Advertising Operations Specialist

About the role

The Advertising Operations Specialist is responsible for the technical setup, trafficking, and administrative management of advertising campaign lines across digital and print products. This role is the "command center" of the media department, ensuring that sales orders are entered accurately into financial systems and executed flawlessly across ad servers and physical presses. Although this is a remote position, candidates must reside in Southern California.

Responsibilities

• System Input: Accurately enter campaign schedules into the Order Management System (OMS) (e.g., Adbase, GAM), ensuring flight dates, rates, and placements match signed agreements
• Inventory Reservation: Check and secure availability for high-impact print positions and digital placements to prevent overbooking
• Billing Integrity: Reconcile delivered impressions and print runs against the original order to ensure accurate monthly invoicing and revenue recognition
• Ad Server Management: Upload, target, and deploy digital creative assets using Google Ad Manager or similar platforms
• Print Coordination: Manage the print production queue, ensuring high-resolution files meet CMYK color and bleed specifications for physical publication
• Tagging & Tracking: Implement and test tracking pixels via Google Tag Manager to ensure third-party reporting accuracy
• Pre-Flight Checks: Verify that all creative assets (digital banners and print PDFs) meet technical specifications before launch
• Issue Resolution: Identify and fix delivery discrepancies, broken links, or file formatting errors in real time to minimize "make-goods"
• Data Consolidation: Aggregate data from digital dashboards and print distribution logs to create unified performance reports for clients
• Optimization: Monitor digital campaign pacing and suggest mid-flight adjustments to ensure 100% delivery of ordered impressions

Requirements

• Attention to Detail: Exceptional accuracy in data entry; a single typo on an order or ad tag can lead to significant revenue loss
• Technical Stack: Proficiency in ad servers, CRM software (Salesforce), and the Microsoft Office Suite
• Multitasking: Ability to manage the immediate deadlines of digital "hot-fixes" alongside the long-range deadlines of print production
• Experience: 1–3 years in media operations, trafficking, or a billing-adjacent role within a publishing or agency environment
• Location: Must reside in Southern California (remote position)

Pay

Hourly range: $24.04 – $26.44. Pay is based on several factors including but not limited to geographic location, education, work experience, time in role, certifications, etc.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, life and disability insurance
• 401k
• Paid time off
• Select paid holidays

All benefits are based on eligibility.

Company

The San Diego Union-Tribune is San Diego’s largest media company and its oldest business, dating back to the founding of the Union in 1868. From breaking news to local events and lifestyle features, the Union-Tribune’s diverse portfolio of publications has something for everyone in San Diego County. Explore our diverse offerings, including the award-winning San Diego Union-Tribune, the digital hub SanDiegoUnionTribune.com, and a