Programmatic Strategist

📌 Core Information

🔹 Job Title: Programmatic Strategist

🔹 Company: illumin

🔹 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

🔹 Job Type: Full-Time, Hybrid (2 days on-site per week)

🔹 Category: Advertising Services

🔹 Date Posted: July 30, 2025

🔹 Experience Level: 2-5 years

🔹 Remote Status: Hybrid (remote with on-site requirements)

🚀 Job Overview

Key aspects of this role include:

• Developing and implementing digital strategies for clients
• Creating tailored RFP responses to drive net new revenue
• Collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure cohesive execution
• Staying up-to-date with industry developments and trends

ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strong understanding of digital advertising and programmatic media, as well as excellent relationship management skills to succeed.

📋 Key Responsibilities

✅ Respond to RFPs from current and prospective clients, developing sales strategies tailored for our advanced programmatic solutions and measurement capabilities

✅ Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to develop an in-depth understanding of their business goals and how to leverage the illumin platform best to deliver tailored, high-performing digital advertising campaigns

✅ Partner with the sales team to co-own the RFP creation and submission process and act as the primary point of contact for prospective clients exploring how we can best support their needs

✅ Stay up-to-date on industry developments, creative partnerships, inventory management, and forecasting strategies to successfully build RFP responses for our prospective and renewing clients

ASSUMPTION: This role involves a significant amount of client interaction and requires strong communication and presentation skills to effectively convey complex ideas.

🎯 Required Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business, or a related field

Experience: Proven experience (2-5 years) in programmatic buying or strategic planning within the ad tech, digital media, or programmatic advertising industry

Required Skills:

• Strong understanding of digital advertising formats and programmatic media
• Hands-on experience turning strategy into execution
• Excellent communication and presentation skills
• Ability to connect media strategy to performance and results
• Familiarity with Microsoft and Google's suite of tools for building custom media plans

Preferred Skills:

• Experience working with programmatic DSPs or similar ad tech platforms
• Exposure to multiple industry verticals and familiarity with different solutions in the programmatic and media landscape relevant for each specific industry

ASSUMPTION: While a Bachelor's degree is required, relevant experience and a strong portfolio may be considered in lieu of formal education.

💰 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: CAD 80,000 - 120,000 per year (based on industry standards for the role, experience level, and location)

Benefits:

• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Retirement savings plan with company match
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible work arrangements

Working Hours: Full-time (40 hours per week), with flexible hours and the ability to work remotely 3 days a week

ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is an estimate based on industry standards and may vary depending on the candidate's experience and qualifications.

📌 Applicant Insights

🔍 Company Context

Industry: Advertising Services

Company Size: 201-500 employees

Founded: 2009

Company Description:

• illumin is a leading provider of journey advertising, offering an AI-powered advertising technology platform that enables clients to break free from siloed media buying and market more effectively
• The company specializes in online display advertising, demand-side platforms (DSPs), programmatic marketing, media buying, and data management platforms (DMPs)
• illumin provides integrated solutions for omnichannel consumer journey advertising, helping clients reach their customers across various channels, including Open Web, DOOH, and social media

Company Specialties:

• Online Display Advertising
• Demand Side Platform (DSP)
• Programmatic Marketing
• Media Buying
• Advertising
• Display Marketing
• Video Marketing
• Mobile Marketing
• Data Management Platform (DMP)
• Omnichannel Consumer Journey Platform

Company Website: http://www.illumin.com

ASSUMPTION: illumin is a well-established company in the advertising industry, with a strong focus on innovative technology and data-driven solutions.

📊 Role Analysis

Career Level: Mid-level

Reporting Structure: Reports directly to the Director of Programmatic Strategy

Work Arrangement: Hybrid (2 days on-site per week, with the ability to work remotely the remaining days)

Growth Opportunities:

• Potential career progression into agency leadership roles or other positions within adtech, sales, marketing, or account management
• Exposure to diverse verticals, including healthcare, travel, and retail
• Opportunities to gain valuable insights into the vendor side of the industry

ASSUMPTION: This role offers significant growth potential for the right candidate, with opportunities to expand their skillset and advance their career within the company or the broader advertising industry.

🌍 Location & Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid (onsite and remote work arrangement)

Office Location(s): 70 University Ave, 1200, Toronto, Ontario M5J 2M4, CA

Geographic Context:

• Toronto is a multicultural city with a vibrant tech industry and a strong job market
• The office is located in the heart of downtown Toronto, offering easy access to public transportation and various amenities
• Toronto has a humid continental climate, with warm summers and cold winters

Work Schedule: Full-time (40 hours per week), with flexible hours and the ability to work remotely 3 days a week

ASSUMPTION: The hybrid work arrangement offers a good balance between on-site collaboration and remote flexibility, allowing employees to maintain a healthy work-life balance.

