Programmatic Business Director in London

With a history that dates back over 80 years, Starcom is a global communications planning and media leader. We are an agency still grounded in our founding principle that people are at the centre of all we do. Each day, we apply this belief to harness the transformative power of data and technology to inspire and move people and business forward. With more than 7,000 employees in over 100 offices around the world, we are the flagship Publicis Media agency that uses our ‘Power of One’ business model, with teams that span multiple disciplines across clients such as Aldi, P&G, Primark, Samsung, Stellantis, and Visa.

We place a huge focus on our People, and have driven flagship D&I and L&D programmes within Publicis Media; our goal is to help every individual reach their fullest potential, and we encourage everyone to make “Brave Plays” in how they approach their work and their own career development. As a result, we have an exceptionally energised and committed talent base, all of us proud of our welcoming and supportive culture, as evidenced by our recognition as one of Campaign’s Best Places to Work for five years in a row, Media Week’s Agency of the Year 2025 and one of the Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2025.

Overview

Our client is a recent and exciting win which includes multiple brands across different verticals including food & nutrition, pet and confectionary. The role is across biddable channels, with a focus on programmatic and it will cover 50+ European and Central Eurasian markets. You will drive the biddable strategy and tactical execution across the account, set the operational processes and best practices across all disciplines and bring in innovation and transformation on the account. You will also be responsible for ensuring implementation and optimization goals are managed and delivered efficiently and to a high standard. The role requires experience in leading a large team of biddable specialists, fostering a culture of excellence and people. You should be adept in translating the big vision into practical, actionable steps for your team, while also helping to translate tactical tests and pilots back into the overall vision. You will be responsible for a key part of the account so will need to strike the right balance of attention to detail and top level communication.

Responsibilities

• Strategy & Media Planning
  • Develop biddable strategies, ensuring implementation is actioned to a high standard across the team. The focus will be on programmatic to start with, but there is space to grow the scope into paid social and paid search disciplines.
  • Lead upfront media planning and strategic responses to global briefs.
  • Identify, scope and propose relevant new biddable opportunities that are aligned to broader business goals.
  • Represent biddable/programmatic confidently and expertly in client meetings and leadership forums.
  • Lead quarterly reviews and strategic updates.
  • Hold platform partners accountable on client service, performance, and innovation.
• Leadership
  • Build strong client relationships and present clear, strategic thinking.
  • Support and guide local market activation teams, aligning with global strategies.
  • Coach mid-level talent, support their growth through feedback and training.
  • Maintain high standards of delivery, process, and performance.
  • Act as a visible and supportive leader, set the tone for a high-performing and inclusive culture.
  • Recognise team wins and create an environment where people feel valued and motivated.
  • Act as a role model for behaviour, quality and professionalism.
• Data & Insights
  • Ensure the team can interpret, action, and communicate insights.
  • Translate data and insights into clear, actionable media optimisations and recommendations.
• Operations
  • Implement processes that ensure quality team output, including campaign planning and QA.
  • Own and reinforce Financial Quality Assurance processes within the team.
  • Continuously review team ways of working, improve team efficiencies and team wellbeing.
  • Collaborate with internal teams to remove blockers and support cross-functional initiatives.
  • Develop media investment frameworks across channels.
  • Set and run testing agendas to inform media recommendations.
  • Apply test learnings to optimise performance and guide planning cycles.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in digital channels with a focus on programmatic, strategy, team management, and client service.
• A proactive leader who champions best practice and operational excellence.
• Comfortable navigating complex clients and large projects.
• A strong collaborator who brings people together to solve problems and deliver great work.

Benefits

Starcom offers a wide range of benefits to support our employees. Highlights include core benefits such as Pension, Life Assurance, and Private Medical cover, alongside enhanced policies like Reflection Days and Shared Parental Leave. You’ll also have access to a range of additional initiatives.

Publicis Groupe works primarily from the office or our clients’ office four days per week.

Equal Opportunity Statement

At Starcom we are proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, and do not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, nationality, religion or belief, disability, age, citizenship, relationship status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other protected characteristic. We are committed to providing a fair, accessible, and inclusive recruitment process. If you have any access needs - for example, related to disability, neurodivergence, or a health condition - please let us know. We’ll work with you to ensure the process works for you. Sharing this information will never impact your application. Guided by our values, we listen with empathy, uplift each other, take responsibility, and embrace change - building a culture where everyone feels seen, respected, and genuinely included.