π Core Information
πΉ Job Title: Senior Director, Product - Programmatic Demand
πΉ Company: NBCUniversal
πΉ Location: New York, NY
πΉ Job Type: Full-time
πΉ Category: Advertising & Marketing
πΉ Date Posted: April 3, 2025
πΉ Experience Level: 8+ years
πΉ Remote Status: Hybrid (3+ days per week in the office)
π Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Leading product development processes for programmatic activation products
- Collaborating with cross-functional teams to deliver innovative advertising solutions
- Monitoring and optimizing programmatic deals
- Managing product roadmaps and timelines
- Mentoring and developing other product managers
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strong understanding of the programmatic ecosystem and the ability to communicate technical concepts effectively to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
π Key Responsibilities
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Source internal and external customer product needs to advocate for prioritized implementation with the Engineering team.
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Lead day-to-day work on our programmatic activation products, including ongoing product support.
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Collaborate with Sales, Planning, Strategy, Product, and Engineering teams to deliver best-in-class product offerings.
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Track and test key performance indicators to evaluate data and improve metrics.
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Develop use cases and revenue justification/business value analysis in conjunction with Strategy team.
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Lead programmatic partner on-boarding and certification across NBCU and distributed partners on web, mobile apps, and OTT products.
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Become internal subject matter expert on programmatic and provide subject matter guidance to the larger team and Ad Sales organization, as needed.
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Monitor and optimize programmatic deals in FreeWheel Markets Module, Google Ad Manager, Magnite, and other SSP/DSP systems.
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Assist in deal setup to enable maximum spend across NBCU exchanges, PMP marketplace, and PG Deals.
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Analyze SSP/DSP bid metrics (invites, bids done, failed bids, timeouts, invalid creatives) to identify risk and work with partners towards resolution.
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Maintain integrations with demand sources (display & video) to increase programmatic yield and selling opportunities.
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Manage product roadmaps and effectively communicate timelines to all stakeholders by leading communication, prioritizing key features, and establishing timelines with external partner Engineering teams.
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Lead commercialization process both internally and externally to ensure effective product launches.
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Collaborate with Project Management and Product Marketing teams to ensure product enhancements are embedded in GTM collateral.
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Document internal workflows with help from Product Marketing to ensure success of new-to-market product launches.
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Document and detail user stories for Engineering team.
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Stay apprised of competitive ad planning and optimization products in the marketplace.
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Conduct frequent proof of concepts with cross-functional stakeholders to inform successes, roadblocks, or failed attempts at activating new product solutions.
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Collaborate with Legal teams to understand implications of tasks involving audience/device data collection and/or off-domain non-NBCU content publisher partners.
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Manage and mentor other product managers as the team grows
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a high level of collaboration and communication with various teams, both internal and external to the organization.
π― Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree in a related field (e.g., Business, Marketing, Computer Science) or equivalent experience
Experience: 8+ years of experience working in digital media, involving programmatic activation, with a strong preference for experience in CTV
Required Skills:
- Proven expertise of the programmatic ecosystem, its main actors, and all the related product, business, and technical implications
- Proven track record of owning product solutions in cross-functional environments (ideally programmatic products)
- Strong attention to detail and organizational skills, with the demonstrated ability to take the seed of an idea through launch while prioritizing effectively to get things done
- Knowledge of technical and operational product and project requirements
- Proven ability to understand and communicate using technical language (e.g., APIs, requirements documents, agile systems, etc.)
- Strong understanding of programmatic advertising standards (e.g., OpenRTB, VAST, app-ads.txt, etc.)
- Fluency with data; can dissect and interpret it to understand market dynamics and user behaviors, measure product performance, identify pinch-points, and inform decision making
Preferred Skills:
- Proven history of creative problem-solving with autonomy
- Ability to effectively communicate and influence across a variety of platforms, as needed (e.g., messenger, video conferences, in-person gatherings, phone, email, etc.)
- Demonstrated passion for programmatic advertising with commitment to delivering best-in-class advertising products and consumer experiences
ASSUMPTION: Candidates with experience in the programmatic ecosystem and a proven track record of delivering successful products in cross-functional environments will be most competitive for this role.
π° Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $170,000 - $210,000 (bonus and long-term incentive eligible)
Benefits:
- Medical Insurance
- Dental Insurance
- Vision Insurance
- 401(k)
- Paid Leave
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Discounts
- Perks
Working Hours: 40 hours per week, with flexibility for hybrid work arrangement
ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is based on industry standards for similar roles and experience levels in the New York City area.
π Applicant Insights
π Company Context
Industry: Entertainment Providers
Company Size: 10,001+ employees
Founded: NBCUniversal was founded in 2004, following the acquisition of Universal Studios by General Electric's NBC unit.
Company Description:
- NBCUniversal creates world-class content, which it distributes across its portfolio of film, television, and streaming services, and brings to life through its theme parks and consumer experiences.
- The company owns and operates leading entertainment and news brands, including NBC, NBC News, MSNBC, CNBC, NBC Sports, Telemundo, NBC Local Stations, Bravo, USA Network, and Peacock, its premium ad-supported streaming service.
- NBCUniversal produces and distributes premier filmed entertainment and programming through Universal Filmed Entertainment Group and Universal Studio Group, and has world-renowned theme parks and attractions through Universal Destinations & Experiences.
Company Specialties:
- Content creation and distribution
- Theme parks and consumer experiences
- Advertising and marketing
- News and entertainment
Company Website: NBCUniversal.com
ASSUMPTION: NBCUniversal is a large, well-established company with a diverse range of brands and content offerings. This role will involve working with multiple teams across various brands and platforms.
