Programmatic Director

Company Description

Mars United℠ Commerce is a global commerce marketing practice that aligns people, technology, and intelligence to make the business of our clients better today than it was yesterday. Our worldwide capabilities coalesce into four key disciplines — Strategy & Analytics, Content & Experiences, Digital Commerce, and Retail Consultancy — that individually deliver unmatched results for clients and collectively give them an unparalleled network of seamlessly integrated functions across the entire commerce marketing ecosystem. These disciplines are powered by our industry-leading technology platform, Marilyn®, which helps marketers understand the total business impact of their commerce marketing activation, enabling them to make better decisions, create connected experiences, and drive stronger, measurable results. Learn more at

Overview

We are looking for a Programmatic Director to lead the agency’s best-in-class programmatic practice into its next phase of evolution and growth. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of building and executing winning programmatic strategies for brands on retail media platforms; is a tinkerer and out-of-the-box thinker who is always looking for innovative ways to help clients find an edge; and is a strong leader who can inspire a team to achieve results they didn’t previously think possible.

Candidates must reside within a commutable distance of Mars United Commerce's Chicago or Bentonville office.

Primary Responsibilities

• Own the strategic vision for programmatic advertising initiatives across key brands, primarily on Amazon DSP, while expanding to platforms such as The Trade Desk, DV360, and other emerging retail media networks (e.g., Instacart, CitrusAd, Criteo, Quotient).
• Translate client objectives into strategic, data-driven media plans and oversee their flawless execution, optimization, and performance.
• Act as a trusted advisor to senior clients, leading strategic conversations, campaign reviews, QBRs, and innovation roadmaps.
• Lead, mentor, and grow a high-performing programmatic team including Senior Managers, Managers, and Specialists. Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous learning.
• Establish team goals, provide ongoing coaching and development plans, and conduct performance evaluations.
• Implement training initiatives for hands-on DSP activation and cross-platform capabilities, empowering team members to deliver best-in-class execution.
• Partner closely with eCommerce, Strategy, and Analytics teams to deliver cohesive omnichannel plans that align with brand goals and retail channel strategies.
• Oversee campaign setup and performance management while ensuring consistency in measurement, reporting, and optimization frameworks.
• Drive actionable insights and strategic recommendations based on performance data, client goals, and competitive analysis.
• Ensure clear communication of KPIs, campaign performance, and optimizations across internal and external stakeholders.
• Own programmatic budget stewardship, pacing, financial accuracy, and reconciliation in partnership with the Finance and Client teams.
• Lead vendor management, evaluating partner performance and introducing new solutions aligned with strategic goals.
• Maintain oversight of campaign trackers, timelines, documentation, and financial reporting across programmatic initiatives.

Skillsets Required

• 7+ years of digital media experience, with a strong background in Amazon DSP, The Trade Desk and DV360; retail media experience across multiple platforms highly preferred. Proven leadership experience managing teams, developing talent, and fostering a high- performance culture.
• Deep understanding of the digital media landscape, media measurement, and attribution methodologies.
• Experience in ad operations, including trafficking, troubleshooting, and managing programmatic ad delivery. Familiarity with ad serving platforms, troubleshooting discrepancies, and optimizing campaign delivery is a plus.
• Demonstrated ability to lead strategic conversations with senior clients and internal stakeholders. High proficiency in data analysis and visualization using Excel/Google Sheets (e.g., pivot tables, VLOOKUP, advanced formulas).
• Exceptional organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and maintain attention to detail in a fast-paced environment.
• Proactive communicator across platforms such as Slack, Zoom, and email, with a collaborative and solutions-oriented mindset.

Additional Information

Our Publicis Groupe motto “Viva La Différence” means we’re better together, and we believe that our differences make us stronger. It means we honor and celebrate all identities, across all facets of intersectionality, and it underpins all that we do as an organization. We are focused on fostering belonging and creating equitable & inclusive experiences for all talent.

Publicis Groupe provides robust and inclusive benefit programs and policies to support the evolving and diverse needs of our talent and enable every person to grow and thrive. Our benefits package includes medical coverage, dental, vision, disability, 401K, as well as parental and family care leave, family forming assistance, tuition reimbursement, and flexible time off.

If you require accommodation or assistance with the application or onboarding process specifically, please contact [email protected].

Compensation Range: $119,510 - $188,025 annually. This is the pay range the Company believes it will pay for this position at the time of this posting. Consistent with applicable law, compensation will be determined based on the skills, qualifications, and experience of the applicant along with the requirements of the position, and the Company reserves the right to modify this pay range at any time. Temporary roles may be eligible to participate in our freelancer/temporary employee medical plan through a third-party benefits administration system once certain criteria have been met. Temporary roles may also qualify for participation in our 401(k) plan after eligibility criteria have been met. For regular roles, the Company will offer medical coverage, dental, vision, disability, 401k, and paid time off. The Company anticipates the application deadline for this job posting will be February 28, 2026.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.