Sr. Manager, VPM
Ovative Group
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Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
Ovative Group in Chicago seeks a Senior Manager, Video & Programmatic Media to shape enterprise-level Video, Audio, and Programmatic Display strategies across complex client portfolios within the EMR framework.
You will lead senior client relationships, drive cross-channel planning and activation, mentor teams, and scale Ovative’s differentiated approach to enterprise media planning and optimization.
Qualifications
- 8+ years delivering enterprise Video/Audio/Programmatic programs.
- 4+ years people management including leading managers.
- Proven track record driving performance via VPM channels (incremental revenue, profitability, EMR lift).
- Experience with integrated planning and activation across multiple channels or brands.
- Deep experience with performance-based, direct response, and full-funnel media programs.
- Familiarity with major buying and measurement platforms (The Trade Desk, DV360, Google Ads/YouTube).
- Strong data-driven storytelling for senior stakeholders.
- Excellent client relationship and communication skills.
Responsibilities
- Oversee planning, activation, and optimization across Linear/CTV, OLV, Audio, and Programmatic Display/Native.
- Ensure QA, pacing, budgeting, and process automation.
- Lead test-and-learn agendas and performance readouts for clients and internal teams.
- Maintain strategic relationships with platform partners to unlock opportunities.
Skills
Tools
Job description
Ovative Group is an independent, full-funnel media, measurement, and creative firm. Leveraging our deep industry expertise, we help brands like Best Buy, Domino's, American Eagle, The Home Depot, Post, Disney, Tumi, Michael Kors, Boost Mobile, and UnitedHealth Group transform their media and measurement programs. The result? Profitable growth that speaks for itself.
At Ovative, we don't just track data, we redefine success. How do we do it? Our proprietary MarTech platform, EMRge helps businesses transform marketing into a driver of sustainable growth. Powered by Enterprise Marketing Return, our differentiated approach to holistic media buying, planning, and measurement, EMRge is the first MarTech platform to measure businesses holistically. We're all about raising the bar every day, and it shows. Our work has been recognized by organizations like Digiday, Google, Inc. 5000, USA Today, and Search Engine Land.
The Senior Manager, Video & Programmatic Media (VPM) is a senior strategic leader responsible for shaping enterprise-level Video, Audio, and Programmatic Display strategies across complex client portfolios. This role integrates Linear and Digital Video investments within Ovative's Enterprise Marketing Return (EMR) framework to ensure media decisions drive measurable business outcomes.
The Senior Manager sets long-term strategic direction, leads executive-level client relationships, and drives cross-functional integration across media, measurement, and creative teams. In addition to managing high-performing teams, this role advances VPM best practices, contributes to account growth and new business efforts, and plays a key role in scaling Ovative's differentiated approach to enterprise media planning and optimization.
- Provide senior oversight on planning, activation, and optimization across Linear/CTV, OLV/YouTube, Audio, and Programmatic Display/Native.
- Ensure high standards of executional excellence (QA, UTG/SOT, pacing, budget management) and drive continuous process and automation improvements.
- Lead test-and-learn agendas and performance readouts that turn data into clear, actionable decisions for clients and internal teams.
- Maintain strategic relationships with platform and media partners to unlock innovation, alpha/beta opportunities, and performance gains.
- Own senior client relationships and overall VPM performance for a set of complex, high-impact accounts.
- Lead day-to-day and quarterly strategy, planning, and readouts across Video, Audio, and Display/Programmatic, tying recommendations to EMR and enterprise outcomes.
- Influence executive client stakeholders to evolve media, measurement, and operating models in ways that unlock incremental, enterprise-level impact.
- Set integrated VPM roadmaps that connect upper- and lower-funnel tactics and align with cross-channel partners (e.g., Paid Social, Search, Affiliate, RMN/Commerce, CS, Measurement).
- Serve as a VPM SME in cross-functional initiatives, translating channel expertise into clear, integrated plans and test agendas.
