Sr. Manager, VPM

Ovative Group is an independent, full-funnel media, measurement, and creative firm. Leveraging deep industry expertise, we help brands like Best Buy, Domino's, American Eagle, The Home Depot, Post, Disney, Tumi, Michael Kors, Boost Mobile, and UnitedHealth Group transform their media and measurement programs. Our proprietary MarTech platform, EMRge, powered by Enterprise Marketing Return (EMR), measures businesses holistically and drives sustainable growth. Our work has been recognized by Digiday, Google, Inc. 5000, USA Today, and Search Engine Land.

About the role

The Senior Manager, Video & Programmatic Media (VPM) is a senior strategic leader responsible for shaping enterprise-level Video, Audio, and Programmatic Display strategies across complex client portfolios. This role integrates Linear and Digital Video investments within Ovative's Enterprise Marketing Return (EMR) framework to ensure media decisions drive measurable business outcomes. The Senior Manager sets long-term strategic direction, leads executive-level client relationships, and drives cross-functional integration across media, measurement, and creative teams. In addition to managing high-performing teams, this role advances VPM best practices, contributes to account growth and new business efforts, and plays a key role in scaling Ovative's differentiated approach to enterprise media planning and optimization.

Responsibilities

• Provide senior oversight on planning, activation, and optimization across Linear/CTV, OLV/YouTube, Audio, and Programmatic Display/Native.
• Ensure high standards of executional excellence (QA, UTG/SOT, pacing, budget management) and drive continuous process and automation improvements.
• Lead test-and-learn agendas and performance readouts that turn data into clear, actionable decisions for clients and internal teams.
• Maintain strategic relationships with platform and media partners to unlock innovation, alpha/beta opportunities, and performance gains.
• Own senior client relationships and overall VPM performance for a set of complex, high-impact accounts.
• Lead day-to-day and quarterly strategy, planning, and readouts across Video, Audio, and Display/Programmatic, tying recommendations to EMR and enterprise outcomes.
• Influence executive client stakeholders to evolve media, measurement, and operating models in ways that unlock incremental, enterprise-level impact.
• Set integrated VPM roadmaps that connect upper- and lower-funnel tactics and align with cross-channel partners (e.g., Paid Social, Search, Affiliate, RMN/Commerce, CS, Measurement).
• Serve as a VPM subject matter expert in cross-functional initiatives, translating channel expertise into clear, integrated plans and test agendas.
• Codify and scale best practices, playbooks, and training that elevate VPM quality and consistency across teams.
• Manage and develop multi-level teams and people leaders, setting clear expectations and development plans.
• Build and continuously improve operating rhythms that enable a high-performing, inclusive team.
• Foster a culture of accountability, coaching, and engagement, ensuring team members understand how their work ladders to total business goals.
• Partner with leadership on staffing, individual pathing, and performance management.

Requirements

• 8+ years of experience directly responsible for enterprise-level Video/Audio/Programmatic media programs.
• 4+ years of people management experience, including managing direct reports and leading teams through change, and coaching managers and/or senior individual contributors.
• Proven track record driving strong performance outcomes through VPM channels (incremental revenue, profitability, EMR lift, brand and full-funnel outcomes).
• Proven track record leading integrated planning and activation across multiple channels or brands.
• Deep experience with performance-based, direct response, and full-funnel media programs.
• Deep experience with major buying and measurement platforms (e.g., The Trade Desk, DV360, Google Ads/YouTube, verification tools such as DoubleVerify/MOAT/IAS, TV tools such as Nielsen/SQAD/Kantar/Strata).
• Skilled at translating complex data into clear, influence-ready narratives for senior stakeholders.
• Exceptional communication and client relationship skills — comfortable navigating ambiguity, difficult conversations, and executive-level discussions.
• Strong conceptual and analytical problem-solving skills; able to bring structured thinking and sound judgment to complex decisions.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in performance marketing for large-scale brands (retail, eCommerce, subscription/telecom, healthcare, or similar).
• Experience spanning both traditional (Linear TV/Radio) and digital video/audio planning and activation.
• Prior leadership role at a digital agency, holding company, or client-side digital team with cross-channel responsibility.
• Experience leading or contributing to new offering development, productization of services, or business development/pitch efforts.

Pay

For our Senior Manager positions, the compensation ranges from $111,000 to $186,000, inclusive of a 25% annual bonus.

Benefits

• Top Workplace recognition for ten consecutive years, fostering trust, transparency, and open communication.
• Flat organizational structure where interns sit next to VPs, and analysts collaborate closely with senior leaders.
• Inclusive environment with equitable medical leave benefits for all families, regardless of structure.
• Competitive compensation with a large bonus incentive tied to company performance.
• Access to all office spaces in Minneapolis, New York City, and Chicago, with frequent paid travel to headquarters for events and collaboration.
• Generous paid vacation policy and 401k match program.
• Top-notch health insurance options, including coverage for same-sex partners.
• Family formation benefits, including reimbursement for fertility, pregnancy, and parenting needs.
• Monthly stipend for mobile phone and data plans.
• Sabbatical program and charitable giving via time off and financial match.
• Shenanigan’s Day for team-building and fun.