Lead Programmatic Manager, Lead Ad Ops Manager

Summary

Join ZigZag as a Lead Programmatic Manager/Technical Project Manager Lead and support our growing portfolio of business partners. As a technical expert and problem solver, you will ensure clients unlock the full value of our behavioral intelligence and media activation capabilities. Lead and manage a team of Technical Account Managers, act as a senior individual contributor, and provide escalation support for complex technical and delivery issues. Oversee QA processes, platform SOPs, and delivery workflows, collaborating with various teams to resolve operational bottlenecks and enhance platform usage. Onboard, coach, and upskill junior TAMs, ensuring timely reporting and contributing to platform process development and automation planning. Work on the cutting edge of AI, behavioral intelligence, and programmatic media, shaping our technical delivery model globally.

Requirements

• 5+ years’ experience as a hands-on TAM, Programmatic Trader, or Technical Lead
• Min. 3+ years of people management experience — including mentoring junior talent and building high-performance teams
• Deep expertise with DSPs (DV360, The Trade Desk, Amazon), SSPs (OpenX, PubMatic, Index Exchange), and campaign QA processes
• Strong knowledge of PMP setup, pixels, ad tags, bid strategies, and troubleshooting delivery issues
• Operational excellence — you spot edge cases, prevent errors, and ensure no ball is dropped
• Strategic prioritisation — you know which fire to put out and when to delegate or escalate
• Strong communicator — able to interface across technical, operational, and commercial teams

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a team of Technical Account Managers supporting clients across programmatic platforms and our platform’s ecosystem
• Act as the senior IC (Individual Contributor) alongside the Head of Trading, ensuring every campaign is launched, tracked, and optimised with precision
• Provide escalation support for complex technical and delivery issues, spanning PMP setups, tag troubleshooting, DSP/SSP integration, and campaign underdelivery
• Oversee QA processes, platform SOPs, and delivery workflows — ensuring every activation meets internal standards
• Collaborate with product, trading, and insights teams to proactively resolve operational bottlenecks and enhance platform usage
• Onboard, coach, and upskill junior TAMs to build a world-class technical service culture
• Ensure timely reporting, platform usage documentation, and internal feedback loops are closed
• Contribute to platform process development, automation planning, and solution design in support of commercial growth

Preferred Qualifications

• Lead from the front — you solve issues, not just assign them
• Take ownership with zero ego and high accountability
• Build confidence and capability in your team, leading with empathy and clarity
• Take joy in getting things right, getting them live, and making them work
• Thrive in a fast-paced environment where ambiguity and scale go hand-in-hand
• Want to be a builder, not just a manager, but a platform shaper

Benefits

• Work on the cutting edge of AI, behavioural intelligence, and programmatic media
• Be a foundational leader shaping how our technical delivery model scales globally
• Collaborate with product and trading leaders, driving innovation in real-time audience marketing