Associate Director, Programmatic (Retail Client)

Publicis Groupe; New York (NY); On-site; USD 97,375 - 155,961; Full time

Job summary

Spark Foundry, a part of Publicis Groupe, seeks an Associate Director to lead the strategy and execution of programmatic campaigns across Display, Social, Mobile, Search, and Video in New York. You will own planning for large spend campaigns and drive insights, while coordinating client decks and meetings with the team.

You will mentor Programmatic Analysts and Managers, oversee day-to-day activity, and collaborate with agency partners to optimize outcomes and share best practices.

Qualifications

• Experience in Search, Display, Video, Social, and/or Mobile programmatic media buying.
• Strong analytical and numerical skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks independently.
• 5+ years in programmatic media buying; 2+ years in higher responsibility.

Responsibilities

• Direct and manage daily workflow of all programmatic campaigns.
• Interface with agency media teams to respond to RFPs and build plans.
• Review client deliverables for quality and viability.
• Develop strategic proposals across programmatic teams.
• Own programmatic campaign execution for assigned accounts.
• Monitor and report campaign performance.
• Participate in forecasting for senior management.
• Mentor and develop team members.

Skills

Interactive media planning

Microsoft Office

Analytical thinking

Communication skills

Organization & multitasking

5+ years programmatic media buying

Agency/media experience

People management

Job description

Company description

Spark Foundry was built during the most transformative time in the history of advertising and marketing. We deliver everything a traditional media agency has to offer and have grown into one of the world’s most successful agencies by helping brands evolve their marketing by leveraging identity, commerce, artificial intelligence, and more to connect with people. Transformation is part of our DNA. Spark Foundry’s start-up spirit delivers high-touch approaches and a never-ending desire to challenge the status quo. Combined with Publicis Media’s powerhouse soul leveraging connected data assets, advanced AI applications, and investment clout, we "Bring HEAT to Brands." No other agency possesses the expertise that we do to address today’s most pressing challenges to drive business transformation through media.

Overview

The Associate Director (AD) oversees the strategic development and execution of programmatic campaigns across Display, Social, Mobile, Search, and Video channels. The AD owns planning activities for complex or large spend campaigns and is responsible for generating strategic insights while driving learnings across the full suite of the client’s activities. The Associate Director serves as the primary point of contact for clients and owns the development of client decks, status documentation, and facilitates client meetings.

While providing thought leadership on audience strategies and campaign optimization, the AD builds strong relationships and establishes clear lines of communication with agency partners and the client services team alike. This role oversees all campaign activity and deliverables by the team’s Programmatic Analysts and Managers, and facilitates the training and development of the team. The AD determines each individual’s assignments and bandwidth, distributing work as needed.

The AD must possess a strong inner drive to redesign the digital media landscape, enjoy working with some of the finest minds in the industry, and truly desire to contribute to a unique team of industry thought leaders.

Responsibilities

• Direct and manage the daily work flow of all programmatic campaigns including proposal development, campaign activation and maintenance, and post-buy recaps
• Interface with Agency media teams to respond to RFPs, build strategic campaign plans, communicate service offerings, and identify and deliver new solutions in a collaborative fashion
• Review client deliverables for quality, ensuring that recommendations and work product are sound and viable
• Own the development of strategic proposals, coordinating across programmatic teams to account for all relevant inputs
• Assume accountability and ownership of programmatic campaign execution for assigned client accounts
• Understand and effectively communicate programmatic value proposition, technology, and processes as related to the growth of current and prospective agency accounts
• Monitor and report on campaign performance
• Participate in forecasting exercises for senior management
• Embrace and encourage a culture based on team work, collaboration, and intellectual curiosity
• Adopt established account management standards and program management best practices
• Assist in training, mentoring, and developing team members
• Assist in the development and documentation of best practices for improving communication and collaboration within the team and the group
• Develop and maintain quality control procedures for programmatic campaign implementations
• Participate in regular knowledge sharing sessions to share and learn new strategies for optimizing and enhancing campaign performance

Qualifications

• Understanding of interactive media planning and buying elements
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office solutions
• Strong analytical thinking and mathematical skills
• Excellent communication and writing skills
• Ability to organize and manage detail work, as well as work independently and balance multiple tasks
• 5+ years of experience in Search, Display, Video, Social, and/or Mobile programmatic media buying
• 2+ years of increasing levels of responsibility within an agency or media company
• 2+ years of people management experience, managing 3+ reports in account management/client services team

Additional information

Our Publicis Groupe motto “Viva La Différence” means we’re better together, and we believe that our differences make us stronger. It means we honor and celebrate all identities, across all facets of intersectionality, and it underpins all that we do as an organization. We are focused on fostering belonging and creating equitable & inclusive experiences for all talent.

Publicis Groupe provides robust and inclusive benefit programs and policies to support the evolving and diverse needs of our talent and enable every person to grow and thrive. Our benefits package includes medical coverage, dental, vision, disability, 401K, as well as parental and family care leave, family forming assistance, tuition reimbursement, and flexible time off.

If you require accommodation or assistance with the application or onboarding process specifically, please contact [e-mail].

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Compensation

Compensation Range: USD $97,375.00 - USD $155,961.00/Annually. This is the pay range the Company believes it will pay for this position at the time of this posting. Consistent with applicable law, compensation will be determined based on the skills, qualifications, and experience of the applicant along with the requirements of the position, and the Company reserves the right to modify this pay range at any time. Temporary roles may be eligible to participate in our freelancer/temporary employee medical plan through a third‑party benefits administration system once certain criteria have been met. Temporary roles may also qualify for participation in our 401(k) plan after eligibility criteria have been met. For regular roles, the Company will offer medical coverage, dental, vision, disability, 401k, and paid time off. The Company anticipates the application deadline for this job posting will be 8/3/2026.