Freelance Manager, Programmatic

Roles open in:
Denver, Los Angeles, Portland, Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Francisco

We are a Growth Invention company built to help the world’s most ambitious brands grow faster. Operating at the intersection of technology and marketing, we create what is next by pioneering ideas, acting fast, and moving further because standing still just is not in our DNA.

We are drawn to people who stay curious, move with intent, and never stop inventing. Our culture runs on three values: better together, relentlessly curious, and get sh
* t done. It is how we work, how we grow, and how we make things that matter.

At DEPT®, you will find the freedom to explore, the space to collaborate, and the trust to make a real impact for our clients, for each other, and for the world we are helping to build.

Our Programmatic Managers are our resident experts in programmatic and direct buying. You are responsible for keeping on top of industry-wide trends and best practices, putting them to optimal use for each client’s initiatives. You will be part of a cross-functional team including Paid Search, Paid Social, Ad Operations, and Data Strategy, ensuring client needs are anticipated and met. From negotiating direct deals to building stellar full-funnel media plans, you move with precision to drive growth for our most ambitious brands.

• Client Dedication: Maintain 100% focus on one of DEPT®s largest, most dynamic clients.
• Strategic Planning: Design and execute programmatic strategies across Display, Video, CTV, and Audio that align with client business objectives.
• Campaign Management: Manage large scale budgets, ensuring optimal allocation across tactics and inventory to maximize ROI.
• Deal Negotiation: Lead the negotiation and management of Programmatic Guaranteed (PG) and Private Marketplace (PMP) deals with premium publishers.
• Data-Driven Optimization: Translate complex programmatic data into actionable insights for client presentations, moving beyond the  what  to the  why .
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with Integrated Planning and Data Strategy teams to ensure programmatic activity is a cohesive part of the total media mix.
• Technical Oversight: Oversee the technical quality of campaigns, ensuring brand safety standards and 3rd-party verification (IAS, DV) are strictly maintained.
• Team Mentorship: Provide guidance and tactical support to Associate-level team members, helping to foster the next generation of programmatic experts.

• 2-4 years of hands-on experience in programmatic media buying, specifically within Google Ads and DSPs like DV360, The Trade Desk, or Amazon DSP.
• Proven ability to manage high volume, full-funnel campaigns, moving from broad awareness to performance-based conversion.
• Proven ability to manage high-touch accounts while prioritizing effectively and maintaining composure and positivity under pressure.
• Proficiency in Excel and data visualization tools; you can find the  story  within the spreadsheet.
• Experience with ad servers (Google Campaign Manager 360) and 3rd party verification tools (IAS, Double Verify, MOAT).
• Exceptional communication skills—you can explain the complexities of programmatic to clients in a clear and compelling way.
• A  better together  spirit and a relentless curiosity to test new platforms and inventory sources.
• While DEPT® is a remote-first company, this role requires candidates to be located in either the Mountain or Pacific time zones.

We are a collaborative, open-door, best-idea-wins environment that fosters personal and company growth and has fun doing it. Here is a snapshot of our benefits package:

• Healthcare, Dental, and Vision coverage
• PTO
• Paid Company Holidays

DEPT® is an equal…