Associate Director, Programmatic Platform Operations

Job Description: • Act as the technical programmatic operations team lead for Spotify’s ads business, supporting macro-level deal setup, execution, and optimization for both PG, OMP, and PMP campaigns. • Manage the Platform Operations group, specializing in programmatic systems, each supporting DSP integrations, exchange health, troubleshooting, and testing workflows. • Lead operational readiness and cross-functional alignment for major platform transitions, including future state ad tech architecture planning and implementation. • Partner with Sales and Product to develop, recommend, and activate customized deal strategies using available audiences, contextual signals, and DSP integrations. • Provide internal guidance on programmatic strategy, budget allocation, pacing, inventory access, and KPIs, turning insights into actionable recommendations that grow spend. • Serve as the escalation point for sophisticated macro-level troubleshooting, cross-DSP delivery issues, and 3P vendor integration challenges (VAST, measurement, creative hosting, etc.). • Educate and support partners on Spotify’s programmatic roadmap, platform policies, technical capabilities, and measurement best practices. • Collaborate with Technical Operations, Client Success, Sales, Product Marketing, and Pricing & Inventory to ensure accurate integration setups, seamless programmatic campaign execution, and helping to future-proof Spotify’s ad tech stack. • Develop operational frameworks to support programmatic revenue expansion across our partner ecosystem, new DSP onboarding, and expanded programmatic efficiency. • Contribute feedback to product and platform teams to influence feature development based on client/market needs and technical friction points. Requirements: • 10+ years of experience in programmatic media, either on the publisher, platform or DSP/SSP side, with proven experience in leading programmatic strategy for an ads' business. • Deep familiarity with deal structures like PG, PMP, and Open Market dynamics, and understand DSP bid strategies, optimization levers, and auction behavior. • Highly experienced in leading teams and building scalable operational models across global markets. • Expert in programmatic ad serving, bidstream mechanics, deal troubleshooting, delivery optimization, and biddable yield optimization. • Extensive knowledge of 3P measurement, brand safety, creative specs, and data onboarding across the programmatic ecosystem. • Technical problem solver and strategic thinker comfortable jumping into platform UIs, parsing delivery data, and translating issues into solutions. • Understanding of the importance of building relationships and alignment across internal teams and key partners within the client's organization to get work done. • Thrives in a cross-functional, fast paced environment and skilled at balancing client needs with internal process, scale, and product integrity. • Excellent communication and storytelling skills able to translate complex technical insights into actionable recommendations for internal cross-functional partners and external stakeholders. • Proficient working in Trade Desk, Magnite, Yahoo and other DSP/SSPs and can work expertly with reporting tools and internal ad support systems. Benefits: • health insurance • six month paid parental leave • 401(k) retirement plan • monthly meal allowance • 23 paid days off • 13 paid flexible holidays • paid sick leave Apply tot his job