Freelance Manager, Programmatic

Role Description

The Freelance Manager, Programmatic is responsible for the day-to-day execution, optimization, and performance of programmatic media campaigns across a diverse portfolio of clients. This role helps translate account strategy into activation plans that drive measurable business outcomes.

The Manager, Programmatic serves as a key contributor to campaign success, balancing hands-on platform management with strategic thinking and operational excellence. The role is expected to contribute to performance insights, optimization recommendations, and testing opportunities that inform broader account strategy while maintaining ownership of campaign execution and performance.

Please note that this role is part time, 20 hours a week.

What You’ll Do:

• Balance workload across a varied, enterprise-level book of business.
• Own the activation, optimization, pacing, and ongoing management of programmatic campaigns.
• Monitor campaign performance, identify opportunities for improvement, and translate data into actionable insights and recommendations.
• Support campaign architecture, audience strategy, and activation planning to ensure campaigns are structured for performance and scalability.
• Translate campaign performance, testing results, and market insights into recommendations that support broader programmatic strategy and client objectives.
• Partner with and coach Associates to ensure campaign launches, quality assurance, and optimization tasks are completed accurately and on time.
• Troubleshoot campaign delivery, tracking, measurement, and platform issues while partnering with internal teams to drive resolution.
• Support innovation and testing initiatives by identifying new opportunities, platform capabilities, and optimization approaches that drive improved results.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Integrated Media Strategy & Planning, Ad Operations, Data Science & Analytics, Project Management, and other media craft teams to ensure seamless execution and measurement.
• Leverage automation, AI-enabled tools, and process improvements to improve campaign management efficiency, optimization workflows, and overall team effectiveness.
• Embody DEPT®'s values while fostering a collaborative and solutions-oriented team environment.

Qualifications

• 2-4 years of hands-on experience in programmatic media buying, within an agency, ideally on enterprise clients.
• Experience activating, optimizing, and managing campaigns within DV360, The Trade Desk, Amazon DSP, Google Ads, and YouTube.
• Strong understanding of campaign management, optimization, pacing, troubleshooting, quality assurance, and performance measurement.
• Experience supporting large-scale or enterprise-level clients while managing multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to translate performance data into actionable recommendations and business insights.
• Experience collaborating effectively across cross-functional teams and stakeholders.
• Excellent organizational skills with strong attention to detail and a commitment to delivering high-quality work.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present performance updates and recommendations clearly and confidently.
• A self-starter mindset with the ability to work independently while contributing positively to a team environment.
• A "Better Together" spirit, demonstrated through collaboration, curiosity, and a willingness to support teammates and share knowledge.
• Experience leveraging automation, AI tools, or workflow improvements to increase efficiency and improve campaign management processes is a plus.

Benefits

• DEPT® is an equal opportunity employer (EOE).
• Commitment to an inclusive and barrier-free recruitment and selection process.
• Participation in E-Verify to confirm authorization to work in the U.S.
• B Corp-certified company passionate about purpose-driven work.