📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Programmatic Trading Specialist, Agency
🔹 Company: The Trade Desk
🔹 Location: Los Angeles, California, United States
🔹 Job Type: On-site
🔹 Category: Advertising & Marketing
🔹 Date Posted: 2025-07-09
🔹 Experience Level: Mid-level (2-5 years)
🔹 Remote Status: On-site
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Working with agency traders and planners to set up and optimize campaigns
- Troubleshooting campaign setup and performance issues
- Acting as a platform expert, educating clients on new product updates and best practices
- Collaborating with internal teams to drive performance and account growth
- Analyzing data to create actionable insights for clients and internal teams
- Building strong relationships with agency and brand stakeholders
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strong balance of technical and client-facing skills, with a focus on campaign optimization and client management.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Work with agency traders and planners to set up and optimize campaigns, ensuring advertisers hit their KPIs and deliver budgets in full
✅ Troubleshoot campaign setup and performance issues across all programmatic channels
✅ Act as a platform expert, consulting and educating clients on new product updates, platform best practices, and industry news
✅ Collaborate with both Account Managers and Business Development colleagues to help drive performance and account growth
✅ Channel feedback to The Trade Desk Product Managers to help improve the platform
✅ Analyze large sets of data using Excel and Tableau to create actionable insights for clients and The Trade Desk colleagues
✅ Build strong relationships with agency and brand stakeholders to drive forward business
ASSUMPTION: This role involves a mix of technical tasks, client communication, and data analysis, requiring strong multitasking and prioritization skills.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree in a related field (e.g., Marketing, Advertising, Business, or a related discipline)
Experience: 2+ years of consultative, client-facing work within programmatic or ad tech, in a DSP hands-on-keyboard capacity (The Trade Desk platform experience highly preferred)
Required Skills:
- Strong ability to communicate complex topics to agency and brand direct stakeholders
- Effective time management skills with the ability to prioritize client asks as well as long term projects
- Strong quantitative skills using tools such as MS Excel, SQL, and Power BI
- Ability to collaborate across multiple teams and internal stakeholders as well as work independently on daily tasks
Preferred Skills:
- Familiarity with The Trade Desk platform
- Experience working with agency traders and planners
ASSUMPTION: Candidates should have a strong foundation in programmatic advertising and be comfortable working with data and clients.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: The provided salary range is $79,400 - $145,500 USD per year. This is an estimate based on industry standards for a mid-level role in programmatic advertising in Los Angeles.
Benefits:
- Comprehensive Healthcare (medical, dental, and vision) with premiums paid in full for employees and dependents
- Retirement benefits such as a 401k plan and company match
- Short and long-term disability coverage
- Basic life insurance
- Well-being benefits
- Reimbursement for certain tuition expenses
- Parental leave
- Sick time of 1 hour per 30 hours worked
- Vacation time for full-time employees up to 120 hours thru the first year and 160 hours thereafter
- Around 13 paid holidays per year
- Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Working Hours: Full-time (40 hours per week) with flexible work arrangements available
ASSUMPTION: The salary range and benefits package are competitive for the industry and reflect the mid-level experience required for this role.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: The Trade Desk operates in the Advertising & Marketing industry, specifically focusing on programmatic advertising technology.
Company Size: The Trade Desk is a mid-sized company with 1,001-5,000 employees, providing a structured yet agile work environment.
Founded: The Trade Desk was founded in 2009 and has since grown to become a leading global technology company.
Company Description:
- The Trade Desk is committed to making digital advertising better, with a focus on transparency, precision, and open internet standards
- The company's independent media buying platform helps brands grow and thrive by connecting them with more customers across more channels and devices
- The Trade Desk's platform is used by over 9,000 brands, agencies, and publishers worldwide
Company Specialties:
- Programmatic advertising technology
- Demand-side platform (DSP) solutions
- Real-time bidding (RTB) and header bidding
- Data management platform (DMP) integration
- Cross-channel advertising and attribution
Company Website: www.thetradedesk.com
ASSUMPTION: The Trade Desk's focus on open internet standards and transparency sets it apart in the programmatic advertising industry.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: This role is at the mid-level (2-5 years) experience level, with opportunities for growth and advancement within the company.
Reporting Structure: The Programmatic Trading Specialist reports directly to the Account Management team and collaborates with various internal teams, including Business Development and Product.
Work Arrangement: This role is primarily on-site, with some flexibility for remote work as needed.
Growth Opportunities:
- Progression to senior or management roles within the Account Management or Business Development teams
- Transition to specialized roles within the Product or Technical teams
- Expansion of responsibilities and team leadership opportunities
ASSUMPTION: The Trade Desk's growth and success provide ample opportunities for career advancement within the company.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: The Trade Desk's Los Angeles office is a modern, collaborative workspace with a focus on employee comfort and productivity.
