📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Senior Staff Product Manager, Programmatic Ads
🔹 Company: Pinterest
🔹 Location: San Francisco, CA, US (Remote also considered)
🔹 Job Type: Full-time, Hybrid (1-2 times/quarter in-office)
🔹 Category: Product Management
🔹 Date Posted: May 23, 2025
🔹 Experience Level: 10+ years
🔹 Remote Status: Hybrid (Remote-friendly)
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Defining and driving the product vision, strategy, and roadmap for programmatic ad offerings
- Collaborating with cross-functional teams to deliver products that drive advertiser satisfaction and performance
- Becoming a programmatic subject-matter expert at Pinterest
- Leveraging data and AI to enhance automation and insights in programmatic workflows
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a deep understanding of programmatic ad technology and experience working with DSPs, SSPs, and agency partners. It also demands strong strategic thinking, communication, and collaboration skills.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Define and drive the product vision, strategy, and roadmap for programmatic ad offerings, aligning with Pinterest’s overall business objectives and the needs of advertisers, channel partners, and internal teams
✅ Partner closely with engineering, sales, partnerships, ad operations, data science, and design to deliver products that drive adoption, performance, and advertiser satisfaction
✅ Prioritize and oversee the product roadmap, balancing short-term wins with long-term strategic investments to enable scalable, automated ad buying
✅ Deeply understand the programmatic ad ecosystem—including DSPs, SSPs, auction mechanics, and deal types—to inform product decisions and ensure competitive differentiation
✅ Deliver intuitive workflow tools, actionable insights, and streamlined reporting capabilities for programmatic buyers and internal users to create, launch, and optimize deals
✅ Become a programmatic subject-matter expert at Pinterest—analyzing channel sales, workflow automation, and internal processes for continuous improvement
✅ Use data to drive product prioritization, measure outcomes, and inform recommendations for further investment, including leveraging AI where appropriate to enhance automation and insights
✅ Collaborate with designers to create compelling and useful interfaces, notifications, dashboards, and reporting mechanisms for programmatic workflows
ASSUMPTION: This role involves a high degree of cross-functional collaboration and influencing across organizational boundaries in a fast-paced environment.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as Computer Science, or equivalent experience
Experience: 10+ years of Product Management experience, with a track record of launching and scaling successful advertising products, especially in programmatic or ad tech spaces
Required Skills:
- Practical understanding of programmatic ad technology, including bid requests/responses, deal types (PMP, PG, Open Auction), and auction dynamics
- Familiarity with workflow tools, UI design, and business process automation for advertisers or internal operations teams
- Direct experience working with DSPs, SSPs, agency partners, channel sales, or integrations with third-party ad platforms
- Exceptional strategic thinking, communication, and collaboration skills, with a data-driven approach to measuring and delivering business impact
- Experience working in cross-functional teams and influencing across organizational boundaries in fast-paced environments
Preferred Skills:
- Experience utilizing AI/machine learning to enhance product features
ASSUMPTION: While not explicitly stated, proficiency in English is required for this role due to the nature of the work and the company's global presence.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $193,800 - $399,000 USD per year (Based on Pinterest's provided range)
Benefits:
Working Hours: Full-time, with 1-2 days in-office per quarter
ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is inclusive of base salary only and does not include equity or other potential compensation components.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: Software Development, specifically focused on visual inspiration and discovery
Company Size: 1,001-5,000 employees (Based on LinkedIn data)
Founded: 2010
Company Description:
- Pinterest's mission is to bring everyone the inspiration to create a life they love
- It's the visual inspiration platform where 482 million monthly active users worldwide come to search, save, and shop the best ideas in the world for all of life’s moments
- Pinterest is committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and inspired to do their best work
Company Specialties:
- Visual Discovery
- Social Media
- E-commerce
Company Website: https://www.pinterest.com/
ASSUMPTION: Pinterest's focus on visual inspiration and discovery sets it apart in the social media and e-commerce landscapes, offering unique opportunities for growth and innovation in the programmatic advertising space.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: Senior Staff level, indicating significant experience and influence within the organization
Reporting Structure: This role reports directly to the Head of Product, Programmatic Ads
Work Arrangement: Hybrid, with 1-2 days in-office per quarter
Growth Opportunities:
- Potential to expand the scope of the programmatic ads product suite and team
- Opportunities to mentor junior product managers and influence the broader product organization
- Possibility to grow into a leadership role within the programmatic ads team or the broader product organization
ASSUMPTION: This role offers significant growth potential, both in terms of the scope of the product and the individual's career development within the organization.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: Hybrid, with a flexible work-from-home policy
Office Location(s): San Francisco, CA, US (Remote-friendly)
Geographic Context:
