At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a critical ad server migration with zero disruption and ensure operational continuity.
- Company: Dynamic consultancy focused on innovative ad tech solutions.
- Benefits: Hybrid work model, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Collaborative culture that values diversity and supports your career journey.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a fast-paced environment while shaping future-ready platforms.
- Qualifications: Experience in large-scale ad tech migrations and strong programme management skills.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 75000 £ per year.
Location: London (Brook Green) – Hybrid (3 days a week on site)
About the Role
We’re looking for an experienced Programme Lead to deliver a business-critical ad server migration within a live, revenue-generating environment. This role is accountable for ensuring a zero-disruption transition of ad serving capabilities, protecting revenue, maintaining operational continuity, and setting up a scalable platform for future growth. You will act as the senior integrator across Technology, Product, Commercial and external partners, driving alignment, decision-making and delivery across a complex, high-stakes programme.
What You’ll Be Responsible For
- Programme Leadership & Delivery
- Own the end-to-end migration programme: scope, milestones, dependencies, risks, budget and outcomes
- Lead all phases: discovery, design, build, migration, testing, cutover and stabilisation
- Deliver a seamless transition with minimal commercial or operational disruption
- Stakeholder & Governance Management
- Act as the single accountable owner for senior stakeholders across Technology, Commercial, Operations, Finance, Legal and Marketing
- Establish and lead governance forums, including steering committees and risk escalation
- Provide clear, executive-level reporting on progress, risks and trade-offs
- Ad Tech & Platform Migration
- Partner with Product, Engineering and Architecture to migrate core ad serving capabilities (trafficking, targeting, reporting, billing)
- Oversee migration of campaigns, inventory, forecasting logic and integrations
- Ensure compliance with data privacy and regulatory requirements
- Commercial & Operational Readiness
- Prepare Sales, Ad Operations and Finance teams for the new platform
- Lead training, process redesign and operational transition
- Manage vendors, platforms and system integrators
- Risk, Quality & Change Management
- Identify and mitigate technical, commercial and operational risks
- Drive rigorous testing (UAT, parallel runs, revenue validation)
- Lead change management to ensure adoption and long-term success
- Cutover & Hypercare
- Define and execute cutover strategy, including go/no-go criteria and rollback plans
- Lead post-migration hypercare and rapid issue resolution
- Transition the platform cleanly into BAU with clear ownership and monitoring
What Success Looks Like
- No material revenue loss or billing errors during migration
- Stable, fully functional ad serving platform post-cutover
- High confidence and adoption across commercial and operations teams
- Clear ownership, documentation and roadmap for ongoing optimisation
What We’re Looking For
Essential Experience
- Proven track record delivering large-scale ad tech or media platform migrations
- Strong understanding of ad serving, trafficking, targeting, measurement, billing and reporting
- Experience leading complex, cross-functional programmes in revenue-critical environments
- Strong programme management discipline (planning, RAID, governance, exec reporting)
- Ability to influence and align senior stakeholders
Highly Desirable
- Experience in retail media, publisher or marketplace environments
- Experience working with global vendors and system integrators
- Understanding of ad tech ecosystem integrations (e.g. DSPs, CDPs/DMPs, identity solutions)
Leadership Profile
- Strategic thinker with strong execution focus
- Calm and decisive under pressure
- Commercially aware and outcome-driven
- Collaborative and highly influential across functions
- Pragmatic and hands-on when needed to unblock delivery
The Challenge
You’ll be operating at the intersection of short-term commercial delivery and long-term platform strategy. This migration must be delivered in a live trading environment with zero tolerance for revenue disruption, while also contributing to the development of a scalable, future-ready retail media platform. Success in this role means holding these competing priorities together—driving immediate delivery while shaping a platform that supports long-term growth.
Programme Manager in Bristol employer: Pontoon Solutions
At our London (Brook Green) location, we pride ourselves on being an excellent employer that fosters a collaborative and inclusive work culture. As a Programme Manager, you will benefit from hybrid working arrangements, professional development opportunities, and the chance to lead high-impact projects in a dynamic environment. We are committed to supporting your growth while ensuring a seamless transition for our ad server migration, all within a team that values diversity and innovation.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Programme Manager in Bristol
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, attend relevant events, and don’t be shy about asking for introductions. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know that can help you land that Programme Manager role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its projects. Understand their ad tech ecosystem and be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their needs. We want you to shine and show them you’re the perfect fit for leading their ad server migration!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your storytelling skills! Be ready to share specific examples of your past successes in programme management, especially in high-stakes environments. We believe that showcasing your achievements can really set you apart from other candidates.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after interviews! A quick thank-you email can go a long way in keeping you top of mind. We recommend mentioning something specific from your conversation to show your genuine interest in the role and the company.
We think you need these skills to ace Programme Manager in Bristol
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience with ad tech migrations. We want to see how your skills align with the Programme Manager role, so don’t hold back on showcasing relevant projects!
Showcase Your Leadership Skills:Since this role involves leading complex programmes, it’s crucial to demonstrate your leadership experience. Share specific examples of how you've influenced stakeholders and driven successful outcomes in previous roles.
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it straightforward. Use bullet points for key achievements and avoid jargon unless it’s relevant to the ad tech industry. We appreciate clarity and directness!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to submit your application through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it’s super easy!
How to prepare for a job interview at Pontoon Solutions
✨Know Your Migration Inside Out
Make sure you thoroughly understand the ad server migration process. Familiarise yourself with each phase, from discovery to stabilisation, and be ready to discuss how you would handle potential risks and challenges during the transition.
✨Stakeholder Engagement is Key
Prepare to demonstrate your ability to engage and influence senior stakeholders. Think of examples where you've successfully aligned different teams or managed governance forums, and be ready to share how you would ensure clear communication throughout the migration.
✨Showcase Your Programme Management Skills
Highlight your experience in managing complex programmes. Be prepared to discuss your approach to planning, risk management, and executive reporting. Use specific examples to illustrate how you've delivered successful outcomes in revenue-critical environments.
✨Be Ready for Technical Questions
Brush up on your knowledge of ad tech ecosystems and integrations. Expect questions about trafficking, targeting, and compliance with data privacy regulations. Showing a solid understanding of these areas will demonstrate your readiness for the role.
