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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a team of Trading Specialists and manage operational excellence across EMEA markets.
- Company: Join a leading ad tech company focused on innovation and collaboration.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, inclusive culture, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a fast-paced environment while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: 7+ years in programmatic trading and 3+ years in people leadership required.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities to work across multiple European markets.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
What We Do
The Client Services Centre of Excellence is a specialised EMEA function that provides scalable operational support to our regional trading teams. While pod traders focus on strategic client consultation, relationship management, and revenue growth, the Centre of Excellence team handles tactical execution, technical troubleshooting, and operational delivery across all EMEA markets. As the operational backbone for EMEA trading, this team executes managed service campaigns and provides operational support for self-serve clients - including troubleshooting, pacing diagnosis, technical QA, and analytical reporting. While this role is primarily internal-facing, serving pod traders across 8 markets (London, Hamburg, Paris, Madrid, Milan, Nordics, MENA, Netherlands) as your key stakeholders, client-facing engagement may be required as business needs dictate.
What You’ll Do
- Lead and manage a team of Trading Specialists, providing coaching, mentorship, and competency development
- Foster a culture of operational excellence, continuous learning, and collaboration
- Help define and refine the scope of centralised operations (managed service execution, self-serve support, technical troubleshooting)
- Build foundational processes, workflows, and SOPs for all operational task types
- Own complex, multi-market managed service accounts requiring strategic coordination
- Serve as escalation point for P0 emergencies and technical issues across all markets
- Partner with Product teams on platform feedback, feature requests, and beta-testing coordination
- Work with regional Client Services leads to understand needs and refine service delivery
- Represent centralised trading in leadership forums and strategic planning discussions
- Advocate for operational team needs and resource requirements to senior leadership
Who You Are
- 7+ years in programmatic trading, ad tech, or related technical roles
- 3+ years in people leadership, managing teams of 3-10 across technical or operational functions
- Deep expert-level knowledge of DSP platforms (The Trade Desk strongly preferred)
- Proven ability to build processes and operational frameworks from scratch
- Strong relationship-building skills with internal stakeholders at all levels
- Consultative mindset with ability to understand needs and deliver exceptional service
- Experience managing across multiple markets or regions (EMEA experience a plus)
- Strong analytical skills using Excel, SQL, Tableau, or similar tools
- Builds trust through transparency, consistency, and follow-through
- Comfortable with ambiguity; able to make decisions with incomplete information
- Strong prioritization skills; able to balance competing demands across markets
- Service-oriented with genuine commitment to making traders more effective
- Resilient and adaptable; thrives in fast-paced, evolving environment
- English fluency required, additional European languages (German, French, Spanish, Italian) preferred
Lead Associate Trading Director employer: The Trade Desk
Contact Detail:
The Trade Desk Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Associate Trading Director
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, especially those who work at The Trade Desk or similar companies. A friendly chat can open doors and give you insights that might just land you an interview.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by understanding the role inside out. Dive deep into what a Lead Associate Trading Director does and think about how your experience aligns with their needs. We want you to shine when discussing your past achievements!
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership skills! Be ready to share examples of how you've managed teams and fostered collaboration. The more you can demonstrate your ability to lead and mentor, the better your chances of impressing the hiring team.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in being part of our team at The Trade Desk.
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Associate Trading Director
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that align with the Lead Associate Trading Director role. Highlight your programmatic trading experience and any leadership roles you've held, as we want to see how you can lead our team effectively.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you're passionate about operational excellence and how your background makes you a perfect fit for our Centre of Excellence. Be sure to mention any specific achievements in managing teams or processes.
Showcase Your Analytical Skills: Since this role requires strong analytical skills, don’t forget to include examples of how you've used tools like Excel, SQL, or Tableau in your previous roles. We love seeing how you’ve turned data into actionable insights!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows us you’re keen on joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at The Trade Desk
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of DSP platforms, especially The Trade Desk. Be ready to discuss your experience in programmatic trading and how it relates to the role. This will show that you’re not just familiar with the industry but also have a deep understanding of the tools and processes involved.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Since this role involves managing a team, be prepared to share specific examples of how you've successfully led teams in the past. Talk about your coaching and mentoring experiences, and how you fostered a culture of collaboration and operational excellence. This will demonstrate your capability to lead effectively.
✨Be Ready for Problem-Solving
Expect questions that assess your ability to handle complex issues and emergencies. Prepare to discuss scenarios where you had to troubleshoot technical problems or manage multi-market accounts. Highlight your analytical skills and how you used them to make informed decisions under pressure.
✨Understand the Company Culture
Research The Trade Desk’s values and mission. Be ready to discuss how your personal values align with theirs, especially regarding inclusivity and operational excellence. Showing that you understand and appreciate their culture can set you apart from other candidates.
