Digital Media Manager

Job Summary:

As a Digital Media Manager at ESPN, you will play a crucial role in managing and optimizing our digital media operations. This position is designed to provide dedicated leadership for our owned digital operations, ensuring seamless execution of ESPN's media strategy across various platforms including display, app, and online video campaigns. You will be instrumental in establishing stronger integration with the DAS Ad Operations & ESPN Ad Operations teams and supporting the growing team of Digital Associates. This role reports to the Sr Director Media Operations. This role is located in New York, NY.

In this role, you will lead and manage ESPN’s digital media operations, ensuring seamless execution of media strategy across display, app, and online video campaigns. You will serve as a strategic leader and mentor, guiding a growing team of Digital Associates and supporting colleagues with less experience. Your work will involve solving complex problems with innovative solutions, driving operational excellence, and leading small-scale projects with minimal oversight. Key responsibilities include:

• Leadership
  • Provide dedicated leadership for owned digital operations and steward enhancements to the digital ecosystem to unlock the impact of owned media.
  • Lead ESPN’s partnership across The Walt Disney Company (TWDC) to maximize digital inventory and marketing value.
  • Support digital prioritization and ensure through-line coordination across TWDC in partnership with Media Operations
• Team & Collaboration
  • Overseeing and directing the day-to-day operations of the activation team
  • Working with Planning & Buying team to understand goals, address campaign needs, and communicate results and insights
  • Working side-by-side with broader Media & activation team to ensure tight coordination of campaign setup, adjustments and optimization performance is efficient and effective
  • Act as a resource and mentor for colleagues.
  • Guide managed employees toward team success and broader organizational impact.
• Operational Excellence
  • Establish stronger integration with the DAS Ad Ops team.
  • Manage relationships with cross-functional leads to improve campaign management and operational processes.
  • Identify optimizations in current practices and drive executive alignment for adoption.
• Execution & Communication
  • Work independently with minimal guidance, leading projects with manageable risks and resource requirements.
  • Demonstrate agility in a fast-paced, dynamic environment, supporting new products and businesses backed by a large-scale media property.
  • Communicate complex or sensitive concepts effectively, maintaining executive awareness while parallel-pathing individual workstreams.

Required Qualifications:

• Minimum 5 years of experience in digital media operations or related field.
• Skilled in digital media operations and management.
• Proficient in strategic partnership coordination.
• Independent worker with effective problem-solving skills.
• Innovative and tech-savvy with a creative mindset.
• Strong collaboration and communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in ad sales account management or ad operations; previous sports or entertainment experience is a plus
• Experience with Operative 1, Campaign Manager, Google Product Suite, Adobe
• Experience working with across several media channels is preferred and a curiosity in emerging media platforms
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, ability to distill key ideas for non-digitally-centric teams
• Passionate, resilient, and adaptable team player.
• Creative thinker with a bold and enthusiastic approach.

Required Education:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in analytics, business, marketing, or a related field

#ESPNMedia

The hiring range for this position in New York, NY is $83,200.00 to $111,500.00 per year. The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate’s geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors. A bonus and/or long-term incentive units may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to the full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered.