Director Ad Operations

Job Posting Title:

Director Ad Operations

Req ID:

10138986

Job Description:

The Media Planning Team at ESPN develops innovative media plans that drive awareness, consumption, subscriptions, and brand affinity across all properties and platforms to affect the ESPN business.

As the Ad Operations Director at ESPN, you will play a crucial role in driving the success of our advertising strategies within the dynamic and innovative sports media industry. You will be responsible for leading the Ad Ops team at ESPN, ensuring the seamless execution of ad operations, and optimizing cross-platform data collection to enhance fan engagement. Your leadership will be instrumental in fostering an environment where game-changing ideas and world-class talent thrive, ultimately contributing to extraordinary experiences for our audience. The role will focus on ESPN’s approach for technical implementation across all digital campaigns. This role reports to the Sr. Director Media Operations for the time being. This role is based in New York, NY.

Responsibilities:

• Develop departmental plans and priorities guided by resource availability and functional objectives.
• Set organizational priorities and allocate resources effectively.
• Strengthen coordination with DAS and Publicis for unified paid/owned strategy.
• Implement measurement infrastructure critical for DTC optimization and cross-platform data collection.
• Collaborate cross-segment with Disney Ad Ops and other marketing partners to bring new ideas, innovate strategies, and drive best-in-practice standards.
• Manage two or more employees, providing continuous coaching and feedback to enhance organizational culture and grow professional careers.
• Inspire individual and business success by clarifying the organization's vision and strategies.
• Define strategies, expectations, and priorities to empower your team.
• Develop self and others, support career aspirations and encouraging creative problem-solving.
• Create an environment where Disney values are experienced and sustained.

Required Qualifications:

• Minimum 10 years of experience in ad operations with a minimum of 3 years in people management.
• Skilled in strategic planning and prioritization.
• Proficient in collaboration and building partnerships.
• Manage ad serving platforms, trafficking, tagging (pixels, 1x1s), data discrepancies, and technical troubleshooting
• Knowledgeable in ad operations and cross-platform data collection.
• Innovative and tech-savvy with a creative mindset.
• Strong leadership and mentorship abilities.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in sports media and fan engagement.
• Passionate and enthusiastic about innovative strategies.
• Adaptable and resilient in a dynamic environment.
• Creative thinker with a bold approach to problem-solving.

Required Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, business, analytics, or related field.

#ESPNMedia

The hiring range for this position in New York, NY is $145,800.00 to $195,500.00 per year. The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate’s geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors. A bonus and/or long-term incentive units may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to the full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered.

Job Posting Segment:

ESPN Creative Studio and Marketing

Job Posting Primary Business:

Marketing & Consumer Engagement

Primary Job Posting Category:

Direct-to-Consumer Marketing Ad Operations - Studios

Employment Type:

Full time

Primary City, State, Region, Postal Code:

New York, NY, USA

Alternate City, State, Region, Postal Code:

Date Posted:

2026-01-15