Senior Ad Ops Manager at Discord - $192K–$216K + Equity in Columbus
Career & Market Insight
Compensation Benchmark: The $192K–$216K base salary is well above the market median for Ad Operations Manager roles, which typically range $90K–$140K at most companies. Discord is paying at a senior individual contributor or lead level, signaling high expectations and strong leverage on business impact. Add equity on top, and total comp could be significantly higher.
Skills You'll Build: This role sits at the intersection of ad tech, data engineering, and AI automation — a rare and increasingly valuable combination. Specifically, you'll develop:
- LLM/AI workflow design applied to real business operations
- SQL and Python-based reporting pipelines
- Cross-functional influence across Sales, Product, and Engineering
- Platform-level ad tech expertise (tracking, targeting, API integrations)
Career Trajectory: This role is a strong stepping stone to Director of Ad Operations, Head of Revenue Operations, or even VP-level GTM roles at gaming or media companies. Discord's scale means decisions you make will affect millions of impressions daily.
Culture Signals: Discord emphasizes speed, cross-functional collaboration, and a gaming-native culture. The "bonus points" section mentioning humor and empathy suggests a human-centered team environment — a green flag for work-life balance compared to purely metrics-driven ad sales orgs.
Watch For: Ad ops roles at high-growth platforms can be demanding during campaign launches and client escalations. The expectation to own automation AND client relationships simultaneously is a wide scope — clarify team size and support structure in interviews.
Discord has a highly engaged community of millions of daily active users who use the platform for many different reasons, but there's one thing that nearly everyone does: play video games. Discord plays a uniquely important role in the future of gaming, and we are focused on making it easier and more fun for people to hang out before, during, and after playing games.
Ad Operations and Sales Analytics support Discord's ads business, partnering with Sales, Product, Engineering, Data Science, and other cross-functional teams to deliver high-quality campaign executions, impactful data insights, and go-to-market strategy across our advertising products.
As an Ad Operations Manager, you will play a crucial part in scaling our Ads business. You'll improve the efficiency and scale of campaign execution while contributing to deep-dive analyses that drive business growth and inform go-to-market strategy. You'll provide valuable feedback to Product and Engineering teams, directly impacting Discord's advertising capabilities while removing friction from customers' experience with our platform.
What You'll Be Doing
- Ensuring ad campaigns are implemented and launched on time and to specification — including campaign parameters such as dates, targeting, tracking, impression/reach goals, geographies, and budget — working closely with Account Executives and Account Managers to align setups with client objectives
- Providing hands-on technical support to key customers and Ad Sales partners, and owning the processes and escalation path (in partnership with Engineering) for issues related to platform integration and use
- Partnering with Account Managers and technical teams to optimize campaign outcomes and maximize client ROI, including troubleshooting and A/B testing of messaging, creative, and targeting
- Synthesizing campaign performance insights for internal stakeholders and clients — performance, trends, ROI, and actionable recommendations
- Building and scaling automations and tooling (including AI/LLM-based workflows) that reduce manual effort and increase leverage across the team
- Serving as the operational engine for multiple revenue-driving functions across the Discord Business Organization
What You Should Have
- 3–5+ years of experience in digital advertising, ad operations, or related roles
- Hands-on experience using AI tools (e.g., LLM-based workflows, scripting/automation) to drive measurable efficiency gains in a professional environment
- Comfort working with data and light scripting — SQL required; Python or similar strongly preferred — to build or maintain internal tooling and reporting pipelines
- Demonstrated knowledge of a broad variety of ad technologies, campaign operation methodologies, and ad tracking/measurement solutions
- Experience partnering with Engineering and/or Product on technical escalations, platform integrations, or API-level troubleshooting
- Successful track record working directly with clients — understanding needs and delivering value
- Strong analytical proficiency: ability to query and interpret data, generate insights, and make data-driven decisions
- Familiarity with market trends and KPIs such as viewability, brand safety, yield analysis, and audience extension
- Excellent communication and collaboration skills in a fast-changing, cross-functional environment
Bonus Points
- Experience designing or building internal automation/tooling (bots, pipelines, dashboards) that scaled a team's operations
- Team player with a sense of humor, humility, curiosity, and empathy
This position is US-based and can be based in New York (remote) or San Francisco. If you live in the Bay Area, you're welcome to work from our beautiful SF office.
The US base salary range for this full-time position is $192,000.00 to $216,000.00 + equity + benefits. Our salary ranges are determined by role and level. Within the range, individual pay is determined by additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Please note that the compensation details listed in US role postings reflect the base salary only, and do not include equity, or benefits.
Why Discord?
Discord plays a uniquely important role in the future of gaming. We're a multiplatform, multigenerational and multiplayer platform that helps people deepen their friendships around games and shared interests, and helps developers build and grow their businesses. We believe games give us a way to have fun with our favorite people, whether listening to music together or grinding in competitive matches for diamond rank. Join us in our mission! Your future is just a click away!
Discord is committed to inclusion and providing reasonable accommodations during the interview process. We want you to feel set up for success, so if you are in need of reasonable accommodations, please let your recruiter know.
Please see our Applicant and Candidate Privacy Policy for details regarding Discord's collection and usage of personal information relating to the application and recruitment process by clicking HERE.
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