- Codify and scale best practices, playbooks, and training that elevate VPM quality and consistency across teams.
- Manage and develop multi-level teams and people leaders, setting clear expectations and development plans.
- Build and continuously improve operating rhythms that enable a high-performing, inclusive team.
- Foster a culture of accountability, coaching, and engagement, ensuring team members understand how their work ladders to total business goals.
- Partner with leadership on staffing, individual pathing, and performance management.
- 8+ years of experience directly responsible for enterprise-level Video/Audio/Programmatic media programs.
- 4+ years of people management experience, including managing direct reports and leading teams through change, and coaching managers and/or senior ICs (not only analysts).
- Proven track record driving strong performance outcomes through VPM channels (incremental revenue, profitability, EMR lift, brand and full-funnel outcomes).
- Proven track record leading integrated planning and activation across multiple channels or brands.
- Deep experience with performance-based, direct response, and full-funnel media programs.
- Deep experience with major buying and measurement platforms (e.g., The Trade Desk, DV360, Google Ads/YouTube, verification tools such as DoubleVerify/MOAT/IAS, TV tools such as Nielsen/SQAD/Kantar/Strata).
- Skilled at translating complex data into clear, influence-ready narratives for senior stakeholders.
- Exceptional communication and client relationship skills — comfortable navigating ambiguity, difficult conversations, and executive-level discussions.
- Strong conceptual and analytical problem-solving skills; able to bring structured thinking and sound judgment to complex decisions.
- Experience in performance marketing for large-scale brands (retail, eCommerce, subscription/telecom, healthcare, or similar).
- Experience spanning both traditional (Linear TV/Radio) and digital video/audio planning and activation.
- Prior leadership role at a digital agency, holding company, or client-side digital team with cross-channel responsibility.
- Experience leading or contributing to new offering development, productization of services, or BD/pitch efforts.
At Ovative, we offer a transparent view into three core components of your total compensation package: Base Salary, Annual Bonus, and Benefits. The salary range for this position below is inclusive of an annual bonus. Actual offers are made with consideration for relevant experience and anticipated impact. Additional benefits information is provided below.
For our Sr. Manager positions, our compensation ranges from $111,000 to $186,000, which is inclusive of a 25% bonus.
We provide strong, competitive, holistic benefits that understand the importance of your life inside and out of work.
Culture matters and we’ve been recognized as a Top Workplace for ten years running because of it. We demand trust and transparency from each other. We believe in doing the hard and complicated work others put off. We’re open in communication and floor plan. We’re flat – our interns sit next to VPs, our analysts work closely with senior leaders, and our CEO interacts with every single person daily. Put together, these elements help foster an environment where smart people can support each other in performing to their highest potential.
Ovative is committed to fostering an inclusive environment where everyone can participate and thrive. We do not tolerate discrimination of any kind, including on the basis of race, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. Our policies reflect this commitment—for example, our medical leave benefits are inclusive of same-sex partners, ensuring equitable care and support for all families.
We strive to hire and retain the best talent. Paying fair, competitive compensation, with a large bonus incentive, and phenomenal health insurance is an important part of this mix.
We’re rewarded fairly and when the company performs well, we all benefit.
- Access to all office spaces in MSP, NYC, and CHI
- Frequent, paid travel to our Minneapolis headquarters for company events, team events, and in-person collaboration with teams
- Generous paid vacation policy
- 401k match program
- Top-notch health insurance options, inclusive of same sex partners
- Family formation benefits including reimbursement options for fertility, pregnancy, and parenting needs
- Monthly stipend for your mobile phone and data plan
- Sabbatical program
- Charitable giving via our time and a financial match program
- Shenanigan’s Day
Working at Ovative won’t be easy, but if you like getting your hands dirty, driving results, and being surrounded by the best talent, it’ll be the most rewarding job you’ll ever have.
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