Associate Director, Commerce Programmatic

Wppmedia; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 75,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Paid time off

Employee discounts

Job summary

Wppmedia is seeking an Associate Director, Programmatic Commerce to drive excellence in campaign management and strategy development. The role involves overseeing programmatic media activations and ensuring compliance with best practices across multiple platforms including Amazon and Walmart.

The ideal candidate will have at least 5 years of experience in media execution, strong leadership skills, and the ability to work collaboratively with clients and internal teams. Benefits include competitive medical plans and a hybrid work approach.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in biddable performance media execution.
• Ability to manage teams and develop direct reports.
• Strong understanding of retail commercial elements.

Responsibilities

• Drive tactical activation and management of programmatic activations.
• Lead audience and creative strategy development.
• Prepare campaign performance reports on schedule.

Skills

Leadership

Programmatic media execution

Data analysis

Client relationship management

Bid management technologies

Retail media understanding

Project management

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Marketing, Advertising

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Pacvue

Skai

Job description

Role Summary & Impact

The Associate Director, Programmatic Commerce will 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 across several retailer media networks and DSPs, including but not limited to Amazon, CitrusAd, Criteo, The Trade Desk, Walmart, etc. The role will require a deep understanding of each platform’s programmatic offerings—from self‑serve to managed service—and a strong partnership with retail media networks and key client stakeholders. An entrepreneurial spirit with a bias for action and problem‑solving is necessary to be successful in this role.

Values

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

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 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 e‑commerce, 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 with 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

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 [e-mail] or call (212) 297‑8507 and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.

Compensation

US Pay Range: $75,000 – $180,000 USD. Individual compensation varies based on job‑related factors, including location, business needs, level of responsibility, experience, and qualifications.