Sr. Manager, Video & Programmatic Media

About Ovative Group:

Ovative Group is an independent, full-funnel media, measurement, and creative firm transforming how brands grow. We partner with leading names like American Eagle, Best Buy, Domino’s, The Home Depot, Polaris, and UnitedHealth Group to build smarter media and measurement programs that drive real, profitable growth.

We don’t just track performance-we redefine it. Powered by our proprietary intelligence platform, EMRge, and our holistic metric Enterprise Marketing Return (EMR), we help brands connect revenue, customer, and brand outcomes into one clear picture of success. Our approach to full-funnel strategy, buying, and measurement delivers results that matter-and it’s getting noticed. Our work has been recognized by Digiday, Google, USA Today, Inc. 5000, and Search Engine Land.

ABOUT THE ROLE

The Senior Manager, Video & Programmatic Media (VPM) is a senior strategic leader responsible for shaping enterprise-level Video, Audio, and Programmatic Display strategies across complex client portfolios. This role integrates Linear and Digital Video investments within Ovative's Enterprise Marketing Return (EMR) framework to ensure media decisions drive measurable business outcomes.

The Senior Manager sets long-term strategic direction, leads executive-level client relationships, and drives cross-functional integration across media, measurement, and creative teams. In addition to managing high-performing teams, this role advances VPM best practices, contributes to account growth and new business efforts, and plays a key role in scaling Ovative's differentiated approach to enterprise media planning and optimization.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Media Management & Performance

• Provide senior oversight on planning, activation, and optimization across Linear/CTV, OLV/YouTube, Audio, and Programmatic Display/Native.
• Ensure high standards of executional excellence (QA, UTG/SOT, pacing, budget management) and drive continuous process and automation improvements.
• Lead test-and-learn agendas and performance readouts that turn data into clear, actionable decisions for clients and internal teams.
• Maintain strategic relationships with platform and media partners to unlock innovation, alpha/beta opportunities, and performance gains.

Client Leadership

• Own senior client relationships and overall VPM performance for a set of complex, high-impact accounts.
• Lead day-to-day and quarterly strategy, planning, and readouts across Video, Audio, and Display/Programmatic, tying recommendations to EMR and enterprise outcomes.
• Influence executive client stakeholders to evolve media, measurement, and operating models in ways that unlock incremental, enterprise-level impact.

Cross-Channel Strategy & Thought Leadership

• Set integrated VPM roadmaps that connect upper- and lower-funnel tactics and align with cross-channel partners (e.g., Paid Social, Search, Affiliate, RMN/Commerce, CS, Measurement).
• Serve as a VPM SME in cross-functional initiatives, translating channel expertise into clear, integrated plans and test agendas.
• Codify and scale best practices, playbooks, and training that elevate VPM quality and consistency across teams.

Team Leadership & Talent Development

• Manage and develop multi-level teams and people leaders, setting clear expectations and development plans.
• Build and continuously improve operating rhythms that enable a high-performing, inclusive team.
• Foster a culture of accountability, coaching, and engagement, ensuring team members understand how their work ladders to total business goals.
• Partner with leadership on staffing, individual pathing, and performance management.

Requirements:

• 8+ years of experience directly responsible for enterprise-level Video/Audio/Programmatic media programs.

• 4+ years of people management experience, including managing direct reports and leading teams through change, and coaching managers and/or senior ICs (not only analysts).
• Proven track record driving strong performance outcomes through VPM channels (incremental revenue, profitability, EMR lift, brand and full-funnel outcomes).
• Proven track record leading integrated planning and activation across multiple channels or brands.
• Deep experience with performance-based, direct response, and full-funnel media programs.
• Deep experience with major buying and measurement platforms (e.g., The Trade Desk, DV360, Google Ads/YouTube, verification tools such as DoubleVerify/MOAT/IAS, TV tools such as Nielsen/SQAD/Kantar/Strata).
• Skilled at translating complex data into clear, influence-ready narratives for senior stakeholders.
• Exceptional communication and client relationship skills - comfortable navigating ambiguity, difficult conversations, and executive-level discussions.
• Strong conceptual and analytical problem-solving skills; able to bring structured thinking and sound judgment to complex decisions.

Preferred

• Experience in performance marketing for large-scale brands (retail, eCommerce, subscription/telecom, healthcare, or similar).
• Experience spanning both traditional (Linear TV/Radio) and digital video/audio planning and activation.
• Prior leadership role at a digital agency, holding company, or client-side digital team with cross-channel responsibility.
• Experience leading or contributing to new offering development, productization of services, or BD/pitch efforts.

Pay Transparency:

At Ovative, we offer a transparent view into three core components of the total compensation package: Base Salary, Annual Bonus, and Benefits.

For our Sr. Manager positions, including the position of Sr. Manager, Video & Programmatic Media, our compensation range is from $125,000 to $175,000 on an annualized basis, with the potential for an annual bonus of up to 25% of base salary.

Working at Ovative Group:

We provide strong, competitive, holistic benefits that understand the importance of your life inside and out of work.

At Ovative, culture isn’ta buzzword-it’sthe reason we’vebeen named a Top Workplace for ten years running. We lead with trust, transparency, and a commitment to doing the hard workothers avoid.

We offer flexibility. You'llwork from our Minneapolis, Chicago, or New York office on set days each week, and an optionto work remoteon others.

