About the position
As an Associate Director of Ad Operations on the ESPN Media team, you will play a pivotal role in overseeing the execution of advertising campaigns across various digital media channels. Your primary responsibilities will include managing a team that is responsible for ad trafficking and optimization, ensuring that all campaign objectives are met in collaboration with sales and marketing teams. You will analyze campaign performance metrics to identify areas for improvement and stay updated on industry trends and best practices. This position emphasizes your leadership in guiding the ad operations team, ensuring the successful delivery and performance of advertising campaigns, and contributing to the overall revenue goals of ESPN through effective ad operations management. You will report directly to the Sr Dir Media Operations and work in the vibrant environment of New York, New York.
Responsibilities
- Leads a team of ad operations professional(s) to ensure the successful execution and delivery of advertising campaigns across multiple digital media platforms.
- Oversees end-to-end campaign tracking, tagging, and trafficking to ensure accurate measurement of key media performance indicators across ESPN O&O and paid digital media channels.
- Drives resolution efforts by collaborating with internal and external teams including marketing, Disney ad sales, Disney bundle, product, tech, agency of record and creative teams.
- Works with internal and external stakeholders to develop and instill processes related to trafficking, workflows and tools that support effective project delivery.
- Effectively communicates project status by creating and maintaining comprehensive project plans and providing regular updates on schedules, progress, risks, change impacts, results, etc.
- Acts as an in-house expert on Third-Party Ad Servers (DoubleClick DCM), Rich Media, DCO, Viewability/Fraud, Mobile App Tracking, TMS, etc.
- Works closely with management to serve as a point of contact between ad server and internal business units.
- Monitors industry trends and emerging technologies to stay ahead of the curve and implement innovative ad operations solutions.
- Manages relationships with ad tech vendors and partners to leverage new tools and technologies for improved campaign performance.
- Embeds additional survey, audience measurement, verification, and other tracking components for external vendors as needed.
- Provides leadership and guidance to the ad operations team, fostering a collaborative, culture of learning, and results-driven work environment.
Requirements
- Minimum 7 years experience in Digital Operations, Media or a related field
- Minimum 4 years experience managing a team and fostering a collaborative culture
- Experience with direct response campaigns
- Ability to organize tasks effectively and develop workflows
- Technologically savvy and able to sift through digital tools smoothly
Nice-to-haves
- Comfortable working in a fast-paced and dynamic working environment, supporting new products/businesses supported by a proven large-scale media property.
- Excellent communication skills and proven collaborator, comfortable navigating a matrixed organization and stewarding stakeholder relationships.
Benefits
- Medical benefits
- Financial benefits
- Bonus and/or long-term incentive units may be provided as part of the compensation package
