VP, Programmatic Strategy & Operations

Job Description

Job Description

Canvas Worldwide dares to be the challenger the ad industry needs. Do you "Challenge the Comfortable?" Then you'll fit right in here at Canvas.

Recognized as one of Ad Age's "Best Places to Work" for three consecutive years, Canvas Worldwide is an independent media agency committed to providing creative solutions for brands that challenge the status quo. Our clients include Hyundai, Kia, Genesis, MGM, Zillow and McDonald’s (to name a few…).

Our agency cultivates an environment where all are welcome to push outside their comfort zones to solve problems in new ways. We encourage the team to be its best by creating the most positive workplace experience for all. For instance, we outpace the industry on diversity and inclusion AND offer continuous training and workshops for career development. So, if you dare to challenge the comfortable… then keep reading.

We're hiring a VP of Programmatic Strategy & Operations to serve as the right hand to the SVP of Programmatic & Activation Technology. This is a rare seat: you'll be operating at the intersection of strategic media development, cross-functional partnership, and operational excellence — across a 33+ person team managing over a quarter of a billion in annual media investment for some of the most demanding brands in the country.

If you think in systems, translate complexity into clarity, and have deep conviction about how programmatic media should actually work — this role was built for you.

Programmatic Strategy & Media Plan Development

• Lead the strategic development of programmatic media plans — not just activation briefs, but the full architecture: channel selection, DSP strategy, audience construction, deal structures (PMP, PG, open market), and budget allocation logic
• Design media strategies that span CTV, display, video, DOOH, and emerging formats, with a clear point of view on how each channel contributes to outcomes — not just reach
• Build plans that are rooted in the business objective first, media logic second, and platform mechanics third; sequence matters
• Translate client briefs and investment strategies into sophisticated, defensible programmatic plans that agency strategy and investment teams can rally behind

Ecosystem Fluency & Cross-Channel Architecture

• Demonstrate mastery of how the programmatic ecosystem interconnects: DSPs, SSPs, DMPs, CDPs, clean rooms, identity graphs, bid infrastructure, and ad servers — and how each decision in one layer impacts performance in another
• Serve as the internal authority on the evolving landscape: signal loss, identity resolution, contextual targeting, attention metrics, MFA/brand safety — and translate that knowledge into actionable strategy for client teams
• Own the relationship between programmatic and the broader biddable ecosystem, ensuring paid search, social, and programmatic are working together, not in parallel silos
• Partner with activation technology and engineering on proprietary tooling (PACER, InSite AI, SPO) — contributing strategy input that shapes product development, not just using the tools

Measurement, Reporting & Analytics Partnership

• Go beyond standard delivery reporting — build measurement frameworks that answer real business questions: incrementality, path-to-conversion, cross-channel attribution, and audience quality
• Partner closely with analytics and data science teams to develop custom testing frameworks: DSP bakeoffs, incrementality studies, reach/frequency analysis, and outcome-based measurement
• Own the reporting narrative for key accounts: translate complex programmatic data into insights that are clear, credible, and connected to what the client actually cares about
• Build non-standard reporting frameworks for accounts where standard metrics don't capture real value — work with analytics to develop custom signals and dashboards

Technical Depth & Platform Excellence

• Maintain hands-on fluency across the major DSP environments — DV360, The Trade Desk, Amazon DSP — including advanced features: algorithmic bidding, custom goal configuration, first-party data onboarding, deal curation, and log-level data
• QA isn't just for specialists — you understand trafficking structures, pixel implementation, brand safety controls, frequency logic, and bid landscape mechanics deeply enough to identify where errors originate and how to prevent them
• Provide technical direction on audience strategy: segmentation logic, lookalike modeling, suppression lists, contextual targeting layers, and data marketplace evaluation
• Evaluate and pressure-test new ad tech partnerships — DSPs, data providers, measurement vendors — with genuine technical rigor, not just sales deck review

Cross-Functional Leadership & Team Operations

• Serve as the primary operational lead for the programmatic team — absorbing day-to-day escalations, QA oversight, and capacity management so the SVP can focus on product, executive relationships, and roadmap
• Directly manage Directors and Associate Directors across national and regional account pods; you are their strategic coach, not just their escalation path
• Bridge programmatic with investment, strategy, analytics, and local teams — building the internal credibility and communication channels that reduce friction and raise quality across accounts
• Partner with the SVP on org design, hiring, and the staffing model as the team continues to grow into new business

• 10+ years in programmatic media with progressive responsibility — you've moved from execution to strategy to leadership, and you haven't lost touch with any of those layers
• Expert-level knowledge of the programmatic ecosystem: not just how to run campaigns, but how DSPs, SSPs, identity, data, and measurement actually work together (and where they break)
• A track record of developing sophisticated programmatic strategies — plans that go beyond standard templates and reflect genuine thinking about how media drives business outcomes
• Real experience building measurement frameworks beyond last-click: incrementality, multi-touch, brand lift, custom attribution — and the ability to partner with analytics teams to execute them
• Deep technical platform knowledge: DV360, The Trade Desk at minimum, plus working familiarity with ad servers, CDPs, clean rooms, and identity solutions
• Experience managing senior direct reports (Directors and above) with the emotional intelligence to coach, challenge, and retain high performers under pressure
• Agency experience required — you understand how to navigate internal politics, manage client expectations, and build cross-functional alignment in a complex org structure
• Automotive account experience strongly preferred — the volume, complexity, and regional/national split is unlike most other verticals

Salary and Benefits

Actual base salary is determined upon factors such as experience, qualifications, training, certifications, and internal equity. The Company reserves the right to modify this pay range at any time. Base salary is part of a total rewards package that includes highly competitive benefits like generous medical, dental, vision, pet insurance, commuter benefits, disability and life insurance coverage, 401(k) matching, up to 14 holidays per year, a “Do Good Day,” and unlimited PTO.

Additional perks include employee social and wellness events, a DEI Council, auto purchase rebate program, monthly wellness allowance, and in-office amenities such as fresh kombucha and an in-house barista inside our beautiful, new vibrant El Segundo office.

In-Office Work Schedule

This is a hybrid role, requiring a minimum of 2 days in-office per week.

Canvas Worldwide is an Equal Opportunity Employer : All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex including sexual orientation and gender identity, national origin, disability, protected Veteran Status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

CA Applicants: Canvas Worldwide practices Fair Chance Hiring

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.