💼 Interview & Application Insights

Typical Process:

• Virtual interview with a Talent Advisor to discuss the role and showcase content created by the candidate
• Virtual interview with the Director of Programmatic Strategy to discuss experience and knowledge
• Panel interview with the VP, Sales Enablement and a senior sales leader to learn about team partnerships and ask final questions

Key Assessment Areas:

• Understanding of digital advertising and programmatic media
• Ability to connect media strategy to performance and results
• Relationship management and communication skills
• Cultural fit and alignment with illumin's values

Application Tips:

• Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight relevant skills and experiences for this role
• Prepare examples of your work, such as media plans or RFP responses, to showcase during the interview process
• Research illumin's company culture and values to ensure a strong fit

ATS Keywords: Programmatic Buying, Digital Advertising, Media Strategy, RFP Development, Audience Targeting, Data-Driven Marketing, Client Management, Sales Strategy, Collaboration, Measurement Solutions, Creative Solutions, Forecasting Strategies, Digital Media, Real-Time Bidding, Demand-Side Platforms, Market Research

ASSUMPTION: The interview process is designed to assess the candidate's technical skills, industry knowledge, and cultural fit, with a focus on their ability to succeed in the role and contribute to illumin's continued growth.

🛠️ Tools & Technologies

• Microsoft and Google's suite of tools (e.g., Excel, PowerPoint, Google Sheets, Google Slides)
• Programmatic DSPs (e.g., Google Display & Video 360, The Trade Desk, AppNexus)
• Data management platforms (e.g., Adobe Audience Manager, Oracle BlueKai, Salesforce DMP)
• Marketing automation tools (e.g., Marketo, Pardot, HubSpot)

ASSUMPTION: Familiarity with these tools and technologies is essential for success in this role, as they are commonly used in the digital advertising and programmatic media industries.

👔 Cultural Fit Considerations

Company Values:

• Customer-centric: We put our customers first and strive to understand their unique needs and challenges
• Innovative: We embrace change and continuously seek new ways to improve our products and services
• Collaborative: We work together to achieve common goals and support each other's success

Work Style:

• Entrepreneurial: We encourage initiative, creativity, and a bias for action
• Data-driven: We make informed decisions based on data and analytics
• Adaptable: We remain flexible and responsive to changing market conditions and client needs

Self-Assessment Questions:

• Do you have a strong customer focus and a proven track record of understanding and addressing client needs?
• Are you comfortable working in a dynamic, fast-paced environment and adapting to change?
• Do you possess excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders and build consensus?

ASSUMPTION: A strong cultural fit is essential for success at illumin, as the company values collaboration, innovation, and a customer-centric approach to its work.

⚠️ Potential Challenges

• The role may require working with tight deadlines and managing multiple projects simultaneously
• Illumin is undergoing a transformative shift, which may present challenges and opportunities for growth
• The role involves a significant amount of client interaction, which may require travel and on-site meetings
• The Toronto office is located in a busy downtown area, which may present challenges for those who prefer a quieter work environment

ASSUMPTION: While these challenges may present obstacles, they also offer opportunities for growth and development within the role and the broader advertising industry.

📈 Similar Roles Comparison

• Compared to similar roles in media agencies, this position offers more visibility, influence, and opportunities to make a meaningful impact
• Illumin's focus on journey advertising and data-driven solutions sets it apart from traditional media agencies
• This role may serve as a stepping stone to a future agency leadership role or a new path in adtech, sales, marketing, or account management

ASSUMPTION: A comparison of similar roles in the industry reveals that this position offers unique opportunities for growth and development within the advertising industry.

📝 Sample Projects

• Developing a comprehensive digital strategy for a healthcare client, focusing on targeted audience segments and personalized messaging
• Creating an RFP response for a retail client, highlighting illumin's advanced programmatic solutions and measurement capabilities
• Collaborating with the product team to provide industry insights and trends observed from RFP responses, informing the development of new partnership solutions

ASSUMPTION: These sample projects illustrate the diverse range of responsibilities and opportunities available to the successful candidate in this role.

❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview

• How does the Programmatic Strategy team partner with sales to ensure cohesive execution of sales strategies and seamless delivery of client campaigns?
• What is the team structure like, and how does the Programmatic Strategy team collaborate with other departments, such as Marketing and Product?
• What is the company culture like, and how does it support the growth and development of its employees?
• What opportunities are there for growth and advancement within the company or the broader advertising industry?
• How does the company support work-life balance, and what resources are available to employees to maintain a healthy work-life balance?

ASSUMPTION: Asking these questions during the interview process will help the candidate better understand the role, the team, and the company culture, ensuring a strong fit and a successful transition into the position.

📌 Next Steps for Applicants

To apply for this position:

• Submit your application through this link
• Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant skills and experiences for this role
• Prepare examples of your work, such as media plans or RFP responses, to showcase during the interview process
• Research illumin's company culture and values to ensure a strong fit
• Follow up with the hiring manager one week after submitting your application to express your interest and reiterate your qualifications

⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.