- San Francisco is a major tech hub with a vibrant startup scene and a diverse talent pool
- The city offers a mix of urban and outdoor activities, with a mild Mediterranean climate
- Pinterest's headquarters is located in the South of Market (SoMa) district, known for its tech companies and urban amenities
Work Schedule: Full-time, with flexible hours and the ability to work remotely
ASSUMPTION: The hybrid work arrangement and flexible work schedule allow for a healthy work-life balance while still fostering collaboration and innovation.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Phone or video screen with a recruiter to discuss the role and assess cultural fit
- Technical interview with a senior product manager to discuss product vision, strategy, and roadmap
- On-site or virtual interview with the hiring manager and other stakeholders to assess skills, experience, and cultural fit
Key Assessment Areas:
- Product vision and strategy for programmatic ads
- Understanding of programmatic ad technology and ecosystem
- Cross-functional collaboration and influencing skills
- Data-driven decision-making and problem-solving
Application Tips:
- Highlight relevant experience with programmatic ad technology, workflow tools, and business process automation
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to emphasize skills and experiences that match the required qualifications
- Prepare for behavioral and situational interview questions that focus on your ability to collaborate, influence, and drive results in a cross-functional environment
ATS Keywords: Programmatic Ads, Product Management, DSPs, SSPs, Ad Tech, Workflow Automation, AI, Machine Learning, Strategic Thinking, Cross-Functional Teams
ASSUMPTION: The interview process for this role is likely to be competitive and rigorous, focusing on both technical skills and cultural fit.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Product management tools (e.g., Asana, JIRA, Trello)
- Data analysis tools (e.g., SQL, Excel, Google Analytics)
- AI and machine learning tools (e.g., Python, R, TensorFlow)
- Design tools (e.g., Sketch, Figma, Adobe XD)
ASSUMPTION: The specific tools and technologies used in this role will depend on Pinterest's internal stack and the individual's areas of focus within the programmatic ads product suite.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Inspire creativity
- Bring it
- Put people first
- Bias towards action
- Be a good neighbor
Work Style:
- Collaborative and cross-functional
- Data-driven and results-oriented
- Flexible and adaptable
- Innovative and experimental
Self-Assessment Questions:
- Do you thrive in a collaborative, cross-functional environment and enjoy working with diverse teams to drive results?
- Are you comfortable using data to inform product decisions and measure outcomes?
- Do you have a bias towards action and a willingness to experiment and iterate on products and processes?
ASSUMPTION: Pinterest values a creative, collaborative, and data-driven work environment, with a focus on putting people first and inspiring creativity.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Balancing short-term wins with long-term strategic investments in the programmatic ads product suite
- Navigating a complex and rapidly evolving programmatic ad ecosystem
- Collaborating effectively with cross-functional teams in a hybrid work environment
- Managing competing priorities and stakeholders in a fast-paced organization
ASSUMPTION: These challenges can be mitigated through strong communication, collaboration, and prioritization skills, as well as a deep understanding of the programmatic ad ecosystem and Pinterest's business objectives.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- This role is unique in its focus on programmatic ads within the broader Pinterest product suite, offering the opportunity to shape the future of advertising on the platform
- Compared to similar roles at other companies, this role offers the potential for significant impact and growth within a large and rapidly growing organization
- Career paths for this role may include progression into leadership positions within the programmatic ads team or the broader product organization
ASSUMPTION: This role offers a unique opportunity to shape the future of programmatic advertising on a major visual discovery platform, with significant potential for growth and impact.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing and launching a new PMP deal type to enable more flexible and efficient programmatic buying on Pinterest
- Improving the workflow tools and UI for programmatic buyers to enhance the user experience and drive adoption
- Leveraging AI and machine learning to optimize programmatic ad delivery and improve performance for advertisers
ASSUMPTION: These sample projects illustrate the breadth of opportunities available in this role, from product development and launch to optimization and improvement using data and AI.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- How does this role fit into the broader product organization and Pinterest's overall business strategy?
- What are the key priorities for this role in the first 30, 60, and 90 days?
- How does Pinterest support the professional development and growth of its product managers?
- What are the key challenges facing the programmatic ads team, and how can this role help address them?
- How does Pinterest approach collaboration and communication in a hybrid work environment?
ASSUMPTION: These questions are designed to help you better understand the role, the team, and the company, as well as to demonstrate your interest and engagement in the interview process.
📌 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 the interview process by researching Pinterest's products, business, and industry trends, as well as practicing your responses to common product management and behavioral interview questions
- Follow up with the recruiter after submitting your application to confirm receipt and express your interest in the role
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
