Yield Management and Optimization Manager

About the position

The Yield Management and Optimization Sr. Manager at Zillow is responsible for developing and executing a yield management system to enhance revenue and optimize ad placements across various platforms. This role involves collaborating with cross-functional teams to align strategies with business goals, utilizing advanced technical skills for data analysis, and managing relationships with advertising partners. The position is pivotal in driving revenue growth and improving digital media experiences for customers.

Responsibilities

• Build a yield management and optimization capability, fostering a collaborative and high-performance culture.
• Establish and implement best practices for yield management processes, including inventory management, pricing strategies, and revenue optimization techniques.
• Develop and execute strategies to maximize revenue through effective inventory management, pricing, and yield optimization techniques.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including product, engineering, business intelligence, design, and sales to align yield management strategies with overall business goals.
• Utilize advanced technical skills to analyze inventory availability, demand patterns, and pricing dynamics to identify opportunities and make data driven decisions for revenue optimization and yield improvement.
• Implement advanced forecasting models, pricing algorithms, and revenue management systems to maximize revenue while ensuring optimal utilization of available inventory.
• Work closely with sales teams to develop and implement pricing strategies for advertising packages and premium inventory.
• Manage relationships with advertising partners, ad networks, and demand-side platforms (DSPs) to maximize yield and fill rates.
• Develop and maintain reporting dashboards and KPIs to track revenue performance and communicate insights to key stakeholders.
• Represent Yield Management in strategic conversations around revenue maximization, providing data-driven insights and context for new or improved ad products, changes to policy, and ad product and revenue strategy.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in business, finance, economics, computer science, or related field; advanced degree preferred.
• 8+ years of experience in yield management, revenue optimization, ad operations or related fields.
• 3+ years experience driving cross functional alignment.
• Proven track record of setting up yield management teams and driving revenue growth through effective yield management strategies and optimization tactics.
• Extensive experience in digital media and a deep understanding of the digital advertising ecosystem.
• Strong working knowledge of revenue management systems, CRM (Salesforce), ad serving platforms/ad tech (GAM), and demand-side platforms (DSPs) preferred.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to translate data insights into actionable revenue optimization strategies.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to collaborate effectively across teams and influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Proven ability to independently build relationships, influence others and resolve challenges with internal and external teams.
• Strong bias toward action and can break down complex problems into steps that drive product development.
• Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple projects and priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Passion for technology, digital media, and innovation, with a customer-centric mindset.

Nice-to-haves

• Familiarity with SQL, Tableau, and similar BI tools for conducting independent data exploration.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, life, and disability coverages.
• Parental leave and family benefits.
• Retirement contributions and paid time off.
• Equity awards based on experience, performance, and location.