Freelance Associate Director, Programmatic

About the role

The Freelance Associate Director, Programmatic is responsible for leading activation excellence and team performance for a portfolio of enterprise DEPT® clients. Working in close partnership with the Group Director, this role ensures that account and campaign strategies are translated into high-quality execution, operational rigor, and measurable client outcomes. This role serves as the senior day-to-day leader for the assigned programmatic team, overseeing Managers and Associates across a distributed team structure while fostering a culture of accountability. Collaboration, and continuous improvement. The Associate Director is expected to be a strong people leader, hands-on programmatic expert, and a confident client presence, capable of guiding execution, troubleshooting complex challenges, and maintaining best-in-class activation standards.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of Managers and Associates across U.S.-based, nearshore, and offshore teams, fostering professional growth, accountability, and a high-performing team culture.
• Oversee activation excellence across clients & campaigns, ensuring consistency, accuracy, and adherence to platform and account best practices.
• Serve as the primary escalation point for campaign execution , platform troubleshooting, measurement challenges, and operational issues, partnering with internal teams to drive timely resolution.
• Lead campaign architecture, optimization frameworks, and testing execution while driving performance narratives that ensure high-quality execution and continuous improvement.
• Partner closely with the Group Director to translate strategic recommendations into actionable activation plans that drive client performance and business objectives.
• Contribute programmatic expertise and performance insights to support ongoing strategic development, innovation, and testing initiatives.
• Support client engagements by providing programmatic subject matter expertise, performance insights, and activation updates, while partnering with senior team members on strategic discussions.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including Integrated Media Strategy & Planning, Ad Operations, Data Science & Analytics, and Project Management to deliver seamless campaign execution and measurement.
• Drive operational consistency , documentation, workflow improvements, and quality assurance processes across the programmatic team.
• Promote DEPT®'s values while creating an inclusive, collaborative environment that supports learning, innovation, and growth.
• WHAT YOU BRING:
• 5-7 years of programmatic experience , within an agency on fast-paced, agile, enterprise account(s).
• Advanced proficiency across leading programmatic platforms including The Trade Desk, DV360, Amazon DSP, Google Ads, and CM360.
• Confident mastery of campaign activation , optimization, measurement, troubleshooting, and quality assurance across complex programmatic campaigns.
• A "Better Together" spirit, demonstrated through a passion for collaboration, mentorship, and developing future leaders. Proven experience leading and developing teams, with the ability to coach, influence, and create opportunities for others to grow.
• Strong analytical and problem-solvin

Additional Information

WHY DEPT®? 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. WHY DEPT®? 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.

Your Match

How well this role fits your profile.

Company Intel

What employees say

Worked at dept? Share your experience