Programmatic Account Manager - Brand/Agency

Programmatic Account Manager Brands/Agency

Samba is a media intelligence company. We know what the world is watching, reading, and thinking about in real time, at scale, across every screen. Our data exists with the consent of over a billion people, organized into the most complete picture of consumer attention ever built. The biggest brands in the world use that picture to make smarter decisions. We think it's the most interesting data asset on the planet, because it's the most culturally relevant.

As a Programmatic Account Manager Brands/Agency at Samba, you'll manage and grow relationships with major agency holding companies and large independent agencies, along with their operating agencies. You'll ensure these partners derive maximum value from Samba's suite of audience targeting and measurement solutions. You'll work closely with Sales to support key large independents & HoldCo accounts (WPP, Publicis, Dentsu), drive audience activation strategies, and deliver a seamless agency experience across planning, activation, and measurement workflows. Your efforts will directly impact agency satisfaction, retention, and account growth within these large holding company relationships.

Requirements:

• Client Growth, Retention & Satisfaction
• Own day-to-day account management for a portfolio of large independent agencies & holding company partners, including WPP, Publicis, and Dentsu, and their operating agencies
• Partner with Sales to develop strategic account plans, drive renewals, and identify upsell and expansion opportunities across large independent agencies & HoldCo relationships
• Ensure agency teams are effectively activating Samba audience and contextual data across major DSPs, SSPs, DMPs, and social platforms
• Build trusted relationships with programmatic, trading, strategy, and analytics stakeholders within large independents & HoldCo organizations
• Lead business reviews focused on adoption, delivery, performance insights, and expansion opportunities across brands and agency teams.

• Campaign & Platform Execution
• Oversee audience segment setup and delivery across SSPs and programmatic buying platforms for agency-led campaigns within HoldCo environments and large independent agencies
• Support agency partners across large independent agencies & HoldCo relationships through the full activation lifecycle: planning, audience building, activation, and QA (without directly managing or optimizing campaigns)
• Provide platform education and training on how to request, build, and deploy Samba audiences within HoldCo programmatic workflows and large independent agencies
• Troubleshoot audience delivery or integration issues and coordinate with technical teams to resolve activation challenges efficiently

• Strategic Partnership & Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Serve as a feedback loop between large independent agencies & HoldCo relationships and internal teams to improve ease of activation, workflow efficiency, and audience performance
• Partner with Sales on pre-sale planning, platform demos, and aligning agency and brand goals with Samba's audience and measurement solutions
• Represent Samba's audience products with subject-matter expertise and a consultative, agency-first approach when working with large independent agencies & HoldCo relationships
• Collaborate with Product, Measurement, Revenue Operations, and Finance to deliver enhanced solutions for complex, multi-agency account structures typical of large independent agencies & HoldCo relationships

Who you are:

• Curious Always learning and staying current on programmatic trends, agency operating models, and CTV innovation within large holding companies
• Proactive You anticipate agency needs and identify opportunities to add value across HoldCo teams and clients
• Collaborative You thrive in cross-functional environments and are comfortable navigating large, matrixed organizations like WPP, Publicis, and Dentsu

What you bring:

• 35 years of experience in account management, client services, or programmatic strategy roles
• Direct experience working at or closely with agency holding companies such as WPP, Publicis, or Dentsu is strongly preferred
• Strong understanding of audience activation and programmatic buying across DSPs (e.g., The Trade Desk, DV360, Yahoo DSP)
• Solid working knowledge of DMPs (e.g., LiveRamp, Lotame, Adform) and SSPs (e.g., OpenX, Magnite, Freewheel)
• Background in programmatic trading or campaign management at a HoldCo or operating agency is a strong plus, even if not hands-on today
• Strong communication and problem-solving skills with a proactive, collaborative approach
• CRM and project management tool proficiency (Salesforce, Jira, Asana, Trello, etc.)
• Strong Excel skills (SUMIFS, INDEX MATCH, pivot tables, VLOOKUP); SQL is a plus
• Deep understanding of the digital advertising and programmatic ecosystem, particularly HoldCo and agency workflows
• BA/BS with a focus on marketing, business, data, or related experience

$80,000 - $90,000 a year Samba expects to offer a base salary between $80,000 - $90,000 USD per year for roles to be performed in New York City or California; actual base salary offered will depend on various factors including but not limited to location, experience, and performance. Base salary is just one component of Samba's total compensation package for employees. Other rewards may include bonuses, short-term incentives and long-term incentives. In addition, Samba provides health insurance, wellness offerings, life and disability insurance, a retirement savings plan, paid holidays and paid time off (PTO), and other employee benefits.

Samba is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We strive to empower connection with one another, reflect the communities we serve, and tackle meaningful projects that make a real impact.