The Associate Vice President of Programmatic is the senior leader responsible for Carnegie’s programmatic strategy, execution, and innovation for our higher education clients. The AVP will lead the Programmatic Team vision and ensure seamless execution of display, streaming, and audio campaigns for our clients while driving business growth, operational efficiency, and the continuous evolution of Carnegie’s programmatic advertising offerings.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Programmatic Strategy & Execution:
- Own and drive the strategic vision for Carnegie’s programmatic advertising efforts, ensuring alignment with company goals and client needs
- Oversee the team managing the setup, optimization, and performance of display, video (YouTube, Pre-Roll, OTT, Hulu), and audio (Pandora, Spotify, Podcasts) campaigns across DV360, other DSPs, and ad platforms
- Maintain and refine best practices for programmatic execution, ensuring continuous performance improvements
- Monitor digital media trends, industry shifts, and competitive landscape to proactively adjust strategies and offerings
- Innovation & Product Development:
- Champion the adoption of AI capabilities and emerging platform technologies, driving a structured test-and-learn approach to improve performance, uncover new opportunities, and keep our media strategies on the leading edge.
- Lead the exploration, evaluation, and implementation of new DSPs, platforms, and partners to expand Carnegie’s programmatic capabilities and drive excellence in the channel
- Build and maintain strong partnerships with platform representatives to stay ahead of emerging trends and leverage new advertising opportunities
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop innovative programmatic solutions that enhance client outcomes and agency differentiation
- Leadership & Team Development:
- Own Programmatic revenue goals and develop strategies to achieve them
- Mentor, develop, and grow the Programmatic Team, identifying opportunities for professional development and skill enhancement
- Establish and refine internal workflows to drive team efficiency, scalability, and operational excellence
- Foster cross-team collaboration within the Digital Division and across other departments, positioning Programmatic as a core pillar of Carnegie’s marketing solutions
- Supervisory Responsibilities:
- Lead the recruitment and development of programmatic staff – including direct and dotted line team management – to ensure a best-in-class team
- Set clear performance expectations and conduct regular evaluations to foster professional growth and accountability
- Oversee the daily workflow of the department.
- Provide constructive and timely performance evaluations.
Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:
- Expertise in programmatic, audio, and streaming advertising, including audience targeting, bidding strategies, and data-driven optimizations
- Deep knowledge of Google DV360 and/or other DSPs required; streaming and audio ad platform expertise preferred
- Strong leadership and mentorship skills, with the ability to inspire, guide, and develop a high-performing team
- Exceptional strategic thinking, analytical skills, and problem-solving abilities
- Advanced understanding of digital marketing KPIs, data analysis, and reporting tools such as Google Looker Studio and Google Analytics
- Effective communication skills with the ability to present complex strategies to internal teams, clients, and leadership
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, remote environment while managing multiple projects and priorities
- Due to the remote environment, effective communication and time management skills are required, as well as the ability to use/learn multiple technology platforms and switch between them on a regular basis
- Physical requirement: Must be able to work at a computer for prolonged periods
Credentials and Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree required; Marketing, Advertising, Business, or a related field preferred
- 8 or more years of experience in programmatic advertising, with a proven track record of leadership and strategic impact
- Practiced in managing large-scale media budgets and driving revenue growth
- Experience with cross-channel digital media planning and integration
- Google Ads Display, Google Ads Video, or Display & Video 360 certifications are a plus