Office Location(s): 6100 Center Dr, Los Angeles, California 90045, US
Geographic Context:
- Los Angeles is a major hub for the advertising and entertainment industries
- The city offers a diverse range of cultural, recreational, and culinary experiences
- Los Angeles has a Mediterranean climate with mild winters and warm summers
Work Schedule: The standard work schedule is Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with flexibility for remote work as needed.
ASSUMPTION: The Trade Desk's Los Angeles office provides a dynamic and engaging work environment, with ample opportunities for professional growth and development.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Online application and resume screening
- Phone or video screening with the HR team
- On-site or virtual interview with the hiring manager and team members
- Final round interviews with senior leadership
- Background check and offer extension
Key Assessment Areas:
- Technical proficiency in programmatic advertising and data analysis
- Client management and communication skills
- Problem-solving and troubleshooting abilities
- Cultural fit and alignment with The Trade Desk's values
Application Tips:
- Highlight relevant experience and achievements in programmatic advertising and data analysis
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to emphasize your fit for the role and the company's mission
- Prepare for behavioral and situational interview questions that focus on problem-solving, communication, and client management skills
- Research The Trade Desk's platform and industry trends to demonstrate your knowledge and enthusiasm for the role
ATS Keywords: Programmatic, Ad Tech, Client Management, Data Analysis, Campaign Optimization, Troubleshooting, Consulting, Relationship Building, Excel, SQL, Power BI
ASSUMPTION: The Trade Desk's interview process is designed to assess candidates' technical skills, client management abilities, and cultural fit for the role and the company.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- The Trade Desk's proprietary demand-side platform (DSP)
- Excel (Microsoft Office Suite)
- Tableau
- SQL
- Power BI
- Google Suite (Gmail, Google Drive, Google Docs)
- Slack
- Zoom
ASSUMPTION: Familiarity with The Trade Desk's DSP and relevant data analysis tools is essential for this role.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Transparency and openness
- Precision and accuracy
- Collaboration and teamwork
- Continuous learning and improvement
- Accountability and ownership
Work Style:
- Data-driven and analytical
- Client-focused and solution-oriented
- Collaborative and team-based
- Agile and adaptable
- Results-driven and accountable
Self-Assessment Questions:
- How do you approach complex problems and data analysis in a client-facing role?
- Can you provide an example of a time when you had to manage multiple clients or projects simultaneously?
- How do you stay up-to-date with industry trends and new technologies in programmatic advertising?
ASSUMPTION: Candidates should be comfortable working with data, communicating complex ideas to clients, and collaborating with internal teams to drive results.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Managing multiple clients and projects simultaneously can be challenging and requires strong prioritization skills
- Working with large datasets and complex data analysis tools can be technically demanding
- Keeping up with industry trends and new technologies in programmatic advertising requires continuous learning and adaptation
- The fast-paced nature of the advertising industry can be stressful and demanding
ASSUMPTION: The Programmatic Trading Specialist role requires strong technical skills, client management abilities, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic work environment.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- Unlike other agency-side roles, this position focuses on platform expertise and client management rather than media planning and buying
- Compared to other DSP roles, this position requires a stronger focus on client communication and relationship building
- Career progression in this role may differ from traditional agency or DSP career paths, offering unique opportunities for growth and advancement within The Trade Desk
ASSUMPTION: This role offers a unique blend of technical, client-facing, and consultative responsibilities, setting it apart from other similar positions in the industry.
📝 Sample Projects
- Optimizing a large-scale campaign for a major brand, resulting in a 20% increase in KPI performance
- Developing a custom reporting dashboard for an agency client, enabling data-driven decision-making and improving campaign performance by 15%
- Collaborating with the Product team to identify and implement platform improvements based on client feedback, leading to a 10% increase in user satisfaction scores
ASSUMPTION: These sample projects demonstrate the range of responsibilities and impactful work the Programmatic Trading Specialist can expect in this role.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- How does The Trade Desk support the growth and development of its employees?
- Can you describe the team structure and dynamics of the Account Management team?
- How does The Trade Desk approach diversity, equity, and inclusion in its hiring and workplace practices?
- What are the most challenging aspects of this role, and how can I best prepare for them?
- How does The Trade Desk foster a culture of collaboration and innovation?
ASSUMPTION: Asking thoughtful, informed questions demonstrates your interest in the role and the company, and provides valuable insights into the work environment and culture.
📌 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 experience and skills for this role
- Prepare for behavioral and situational interview questions that focus on problem-solving, communication, and client management skills
- Research The Trade Desk's platform and industry trends to demonstrate your knowledge and enthusiasm for the role
- Follow up with the hiring manager one week after your interview to express your continued interest in the position
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
