Job Description

Your team: Programmatic advertising plays a major part in realising success across the News UK digital portfolio. The Programmatic Operations team is at the heart of this. As the ad technology experts, we use both our knowledge of such systems and the enormous amounts of data generated to deliver true innovation and world class solutions with the goal of maximising revenue potential.

Your role: Functioning across the entire News UK portfolio (including The Sun, The Times, talkSPORT, and Talk), this pivotal leadership role is responsible for architecting and executing a sophisticated, future-proof programmatic strategy.

As the Head of Programmatic Operations, you are a leading expert on the entire ad tech ecosystem and its evolving dynamics. You will define and implement the innovative strategies required to maximize total programmatic revenue and profitability in a cookieless world. This involves not only optimizing our current setup but also building the operational blueprint for sustainable growth across all digital platforms, with a strong focus on first-party data activation, demand path optimization, and the expansion of high-value opportunities in CTV, PMPs, and Programmatic Guaranteed deals

Day to day you will:

• Deliver the holistic programmatic revenue and yield strategy across all News UK brands and platforms across Display, Video and CTV.

• Lead, mentor, and develop a multi-disciplinary team of operations and analysts to execute the revenue vision.

• Develop and implement advanced yield and pricing strategies, including AI-powered dynamic flooring and traffic shaping to maximize revenue and efficiency.

• Design and manage the company's supply path strategy, establishing direct and efficient pathways to key demand partners while minimizing bidstream congestion and value extraction by intermediaries.

• Lead the transition to cookieless monetisation by evaluating, testing, and scaling new identity solutions and ensuring compliance with global privacy regulations.

• Support the growth of high-margin revenue streams by building a robust Private Marketplace (PMP) and Programmatic Guaranteed (PG) offering, leveraging curation to package premium inventory and data for strategic buyers.

• Own the end-to-end programmatic data and analytics framework. Drive the strategy for first-party data activation, collaborating with data science teams to build quantitative models and conduct multivariate testing for strategic decision-making.

• Maintain a strong, forward-looking understanding of industry trends, competitive threats, and emerging technologies to identify and capitalize on new areas of revenue growth.

What we’re looking for from you:

• Expert in developing holistic revenue strategy across open auction, PMP, and Programmatic Guaranteed deals.

• Specialist in publisher-side ad technology, with significant experience managing major ad servers and multiple technology platforms (SSPs, DSPs, DMPs)

• Demonstrated expertise with first-party data strategies and identity solutions in a post-cookie environment.

• Deep technical understanding of client-side and server-side header bidding, traffic shaping, and Demand Path Optimization.

• Proven track record in analysing and improving digital media portfolio profitability.

• Knowledge of SQL-based languages and tools (e.g., BigQuery, MySQL) and experience working with multi-billion row datasets.

• Advanced data visualisation experience using tools such as Data Studio or Tableau.

• Exceptional problem-solving, decision-making, and project management skills (experience with tools like Trello, JIRA is beneficial).

• An effective and articulate communicator with a proven ability to build strong, collaborative relationships with both technical and commercial stakeholders.

• Advanced degree in a quantitative field such as Mathematics, Statistics, Economics, or Computer Science.

At News UK, we know the value of working together, which is why we operate a hybrid working policy with a minimum of three days a week in the office. Being in the office allows us to collaborate, innovate, and thrive as a team in our vibrant and dynamic workspace. Some roles may require more office-based days depending on the nature of the position, so we encourage you to speak with your recruiter to learn more about what’s required for your role.

Life at News

Driven by passion, guided by principles and acting with purpose. We represent, reflect and reach the nation, telling the stories that matter. We inform our audiences so that they can make decisions based on trusted information.

We represent, reflect and reach the nation, telling the stories that matter most. To ensure these stories resonate with as broad an audience as possible, it is essential that our organisation reflects the diversity of the people we reach. Whether through age, gender, ethnicity, disability, social class or sexuality, we are committed to representing the rich variety of voices that make up our society. And we champion a culture where everyone has the opportunity to contribute and thrive as we continue to innovate and drive long term sustainable growth. This is done through our Diversity Strategy.

At News UK, we take pride in our exceptional employee-led networks that bring together individuals with shared interests and create a vibrant sense of community. We believe our networks play a vital role in fostering a collaborative and supportive work culture at News UK. Groups that we support include the African & Caribbean Network, Parents and Carers, and LGBTQ+ group News Is Out, and the Apprentice Society.

Benefits

Some of our benefits include:

• Maternity leave up to 18 weeks full basic salary & paternity leave up to 2 weeks

• Wide range of training available, plus full LinkedIn Learning access

• Private medical insurance including coverage for pre-existing conditions

• Discounted gym memberships, free ClassPass at Home, weekly virtual yoga classes

• ‘Bikes for Work’ and ‘Electric Car’ scheme

• Up to 60% discount on Harper Collins books

• Access to exclusive events and competitions with exciting brands such as talkSPORT, Virgin Radio UK & The Times. Weekly virtual panel chats with top journalists and celebrities

• Access to wellbeing benefits such as EAP, physio/massage and counselling

• A generous pension scheme with employer contributions of up to 5%

• 25 days holiday, plus bank holidays and up to 4 volunteering days per year

We want to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to perform to their best when applying for a role. If you would like to receive any information in a different way or for us to do anything differently to support you to apply for any of our roles please contact us on careers@news.co.uk.