Lead Campaign Strategist (Programmatic Media)
New York City, NY
Corporate – Campaign Strategy /
Full-time /
Hybrid
Are you ready to revolutionize the advertising industry? At Cognitiv, we are not just another AdTech company—we are industry trailblazers redefining media buying with our Deep Learning Advertising Platform. Since 2015, we have harnessed the power of cutting-edge deep learning technology and data science to transform how brands connect with their customers. Our mission? To bring intelligence to advertising and deliver unparalleled precision, relevance, and impact at scale.
With our innovative platform, advertisers enjoy unprecedented flexibility—whether it is activating Dynamic Deals through their preferred DSP, leveraging our managed service DSP, or utilizing our industry-first ContextGPT product. As a part of Cognitiv, you will be at the forefront of AI-driven advertising solutions, driving change and achieving remarkable growth in a rapidly evolving industry.
Life At Cognitiv
Our solutions provide advertisers with more time and freedom to concentrate on what matters to them most, both professionally and personally. We carry this philosophy into our workplace, offering our employees more chances to grow, collaborate, and achieve their goals. At Cognitiv, you will get MORE:
- Festiv - Fun and positivity are integral to our work environment. From cross-departmental games to friendly competitions and unique events, we ensure a dynamic and enthusiastic culture.
- Responsiv - Making a difference for our clients is at the heart of what we do. To make this one of our superpowers, we strive to create a culture of open communication and continuous learning. You will work closely with clients and key company stakeholders, sharpening your communication skills in a supportive environment where your input and ideas are valued and integral to our success.
- Inclusiv - Diversity and inclusion are more than just words to us—they are principles we live by. We celebrate unique perspectives, ensuring everyone feels valued and respected.
- Inventiv - As industry pioneers, we continuously reinvent and reimagine solutions. Sharing our knowledge and expertise to educate and lead the market is part of our DNA. If you love questioning the status quo, pushing boundaries, and challenging conventional thinking, you will fit right in. We admire intellectual curiosity and encourage it at every turn.
- Transformativ - We invest in the continuous growth and development of our team members, celebrating their contributions and supporting their work-life balance and overall well-being. Our holistic training, onboarding programs, and professional growth and development initiatives ensure you have the resources to succeed.
- Collaborativ - We transcend geographical boundaries, seamlessly operating across two coasts. Our culture thrives on cross-departmental collaboration and a unified sense of purpose, making teamwork a cornerstone of our success.
Cognitiv’s Performance Strategy team sits at the forefront of our deep-learning innovation—pressure-testing the newest programmatic decisioning, LLM-powered planning tools, and audience/context intelligence in the market. As a Lead Campaign Strategist, you’ll act as a true strategic partner to our clients, shaping business outcomes (not just media KPIs), surfacing consumer insights, and translating them into effective, scalable media strategies. You’ll also be hands-on in shaping new DL and LLM features for our DSP, closing the loop between experimentation and productization.
This role reports directly to the VP, Performance Strategy & Operations, with a fast track to Regional Lead for candidates who grow their book and build high-performing teams.
Core Responsibilities
Strategic Campaign Ownership
● Own strategy and outcomes on flagship accounts—tie plans to business metrics (incrementality, CAC/LTV, margin) and Cognitiv’s product vision.
● Review objectives, deal setups, data sources, and launch readiness; own pacing, delivery, and billing/actualization accuracy through close.
Performance Trading & Experimentation
● Lead end-to-end execution (setup → QA → optimization → troubleshooting) across display, video/OLV, CTV, and high-impact formats.
● Design/run tests (A/B, multi-cell, geo-holdout); publish clear readouts and next steps. Translate learnings into repeatable optimization playbooks.
Client-Facing Strategic Leadership:
● Plan and participate in Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs) alongside Sales and CSMs, articulating campaign performance, insights, and strategic recommendations.
● Deliver final campaign performance decks to clients, collaborating with Sales and CSMs to ensure messaging is strategic, impactful, and aligned with client objectives.
Continuous Improvement & Thought Leadership:
● Identify and implement process and tooling enhancements, driving scalability, accuracy, and efficiency across campaign operations.
● Mentor internal teams, developing best practices and sharing strategic insights, fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
Process & Operational Excellence (End-to-End)
● Build and maintain the campaign operating system:
● RACI & runbooks across Sales, CS, AdOps, DS.QA frameworks: pixels/event sources, creative/tagging, model/strategy params, supply lists, brand safety/MFA controls.
Revenue & Team Growth
● Grow your book of business via upsell/expansion based on proven lift.
● Mentor Strategists; help hire and develop a regional pod as demand scales.
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Requirements
● 5+ years’ experience in strategic media optimization and campaign management roles at an agency, DSP, or Ad Network.
● Proven track record in client-facing roles, demonstrating strong communication skills and strategic consultation abilities.
● Deep expertise in programmatic trading across diverse campaign types and KPIs, with familiarity of DSP bidding algorithms.
● Exceptional analytical and quantitative capabilities, with a proven ability to translate complex data into clear, strategic insights.
● Strong problem-solving skills, meticulous attention to detail, and a proactive approach to troubleshooting and optimization.
● Demonstrated capability in aligning client goals with technical solutions, ensuring superior campaign performance and client satisfaction.
● Experience mentoring team members and building scalable campaign operations processes.
● Comfortable in a fast-paced, dynamic environment, effectively prioritizing and executing multiple strategic initiatives simultaneously.
Salary: $145,000-$165,000 Base Salary + Equity
Actual compensation is based on multiple factors that are unique to each candidate, including and not limited to job-related knowledge, level of relevant experience, education and skills. Base salary is just one component of your total rewards package at Cognitiv. Employees are eligible for equity and various benefits.
Here are some of the many benefits that our employees receive:
● Medical, Dental and Vision coverage, including some plans that are 100% employer paid
● 12 weeks paid parental leave
● Career Ladders slated to advance your career
● Unlimited PTO
● Work-From-Anywhere August
● Equity at all levels
● Comprehensive onboarding program (Cognitiv University)
● Hybrid work model
● Daily Lunch On Us
● Health and Wellness Stipend
● Cell phone reimbursement
● Parking Expense (CA & WA Offices)
● 401(k) plan with employer match
● Employee Assistance Program
● Pre-tax commuter benefits
and MORE!
Cognitiv is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. We are committed to ensuring equal employment opportunities for all employees and applicants, regardless of race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic information, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.
