Vice President, Media Operations

Company description Mars United℠ Commerce is a global commerce marketing practice that aligns people, technology, and intelligence to make the business of our clients better today than it was yesterday

Our worldwide capabilities coalesce into four key disciplines — Strategy & Analytics, Content & Experiences, Digital Commerce, and Retail Consultancy — that individually deliver unmatched results for clients and collectively give them an unparalleled network of seamlessly integrated functions across the entire commerce marketing ecosystem

These disciplines are powered by our industry-leading technology platform, Marilyn®, which helps marketers understand the total business impact of their commerce marketing activation, enabling them to make better decisions, create connected experiences, and drive stronger, measurable results

Learn more at https://www.marsunited.com/

Overview The Vice President, Media Operations will be a solution-oriented business partner to media teams within a complex, multi-agency environment

The candidate will be responsible for media and financial operations, integrating multiple parties across the media team, process improvements, systems management, general reporting, and driving compliance

They will coordinate and support the media finance process flow — specifically regarding budgeting, billing, and forecasting — with oversight of ad operations, and will ensure end-to-end operational excellence for the client

We are looking for a leader with expertise in marketing technology and media performance management and measurement

The ideal candidate is a dot connector with an analytic mindset, strong problem-solving skills, and the ability to organize and track multiple projects simultaneously

They should be proactive, resourceful, agile, and a creative problem solver who can foster client relationships and partner with clients to work through process changes, escalations, and forward-thinking ideas

Candidates must reside within a commutable distance to our Chicago or New York office for a hybrid work schedule

Responsibilities Operational Excellence Help build and continue to optimize the paid media financial process to further streamline and deliver operational excellence to agency teams and the client

Participate as an active leader in developing a framework and building a bespoke media operations team in support of client operational excellence

Serve as a key partner in overseeing the management of delivery according to the SOW, including contracted guarantees

Track key operations-led activities, anticipate challenges, and raise appropriate flags to ensure timely execution of deliverables

Drive process adoption and optimization while maintaining integrity in a high-urgency, outcomes-oriented environment

Execute routine process and data quality checks to ensure accuracy and optimal efficiency, re-inventing processes as needed

Ensure accuracy of data pulls from various systems (e.g., MediaOcean/Prisma, Guidelines Planning)

Monitor Standard Operating Procedures to identify problems and recommend process efficiency improvements in alignment with SOX requirements

Create training materials to document processes and instill best practices across teams

Financial Operations Serve as the media business partner across agency financial teams

Manage budgets and partner with media finance on billing and financial compliance

Build media budget forecasting and actualization processes, and partner with media finance on billing to ensure all reconciliations are completed according to client needs

Provide guidance and consultancy across budget hygiene from planning through billing handoff, working closely with key stakeholders including Media Strategy & Activation, Media Finance, and Corporate Accounting

Partner with Media Finance to establish an authorization process aligned with client needs

Prepare budget management and actualization reports drawing from Guidelines Planning and MediaOcean/Prisma

Work with internal stakeholders to resolve discrepancies prior to monthly billing

Analyze and explain variances

Prepare ad-hoc reports for internal and external clients

Manage the monthly budgeting process and coordinate resolution of forecast and billing-related issues

Work with the client to verify and reconcile issues with the reporting of actuals

Offer administrative support, training, and troubleshooting for the Guidelines Planning platform

Ensure team and personal deliverables are met on time; steward workflow and project management

Client Relationship Maintain client updates, develop and manage budgets, and identify and address media financial business challenges

Identify and communicate organizational or business challenges, working to deliver on the needs of the broader agency team and client as they pertain to media operations

Manage the client reconciliation process as it relates to timely review and adjustments for credits and debits

Serve as the primary contact for client finance questions and issues across Account Management, Media Operations Delivery, and the Client

Leadership Foster a collaborative culture, develop talent, and maintain strong stakeholder relationships

Liaise across all disciplines and business leaders for financial operations, legal matters, and other areas of media operations and compliance

Work closely with senior leadership across creative, analytics, search, and account functions to provide strategic media operations support

Actively develop junior talent and work with leadership to cultivate a consultative and growing team of advertising professionals and media technology experts

Qualifications University degree or college diploma, or equivalent work experience; preferred background in Marketing, Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, or Communications/Advertising

Media agency experience with a strong understanding of the inner workings of the agency model. 10+ years of overall industry experience with 7+ years in media operations

Strong financial acumen within the media space

Comfortable working with and organizing large data sets

Proven capabilities leading projects from conception to implementation

Demonstrated ability to manage concurrent projects

Excellent leadership skills with the ability to inspire and interact with all levels of staff

Effective presenter with strong interpersonal and communication skills

Organized, detail-oriented, and focused on accuracy with strong time management

Superior critical thinking and problem-solving abilities

Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

Additional information The Power of One starts with our people

To do powerful things, we offer powerful resources

Our best-in-class wellness and benefits offerings include: Paid Family Care for parents and caregivers for 12 weeks or more Monetary assistance and support for Adoption, Surrogacy and Fertility Monetary assistance and support for pet adoption Employee Assistance Programs and Health/Wellness/Comfort reimbursements to help you invest in your future and work/life balance Tuition Assistance Paid time off that includes Flexible Time off Vacation, Annual Sick Days, Volunteer Days, Holiday and Identity days, and more Matching Gifts programs Flexible working arrangements ‘Work Your World’ Program encouraging employees to work from anywhere Publicis Groupe has an office for up to 6 weeks a year (based upon eligibility) Business Resource Groups that support multiple affinities and alliances The benefits offerings listed are available to eligible U.S

Based employees, are reviewed on an annual basis, and are governed by the terms of the applicable plan documents

We also offer medical and voluntary benefits to our freelancers and temporary employees

Voluntary benefit options include supplemental medical insurance, transportation, and parking benefits, legal benefits, pet insurance, and auto and home insurance

You must be actively employed for 90 consecutive calendar days in order to be eligible for Publicis medical and voluntary benefits

You will also be eligible to participate in the Publicis 401(k) Plan after you complete 1,000 work hours in a consecutive 12-month period

Mars United℠ Commerce is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Our employment decisions are made without regard to actual or perceived race, color, ethnicity, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, disability, medical condition as defined by applicable state law, genetic information, marital status, military service and veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws and ordinances

If you require accommodation or assistance with the application or onboarding process specifically, please contact [email protected]

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines

Compensation Range: USD $149,340.00 - USD $239,148.00/Annually

This is the pay range the Company believes it will pay for this position at the time of this posting

This role may also be eligible for bonus or incentive compensation

Consistent with applicable law, compensation will be determined based on the skills, qualifications, and experience of the applicant along with the requirements of the position, and the Company reserves the right to modify this pay range at any time

Temporary roles may be eligible to participate in our freelancer/temporary employee medical plan through a third-party benefits administration system once certain criteria have been met

Temporary roles may also qualify for participation in our 401(k) plan after eligibility criteria have been met

For regular roles, the Company will offer medical coverage, dental, vision, disability, 401k, and paid time off

The Company anticipates the application deadline for this job posting will be 8/14/2026.