Associate Media Director, Programmatic and Paid Social

Chicago, IL (On-site)

$97K/yr – $140K/yrSenior Level5+ years expFull time

Posted 5 months ago

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Job Summary

Programmatic leadership role focusing on managing media buys, client relationships, and advanced measurement. Responsibilities emphasize strategy, execution, and education across DSP/DMP platforms, with insights and performance optimization. Strong requirements expect programmatic expertise, leadership, and analytical skills, plus a robust benefits package.

Job Description

Responsibilities

  • Manage a programmatic team responsible for the client's media buys in the DSP
  • Direct the execution of brand programmatic deliverables to meet/exceed expectations
  • Solid knowledge of the programmatic landscape – system setups on both DSP & DMP
  • Develop, grow, and maintain relationships through exceptional client service
  • Contribute to creation of action plans for achieving and measuring digital media success, including setting key metrics, measurement and optimization strategies
  • Advocate for the value of social/programmatic by educating clients, partners and internal teams on the latest tech/data advancements and capabilities in this quickly evolving space
  • Provide direction as needed for improving campaign performance through optimization and/or implementing new features and strategies
  • Create and deliver presentations to both clients and internal teams showcasing campaign strategy and performance results
  • Develop points of view on new technologies, trends, and opportunities in the automated digital media landscape
  • Demonstrate a deep technical understanding as well as problem-solving and intervention when necessary

Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree or higher preferred, preferably in marketing, advertising, business, engineering, statistics, economics, sociology, or equivalent
  • 5+ years of directly related experience in the programmatic media space
  • 2+ years of experience managing a team
  • Working knowledge in technologies such as The Trade Desk, DoubleClick Bid Manager, TTD, AOP, AAP and Facebook and Twitter APIs
  • Strong leadership skills and professionalism and be comfortable presenting ideas to senior client management
  • Possess strong analytical skills and the ability to interpret campaign performance data and provide insights and optimization recommendations
  • Understanding of traditional and interactive media planning elements
  • Resourceful, curious, and motivated individual with an ability to work independently as well as in a team setting
  • Strong analytics, organizational, and communication skills
  • Strong client facing experience with the ability to identify risks and effectively manage through issues
  • Strong project management skills
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite with intermediate to advanced understanding of Excel

Benefits

  • The Power of One starts with our people! To do powerful things, we offer powerful resources.
  • Our best-in-class wellness and benefits offerings include:
  • Paid Family Care for parents and caregivers for 12 weeks or more
  • Monetary assistance and support for Adoption, Surrogacy and Fertility
  • Monetary assistance and support for pet adoption
  • Employee Assistance Programs and Health/Wellness/Comfort reimbursements to help you invest in your future and work/life balance
  • Tuition Assistance
  • Paid time off that includes Flexible Time off Vacation, Annual Sick Days, Volunteer Days, Holiday and Identity days, and more
  • Matching Gifts programs
  • Flexible working arrangements
  • 'Work Your World’ Program encouraging employees to work from anywhere Publicis Groupe has an office for up to 6 weeks a year (based upon eligibility)
  • Business Resource Groups that support multiple affinities and alliances
Starcom logo

Starcom

3.7 Glassdoor

With a history that dates back over 80 years, Starcom is a global communications planning and media leader. We are an agency still grounded in our founding principle that people are at the center of all we do. Each day, we apply this belief to harness the transformative power of data and technology to inspire and move people and business forward. With almost 7,000 employees in over 100 offices around the world, Starcom partners with the world's leading marketers and brands, including Bank of America, Best Buy, Kellanova, McDonald's, Novartis, Samsung, Visa, WK Kellogg Company and more.

Founded in 1936
Chicago, Illinois, USA
6.1K employees (2,084 in marketing)
66% recommend to a friend
59% CEO approval

Traffic Signals

Monthly Visitors
20.1K
Traffic Source Mix
Search
43.1%
Direct
41.6%
Referral
9.1%
Social
4.6%
Paid
1.1%

Headcount Trend

Current headcount: ~6.1K

Marketing Team

Marketing Team Size
1,983 (33% of company)
Median Career Experience
10 years
Median Tenure
4.5 years
Marketing Roles Posted (Last 30 Days)
33

Funding

Total Funding
$57.1M
Last Raise
$43.2M
Series A, 1 months ago

Funding History

  • Feb 2026
    Series A • $43.2M
  • Aug 2025
    Series A
  • May 2025
    Series A • $13.9M

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