π Role Analysis
Career Level: Senior Director
Reporting Structure: This role reports directly to the VP, Product, Programmatic Demand.
Work Arrangement: Hybrid (3+ days per week in the office)
Growth Opportunities:
- As the team grows, there may be opportunities to mentor and manage other product managers.
- With experience and success in this role, there may be opportunities to take on additional responsibilities or move into a more senior role within the organization.
ASSUMPTION: This role offers opportunities for career growth and development within a large, established organization.
π Location & Work Environment
Office Type: Hybrid (3+ days per week in the office)
Office Location(s): 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York City, NY
Geographic Context:
- New York City is a major global hub for media, advertising, and entertainment.
- The office is located in Midtown Manhattan, near major transportation hubs and attractions.
- The city offers a diverse range of cultural, recreational, and dining options.
Work Schedule: 40 hours per week, with flexibility for hybrid work arrangement
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a willingness to work in a hybrid environment, with a minimum of 3 days per week in the office.
πΌ Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Online application review
- Phone or video screen with HR
- On-site interview with hiring manager and team members
- Final round with senior leadership
Key Assessment Areas:
- Technical expertise in programmatic advertising
- Product management skills and experience
- Collaboration and communication skills
- Problem-solving and analytical skills
- Alignment with company values and culture
Application Tips:
- Highlight relevant experience and achievements in your resume, with a focus on programmatic advertising and product management.
- Tailor your cover letter to explain how your skills and experience make you a strong fit for this role.
- Prepare for behavioral and technical interview questions that assess your problem-solving, communication, and collaboration skills.
- Research NBCUniversal and the programmatic advertising industry to demonstrate your knowledge and enthusiasm for the role.
ATS Keywords: Programmatic advertising, product management, digital media, CTV, advertising technology, cross-functional collaboration, data analysis, technical communication
ASSUMPTION: The interview process for this role will focus on assessing technical expertise, product management skills, and cultural fit within the organization.
π οΈ Tools & Technologies
- Programmatic advertising platforms (e.g., Google Ad Manager, FreeWheel, Magnite)
- Data analysis tools (e.g., Excel, SQL, Tableau)
- Project management tools (e.g., Asana, JIRA, Trello)
- Communication and collaboration tools (e.g., Slack, Microsoft Teams, Google Workspace)
ASSUMPTION: This role requires proficiency in programmatic advertising platforms, data analysis tools, and project management tools.
π Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Inclusion: We strive to foster a diverse, equitable, and inclusive culture where employees feel supported, embraced, and heard.
- Excellence: We create world-class content and deliver exceptional experiences for our audiences and partners.
- Integrity: We act with honesty, fairness, and respect in all our interactions.
Work Style:
- Collaborative: We work together across teams and brands to deliver innovative solutions.
- Agile: We adapt quickly to change and embrace continuous improvement.
- Data-driven: We use data to inform decision-making and measure our success.
Self-Assessment Questions:
- How do you demonstrate your commitment to inclusion and diversity in your work?
- Can you provide an example of a time when you had to adapt quickly to change in a professional setting?
- How do you use data to inform your decision-making process?
ASSUMPTION: NBCUniversal values diversity, inclusion, and collaboration, and seeks candidates who align with these principles.
β οΈ Potential Challenges
- Working in a fast-paced, dynamic industry with frequent changes and updates to advertising technology.
- Managing multiple stakeholders and priorities across various teams and brands.
- Balancing the need for innovation with the need to maintain stability and reliability in programmatic advertising solutions.
- Navigating a large, complex organization with multiple layers of management and decision-making processes.
ASSUMPTION: This role presents unique challenges and opportunities for growth and development within a large, established organization.
π Similar Roles Comparison
- This role is unique in its focus on programmatic activation products within the NBCUniversal ecosystem.
- Compared to similar roles in the industry, this role offers the opportunity to work with a wide range of brands and content offerings, as well as access to cutting-edge advertising technology and data.
- Career paths in this role may lead to opportunities in product management, advertising technology, or other related fields within the organization.
ASSUMPTION: This role offers a unique combination of industry-specific experience and exposure to a wide range of brands and content offerings within a large, established organization.
π Sample Projects
- Developing and launching a new programmatic activation product for a major NBCUniversal brand.
- Optimizing programmatic deals and yield across NBCUniversal's digital ecosystem.
- Conducting a comprehensive audit of NBCUniversal's programmatic advertising standards and making recommendations for improvement.
ASSUMPTION: These sample projects illustrate the range of responsibilities and opportunities for innovation and impact in this role.
β Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- Can you describe the current state of programmatic activation products within NBCUniversal and the roadmap for future development?
- How does this role collaborate with other teams and brands within NBCUniversal, and what are the key priorities for the first 90 days?
- What are the biggest challenges facing the programmatic advertising industry, and how does NBCUniversal plan to address them?
- How does NBCUniversal support the professional development and growth of its product managers?
- What is the work-life balance like for this role, and how does NBCUniversal support work-life balance for its employees?
ASSUMPTION: These interview questions are designed to help you understand the specific requirements and expectations of the role, as well as the company culture and values.
π Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through this link
- Tailor your resume to highlight your relevant experience and skills in programmatic advertising and product management.
- Write a cover letter explaining how your skills and experience make you a strong fit for this role.
- Prepare for behavioral and technical interview questions that assess your problem-solving, communication, and collaboration skills.
- Follow up with the hiring manager one week after submitting your application to confirm receipt and express your interest in the role.
β οΈ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.