Head of Programmatic

About the7stars

the7stars is unlike any other agency. The distinction started the day we launched in 2005 when we named ourselves after a pub, but more importantly when we made a promise that we were going to do things differently.

And this commitment has stuck with us. It guides how we work, how we think and how we treat one another and can be expressed in a single word.

Freedom.

Our Freedom philosophy lives across our entire business from people, product and planning. It means we plan & buy media how we want, develop careers how we want, take holiday when we need it, invent tools when we need them, give people a platform to speak up, question and express themselves freely - but more importantly it has allowed us to create an amazing place to work.

We have a unique working environment and open structure which encourages personal development through client contact, teamwork, training, exposure to all media and internal teams – and a “sky’s the limit” approach to your growth within the agency.

In 2023 we have achieved our 11th year in a row as a Sunday Times Top 100 company to work for and have been awarded Campaign’s number one media agency to work for accolade for the second year running.

the7stars is more than 300 passionate media people that are able to focus purely on creating great work for our clients. Clients such as Bensons, Cunard, Nintendo, Tapi Carpets and Papa Johns. UK focused, we also operate within an agile global network of like-minded friends, extending our client portfolio into Europe and the US.

If thinking freely and with integrity is your bag, then the7stars is an agency you should meet.

The Opportunity

Media never stands still right? And neither do we. Our clients are asking us to deliver award winning, integrated and omnichannel campaigns that deliver clear business outcomes. So, since 2022 we have been bringing together all our specialist teams from paid search and social to AV and press into a single activation team.

The activation team still work in specialist pods or streams, but we think, act and operate as a single activation team. We want well rounded individuals in the activation team that can assess a client brief and apply both their specialist knowledge and skills but always think omnichannel. How do the channels work together to deliver business outcomes? Be that brand consideration or more sales. We are also working to build new products and services for the agency such as consultancy services or Prospero our omnichannel, programmatic trading solution with Hawk.

Currently we have a separate programmatic, direct display, audio and publisher teams but we don’t necessarily think that’s fit for the future. Our plan is to bring these teams together and to accelerate how we plan, activate and optimise omnichannel campaigns. We have big plans for the team and believe it will be core to delivering business success for both clients and the agency over the next three years.

We have a really exciting opportunity for someone to join the activation leadership team and to not only help shape the future of our “programmatic” team within this new structure but also take on wider leadership role within the agency. This will mean learning new skills, working with the other specialist leads from across the business and help shape the future of the agency over the next 3 years.

This a great opportunity for a motivated, creative and analytical mind to take a step into a senior leadership role. We are looking for a self-sufficient, proactive, effective leader, who will motivate and inspire the team. An expert in the programmatic ecosystem, you will think outside the box and find ways to progress the programmatic product for the7stars.

The candidate will be accountable for building and leading a team and must be people focused and proactively develop the traders, ensuring that they are working towards relevant goals and objectives. There will be a great deal of client facing responsibility, and as such the role demands a strategic, commercial and operational expert. The ideal person will fit with the culture of the7stars, be a team player, friendly, positive & self-disciplined.

The successful candidate will join our growing team in a role that is responsible for overseeing the planning, activation, optimisation and reporting of activity across various DSP platforms including DV360, Trade Desk, Hawk and Amazon.

This is a unique opportunity to work with exciting brands across all addressable channels including digital OOH, Connected TV, Audio, Video and Display

Role responsibilities;

Programmatic Strategy & Best Practice

• Leadership of programmatic strategy and trading operations within the business
• Development of capabilities within the agency, and integration with wider product teams
• Evolve the7stars offering to maintain market leadership and address client needs.
• Ensure best in class approach to programmatic, including brand safety, measurement, targeting and planning.
• Demonstrate diligence, attention to detail, and adherence the campaign QA process to ensure accurate campaign implementation, pacing and performance across all accounts.
• Support traders to ensure financial accuracy and reconciliation of spends.

Growth Planning

• Work client teams to deliver revenue growth for the activation products.
• Identify and capitalise on new opportunities for revenue growth.

Team Development

• Motivate and train team members as a key stakeholder in the development of junior traders.
• Support team by finding solutions to challenges and issues.
• Support career development within the team, including training, and knowledge gaps.
• Manage workflow and effective delegation within the programmatic team.

Additional Services Growth

• Be the leader in driving the growth and development of Prospero, the7stars’ new programmatic service.
• Proactively seek new client onboarding, and expansion of existing client spend within the service.
• Continue to develop the product, with new initiatives around supply, data and measurement.

New Business

• Support the agency new business team, with input to pitch strategy and programmatic approach

Requirements

• 8+ years of experience in Programmatic planning or buying role (agency or trading desk), with a proven ability to deliver successful large-scale Programmatic Campaigns
• Experience managing a large team (including remote working)
• Hands-on experience working in various DSPs (ideally DV360 & The Trade Desk), activating across a range of channels, including video, YouTube & display.
• Expertise in Audio, BVOD/CTV, Display, OOH and Video
• Up to date expert knowledge of the ad tech landscape
• Strong experience of critical thinking and problem-solving
• Strong knowledge and hands-on experience of technology platforms and integration
• Great communicator, both verbally and written, confident in front of clients with the ability of understanding their wider business & challenges
• Ability to anticipate issues and be pro-active in producing solutions with measurable outcomes.
• Excellent numerical and analytical skills
• Solid understanding of all media channels
• Commercially minded and strong business acumen

Benefits

• Uncounted holiday
• Performance related Summer profit share & Christmas bonus
• Flexible & hybrid working
• Personalised training plan & access to coaching
• Wellbeing days
• Flexible pension plan through Royal London (8% employer contribution under £35k)
• Optional private medical insurance (Vitality) & cash back plan (Medicash)
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Work from anywhere up to 4 weeks each year
• Paid for gym membership with a choice of 5 gyms
• Enhanced family friendly policies
• Personal finance advice & support
• Life Assurance & Critical Illness cover
• Profit share scheme (after 3 years’ service)
• Electric Vehicle scheme
• Nursery Partnership
• Tech & Cycle to Work scheme
• Season ticket loans & expensed Railcard

the7stars is committed to creating a diverse environment, where employees feel empowered to share different ideas, perspectives and experiences in a collaborative and creative work environment. Equality and inclusion are at the heart of our culture. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race (which includes colour, nationality and ethnic or national origins), religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

Last updated on Apr 18, 2024