Our open floor plan reflects our open communication and flat structure-where interns collaborate with VPs, analysts partner with senior leaders, and our CEO engages with every team member. Together, we create an environment where smart, driven people can do their best work and support one another in the process.

We’reequally committed to inclusion and belonging. Ovativefosters a workplace where everyone can participateand thrive-regardless of ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression or other protected class status. Our benefits and policies reflect that commitment, from inclusive medical leave coverage for same-sex spouses to equitablecare and support for all families.

Benefits:

We strive to hire and retainthe best talent by offering fair, competitive compensation, a meaningful bonus program, and excellent health coverage. When the company performs well, we all benefit.

Some tangible benefits and amenities we enjoy:

• Access to all office spaces in MSP, NYC, and CHI

• Frequent, paid travel to our Minneapolis headquarters for company events, team events, and in-person collaboration with teams

• Generous paid vacation policy

• 401k match program

• Top-notch health insurance options, inclusive of same sex partners

• Family formation benefits including reimbursement options for fertility, pregnancy, and parenting needs

• Monthly stipend for your mobile phone and data plan

• Sabbatical program

• Charitable giving via our time and a financial match program

• Shenanigan’s Day

Additionalinformation can be found at Ovative's Career Page.

The details of the benefits are covered by applicable plan documents for group benefits and by company policies where a plan document does not apply.

Working at Ovativewon’tbe easy-but if you like challenging, hard work, driving results, and being surrounded by the best talent, ithas the potential to be the most rewarding job you’llever have. If you think you can make us better, we want to hear from you!

EEO & Accessibility:

Ovative is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to a respectful, inclusive workplace for all. Applicants receive consideration without regard to legally protected characteristics (e.g., color, religion, creed, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth and related conditions, sexual orientation, gender identity/, gender expression, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, marital/ status, familial status, military or veteran’s status, genetic information, status with regard to public assistance, and any other status protected under applicable law).

We provide reasonable accommodations consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act and applicable state law to qualified applicants and employees with disability, unless doing so would create an undue hardship.

If you need assistanceor accommodation at any stage of the application or interview process due to a disability, please contact us at [email protected]

Application Details and Process:

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States for any employer on a full-time basis, without current or future need for visa sponsorship. Ovative is unableto sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa for this position. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be requiredto verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification documentation upon hire.

Open until filled or otherwise withdrawn: We encourage interested candidates to apply early. The position will remain open for at least 10business days from the first day of posting. After this time, if the position has not been filled, the posting will remain open until the position is filled, or until the posting is otherwise closed or withdrawn for business reasons.

Working at Ovative Group:

We provide strong, competitive, holistic benefits that understand the importance of your life inside and out of work.

At Ovative, culture isn’t a buzzword-it’s the reason we’ve been named a Top Workplace for ten years running. We lead with trust, transparency, and a commitment to doing the hard work others avoid.

We offer flexibility. You'll work from our Minneapolis, Chicago, or New York office on set days each week, and an option to work remote on others.

Our open floor plan reflects our open communication and flat structure-where interns collaborate with VPs, analysts partner with senior leaders, and our CEO engages with every team member. Together, we create an environment where smart, driven people can do their best work and support one another in the process.

We’re equally committed to inclusion and belonging. Ovative fosters a workplace where everyone can participate and thrive-regardless of ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression or other protected class status. Our benefits and policies reflect that commitment, from inclusive medical leave coverage for same-sex spouses to equitable care and support for all families.

Benefits:

We strive to hire and retain the best talent by offering fair, competitive compensation, a meaningful bonus program, and excellent health coverage. When the company performs well, we all benefit.

Some tangible benefits and amenities we enjoy:

• Access to all office spaces in MSP, NYC, and CHI

• Frequent, paid travel to our Minneapolis headquarters for company events, team events, and in-person collaboration with teams

• Generous paid vacation policy

• 401k match program

• Top-notch health insurance options, inclusive of same sex partners

• Family formation benefits including reimbursement options for fertility, pregnancy, and parenting needs

• Monthly stipend for your mobile phone and data plan

• Sabbatical program

• Charitable giving via our time and a financial match program

• Shenanigan’s Day

Additional information can be found at Ovative's Career Page.

The details of the benefits are covered by applicable plan documents for group benefits and by company policies where a plan document does not apply.

Working at Ovative won’t be easy-but if you like challenging, hard work, driving results, and being surrounded by the best talent, it has the potential to be the most rewarding job you’ll ever have. If you think you can make us better, we want to hear from you!

EEO & Accessibility:

Ovative is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to a respectful, inclusive workplace for all. Applicants receive consideration without regard to legally protected characteristics (e.g., color, religion, creed, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth and related conditions, sexual orientation, gender identity/, gender expression, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, marital/ status, familial status, military or veteran’s status, genetic information, status with regard to public assistance, and any other status protected under applicable law).

We provide reasonable accommodations consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act and applicable state law to qualified applicants and employees with disability, unless doing so would create an undue hardship.

If you need assistance or accommodation at any stage of the application or interview process due to a disability, please contact us at [email protected].

Application Details and Process:

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States for any employer on a full-time basis, without current or future need for visa sponsorship. Ovative is unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa for this position. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification documentation upon hire.

Open Until Filled or Otherwise Withdrawn:

We encourage interested candidates to apply early. The position will remain open for at least 10 business days from the first day of posting. After this time, if the position has not been filled, the posting will remain open until the position is filled, or until the posting is otherwise closed or withdrawn for business reasons.