Senior Programmatic & Direct Media Lead

Code3; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 113,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision benefits

Retirement program

Parental leave and return program

Flexible Time Off

Job summary

Code3 is seeking an Associate Director of Programmatic & Direct Media to lead programmatic and direct media strategy for a diverse client portfolio. You will drive activation across DSPs, craft audience strategies, oversee performance, and build strong partnerships with publishers and clients.

This hands-on, client-facing role requires a strategic thinker who can mentor teammates and contribute to new business while delivering measurable outcomes across CTV, display, and native formats.

Qualifications

• 6+ years of experience developing and activating programmatic media strategies in an agency setting.
• Deep hands-on experience across DSPs including setup, optimization, and troubleshooting.
• Experience with CTV, OLV, display and other programmatic channels (PMP, Programmatic Guaranteed, Direct IO).
• Strong understanding of the programmatic ecosystem, data providers and verification partners.
• Experience building audience strategies using first-party data and modeled audiences.
• Proven client-facing skills, translating complex media concepts into recommendations.

Responsibilities

• Define and own programmatic and direct media strategy across a portfolio including CTV, OLV, display, native, audio and DOOH.
• Lead strategy and activation across DSPs (StackAdapt, DV360, The Trade Desk) with hands-on setup and optimization.
• Develop buying and audience strategies across open exchange, PMP, and direct deals.
• Own media planning and performance best practices including forecasting, budgeting, reach and frequency.
• Build strategic publisher relationships, lead RFPs and negotiate partnerships.
• Identify new partners, formats, AI applications to improve outcomes.
• Collaborate with Client Partnerships, Creative, Growth and Analytics to align media and business goals.
• Mentor junior team members and support new business pitches.

Skills

Programmatic media strategy

DSPs (The Trade Desk, DV360, StackAdap

Tools

The Trade Desk

DV360

StackAdapt

Job description

Code3 is seeking an Associate Director of Programmatic & Direct Media to lead programmatic and direct media strategy for a diverse client portfolio. You will drive activation across DSPs, craft audience strategies, oversee performance, and build strong partnerships with publishers and clients.

This hands-on, client-facing role requires a strategic thinker who can mentor teammates and contribute to new business while delivering measurable outcomes across CTV, display, and native formats.