** This is a fully remote position. Please only apply to this position if you reside in one of the following US States where Ars X Machina (AXM) currently operates: 

Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, Washington

Please note that we do not offer visa sponsorship for this position. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States (specifically in the states we operate business) without requiring visa sponsorship. Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background check. Thank you for your understanding.

SUMMARY: The Associate Director of Video Investment will lead the development and execution of video investment strategy across linear, streaming, and premium video partners. This role is responsible for driving best-in-class partnerships and negotiations, overseeing video planning and performance, and ensuring optimizations are implemented across direct and programmatic channels. The ideal candidate is a strategic leader with deep video marketplace expertise, strong partner relationships, excellent client service skills, and a proven ability to deliver performance and value for clients.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Strategic Support:

• Lead the development of comprehensive scatter and upfront video investment strategies that are insight-driven and performance-oriented in alignment with client business goals, KPIs, and audience insights.
• Oversee and evolve holistic digital and linear investment approach for client(s), including strategic planning, partner selection, and marketplace negotiations to secure optimal pricing, inventory, and added value
• Oversee relationship with and performance of linear TV buying partner
• Identify optimal video channel mix, targeting, and allocation strategies to maximize reach, efficiency, and performance
• Present strategic recommendations to senior clients and internal leadership.

Campaign Management:

• Oversee end-to-end execution of video campaigns from negotiation through launch, trafficking, optimization, and post-campaign reporting, across platforms/channels such as CTV/OTT, YouTube, OLV and Linear TV (Linear TV is purchased through a TV buying partner)
• Ensure flawless execution across all video channels and formats.
• Monitor delivery, pacing, and quality to ensure campaigns meet contractual obligations and KPIs, in partnership with planning and analytics teams
• Troubleshoot issues related to inventory, performance, billing, or platform discrepancies.
• Establish best practices and operational standards for video buying and execution.

Budget Oversight:

• Manage the paid video media budget from a strategic perspective, ensuring efficient allocation across campaigns to meet client goal
• Regularly report on budget performance and recommend spend adjustments based on campaign success
• Ensure accurate budget allocation, pacing, and financial reconciliation.
• Maintain strict compliance with financial controls and agency policies.
• Lead negotiations to secure competitive pricing, added value, and advantageous terms.
• Provide forecasting and scenario planning to maximize return on investment.
• Partner with Finance to ensure accurate billing, reconciliation, and revenue tracking.

Performance Analysis & Optimization:

• Ensure video campaigns are being properly monitored and stewarded and provide optimization recommendations based on performance data, including A/B testing and refining targeting strategies
• Leverage performance data to optimize campaigns in-flight and inform future investment decisions.
• Analyze reach, frequency, CPM, completion rates, brand lift, attribution, and other performance metrics, in partnership with planning and analytics teams
• Identify opportunities to reallocate budget based on performance trends and audience insights.
• Collaborate with Analytics teams to develop measurement frameworks across linear and digital video.
• Translate data into actionable insights and communicate findings clearly to clients and leadership.
• Drive continuous improvement in video investment effectiveness.

Collaboration with Cross-Functional and External Teams:

• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with Strategy, Planning, Analytics, Activation, Creative, and Client Leadership teams.
• Support new business pitches with marketplace insights and investment strategies.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with media partners, technology vendors, and data providers.
• Facilitate communication between internal teams and external partners to ensure alignment and executional excellence.

Trend Monitoring & Innovation:

• Stay updated on the latest trends in digital and linear video, ensuring the agency and clients stay at the forefront of industry best practices, providing POVs and contributing to thought leadership content as needed.  
• Explore new and emerging video platforms and advertising techniques, including, but not limited to  to CTV advancements, programmatic video, retail media video, shoppable video, and measurement innovations
• Identify and attend conferences that are relevant; speak on relevant panels
• Evaluate emerging platforms, formats, and technologies for potential client adoption
• Champion test-and-learn opportunities to drive innovation and competitive advantage.
• Monitor marketplace pricing trends, inventory shifts, and regulatory changes impacting video media.
• Lead internal education initiatives to elevate team knowledge and marketplace fluency.

Team Leadership & Development:

• Lead and mentor investment planner(s), fostering a collaborative and creative environment
• Provide ongoing training to ensure the team stays up-to-date with the latest industry tools, trends, and best practices
• Work closely with the Group Director, Investment to evaluate staffing needs and staffing shifts 

REQUIREMENTS:

• 6–8+ years of experience in video investment, media buying, or integrated video strategy within an agency or media environment
• Strong understanding of linear, streaming, digital video, and programmatic investment models
• Proven negotiation expertise and experience managing publisher/platform partnerships
• Ability to analyze performance data and translate insights into actionable optimizations
• Strong communication and leadership skills, with experience partnering across teams and presenting recommendations to stakeholders
• Ability to manage expectations and priorities, both internally with teams and externally with clients
• Acute attention to detail
• Strong experience working within Google Workspace & Tools and Microsoft Suite 

ABOUT ARS X MACHINA (AXM): AXM is a full-service media planning and buying agency headquartered in San Francisco, with remote employees throughout the US. We develop plans across all media—Digital, TV, Radio, Print, Outdoor, Social, Mobile, Email, Direct Mail, and Search. We handle all aspects of media, from beginning to end—research, planning, negotiating, insertion orders, billing, tracking, and optimization. We work with B2B and B2C campaigns—direct response and brand campaigns. We pride ourselves on our negotiation skills, leadership, relationships with our clients and vendors, efficiency (we move faster than big agencies), transparency and high level of client service.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and skills required of personnel so classified.