Associate Director, Commerce Programmatic

Role Summary & Impact The Associate Director, Programmatic Commerce will utilize their retail expertise to 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 Amazon, CitrusAd, Criteo, The Trade Desk, Walmart, etc. The role requires an understanding of each platform’s programmatic offerings—from self‑serve to managed service buys—and direct partnership with client accounts to maximize retail media investment. An entrepreneurial spirit, bias for action, and problem‑solving mindset are necessary. Responsibilities Manage a team of direct reports and their career development. Oversee programmatic media activations across several retailer media networks and DSPs. 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. Qualifications 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 in 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 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. Equal Opportunity Employer 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. Accommodations 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 View email address on click.appcast.io. Compensation Base salary range: $75,000 – $180,000 USD. #J-18808-Ljbffr Mindshare