across activation, optimisation, QA, brand safety, tagging and performance delivery.
• Acting as a trusted programmatic advisor to clients, translating results into insight and opportunities.
• Partnering with planning, performance, search and social teams to maximise ROI.
• Owning financial accuracy across programmatic activity, including forecasting, PO management and budget tracking.
• Managing and developing a pod of five, clarifying priorities and encouraging autonomy.
• Driving continuous improvement by evolving workflows and sharing best practices.

Skills

Programmatic leadership

Strategic thinking

Team management

Communication

Tools

DSPs

SSPs

Data platforms

Job description

Company description

We are the ROI agency, apositionwe haveproudlyheld trueto since 2005. Our more than 6,000specialistsacross95marketsofferunparalleledcapabilitiesinMedia,Data,Technology, Commerce and Content. We put effectiveness at the heart of our work to solve complex challenges, drive successful business outcomes, and grow our clients’businesses.

Over the years, we have evolved our definitionof ROI, as it has changed with the ever- complicatedcommunicationslandscape.ROI isnolongersimplyaboutthemost efficient planning, buying and reporting of media.

Yes,ROIisaboutdeliveringReturnonInvestment;butit’salsoaboutgoingbeyondtodelivera

ReturnonImaginationandmoreintegratedexperiencesthatinspireGrowth.Top-linegrowth

forourclients’businesses,growthforourpeopleandgrowthforourculture.

Poweredbyourbest-in-classproprietarytoolsanddata,ourworkspansthefullspectrumof media communications, from analytics, data and technology to performance marketing, content and superior trading.

ThisbreadthmeanswedeliverInsightthatliesattheintersectionofconsumer,category,and brand, attributing every budget to stronger business outcomes.

Itmeanswedelivermorecreativemediasolutionsthatbringtogetherbest-in-classstrategy, planning and the power of Publicis Groupe to ensure distinct and more personal brand experiences for our clients.

Itmeansweadoptnewdataanalyticsandvalueoptimisationtechniqueswhilebuilding

relationshipswithsomeoftheworld’smostexcitingstart-ups.Weleverageover30yearsof media planning expertise to go beyond traditional media solutions and deliver a Return on Investment that is both forward–thinking and accountable to our clients.

AtZenith,weultimatelyseekoutamoremeaningfulkindofROI. Ouruniquewayofthinking inspiresgrowth for some of theworld’s leadingbrands,includingCoty,Electrolux,Essity, Lactalis, Luxottica, Nestlé, Nomad Foods, Reckitt,TikTok and Verizon.

Overview

We are hiring a Programmatic Director in a 12-month FTC to help shape and deliver world‑class programmatic strategies across a group of Zenith’s clients including: HP, Electrolux, ELIDA, Eli Lily, and Lulu Lemon. This is a senior, hands‑on role where you’ll influence full‑funnel activation, elevate performance, and lead a talented team within our international network. You’ll work at the intersection of strategy, innovation and operational excellence, using data, creativity and collaboration to drive meaningful business growth. If you’re passionate about programmatic and enjoy turning complexity into clarity and impact, we’d love to meet you.

Responsibilities

What you’ll be doing

• Leading the strategic and operational delivery of full‑funnel programmatic campaigns across display, video, YouTube, DCO and high‑impact formats.
• Ensuring consistently high standards across activation, optimisation, QA, brand safety, tagging and performance delivery.
• Acting as a trusted programmatic advisor to clients, clearly translating results into insight and future opportunities.
• Partnering closely with planning, performance, search and social teams to drive holistic efficiency and maximise ROI.
• Owning financial accuracy across programmatic activity, including forecasting, PO management and budget tracking.
• Managing and developing a pod of five, creating clarity around priorities, supporting growth, and encouraging autonomy.
• Driving continuous improvement by evolving workflows, sharing best practice and championing innovation across the agency.

Qualifications

What are we looking for?

• Strong experience in programmatic within a digital or media agency, or across the programmatic ecosystem.
• A solid understanding of the digital advertising landscape, including DSPs, SSPs, data and measurement frameworks.
• Proven ability to translate strategy into clear, effective activation that delivers commercial impact.
• Experience leading and developing people, with a collaborative and supportive leadership style.
• Confidence managing multiple priorities while maintaining attention to detail and delivery standards.
• A curious, analytical mindset with the ability to problem‑solve and optimise performance.
• Clear and engaging communication skills, with the ability to build trust across teams and with clients.

Additional information

Zenith International 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, including:

Please check out the Publicis Career Page which showcases our Inclusive Benefits and our EAG’s (Employee Action Groups).

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

At Zenith International, 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.