Ad Operations Manager – Programmatic Leadership Role in Columbus
Career & Market Insight
Career Trajectory: This Manager, Ad Operations role sits at the intersection of people leadership and deep programmatic expertise — a combination that is increasingly rare and valuable. Moving from specialist-level ad ops into management here positions you for Director-level roles (the next step is literally the Director of Ad Operations), and the experience driving automation and process transformation translates well into broader AdTech, MarTech, and Revenue Operations leadership paths.
Compensation Benchmark: The Ontario salary band of $127,059–$151,000 CAD (~$93K–$110K USD) is competitive for a mid-level manager in Canadian AdTech. Senior Ad Operations Manager roles in Canada typically range from $90K–$130K CAD at most companies, so this sits at the upper end of the market, with additional upside via bonuses, commissions, and equity — a strong total compensation package signal for a growth-stage tech company.
Skills You'll Develop:
- People management and team coaching in a high-growth tech environment
- Programmatic automation strategy and operational scaling — skills in high demand as ad ops evolves
- Cross-functional collaboration with Product and Engineering, giving exposure to the product roadmap side of AdTech
- Data-driven operational performance management
Green Flags: Remote-first culture, award-winning workplace recognition, explicit investment in personal development (conferences, courses), and a clear evolution narrative (manual → automated ops) signals a forward-thinking environment. StackAdapt's consistent G2 #1 DSP ranking indicates strong product-market fit.
Watch For: The role emphasizes a transition toward automation, which could mean significant change management responsibility. Candidates should probe how mature the automation roadmap is and what resources are allocated to it.
StackAdapt is the leading technology company that empowers marketers to reach, engage, and convert audiences with precision. With 465 billion automated optimizations per second, the AI-powered StackAdapt Marketing Platform seamlessly connects brand and performance marketing to drive measurable results across the entire customer journey. The most forward-thinking marketers choose StackAdapt to orchestrate high-impact campaigns across programmatic advertising and marketing channels.
The Manager, Ad Operations role is a key member of StackAdapt's Ad Operations team, leading a team of Ad Operations Specialists responsible for campaign setup, QA, troubleshooting, pacing, and optimization support across our programmatic channels. Reporting to the Director of Ad Operations, you'll help ensure campaigns are launched accurately, delivered effectively, and supported by strong operational processes.
This is an opportunity for someone who enjoys combining people leadership with deep programmatic expertise and a continuous improvement mindset. As the team continues to evolve from manual campaign execution toward a more automated and optimization-focused model, you'll help coach the team, improve workflows, and partner cross-functionally to build more scalable ways of working.
StackAdapt is a remote-first company. While we are open to candidates located anywhere in Canada for this position, we will be prioritizing those based in Toronto or an Eastern Time Zone.
What You'll Be Doing:
- Leading, coaching, and developing a team of Ad Operations Specialists, fostering accountability, curiosity, and continuous learning
- Overseeing campaign setup, trafficking, QA, troubleshooting, pacing, and delivery across StackAdapt's programmatic channels
- Supporting the team's evolution toward a more automated and optimization-focused operating model
- Coaching specialists on campaign optimization support, including pacing analysis, performance troubleshooting, and actionable recommendations
- Partnering with Account Management, Account Executives, Client Partnerships, Product, and Engineering to improve workflows, handoffs, tooling, and campaign outcomes
- Identifying opportunities to streamline processes through automation, templates, SOPs, and scalable operating practices
- Tracking team performance, workload, quality, and operational metrics to identify gaps and share recommendations with leadership
What You'll Bring to the Table:
- 6+ years of experience in programmatic advertising, campaign management, ad operations, or a related digital media function
- Direct people management experience, ideally leading a team responsible for campaign execution, optimization, trading, or technical campaign support
- Hands-on experience optimizing or trading programmatic campaigns, including pacing, performance analysis, troubleshooting, and recommendation-building
- Strong technical understanding of the programmatic ecosystem, including DSP workflows, campaign setup, bidding dynamics, pixels, QA, and optimization best practices
- Demonstrated ability to identify process improvements and help implement scalable solutions across teams
- A high-curiosity mindset with an interest in automation, systems, operational efficiency, and the continued evolution of programmatic advertising
- Strong communication skills, accountability, and the ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional partners
Compensation
The compensation range listed for this role reflects the expected base salary for candidates located in Ontario, Canada. It is informed by market data and the approved budget for this position. StackAdapt maintains different compensation ranges for roles across other countries and regions, and final offers will be aligned to the candidate's current location.
This range represents base salary only. Depending on the role, candidates may also be eligible for additional compensation such as annual bonuses, commissions, equity awards, and a comprehensive benefits package.
Ontario Salary Band: $127,059 — $151,000 CAD
Factors Influencing Final Compensation:
- The final compensation offer will be determined by a variety of factors, which may include, but are not limited to: the candidate's specific experience, technical skills, knowledge, abilities, and relevant education, licensure, and certifications.
- Other business factors, such as organizational needs and budget alignment, may also be considered in the final offer.
StackAdapters Enjoy:
- Highly competitive salary
- Retirement / 401K / Pension Savings globally
- Competitive paid time off packages including birthday's off!
- Access to a comprehensive mental health care program
- Health benefits from day one of employment
- Work from home reimbursements
- Optional global WeWork membership for those who want a change from their home office, and hubs in London and Toronto
- Robust training and onboarding program
- Coverage and support of personal development initiatives (conferences, courses, books, etc.)
- Access to StackAdapt programmatic courses and certifications to support continuous learning
- An awesome parental leave program
- A friendly, welcoming, and supportive culture
- Social and team events!
Please note: Benefits and perks may vary depending on your country of employment and the nature of your engagement. In locations where StackAdapt does not have a legal entity, employment and benefits are administered in accordance with local regulations and partner policies.
StackAdapt is a diverse and inclusive team of collaborative, hardworking individuals trying to make a dent in the universe. No matter who you are, where you are from, who you love, follow in faith, disability (or superpower) status, ethnicity, or the gender you identify with (if you're comfortable, let us know your pronouns), you are welcome at StackAdapt. If you have any requests or requirements to support you throughout any part of the interview process, please let our Talent team know.
We use artificial intelligence (AI) to streamline the resume reviews of candidates and assess their fit based on the criteria outlined in the job posting. We do not use AI to make any final hiring or interview decisions.
About StackAdapt
We've been recognized for our diverse and supportive workplace, high performing campaigns, award-winning customer service, and innovation. We've been awarded:
- G2 Top Software for 2026
- 2026 Best Workplaces™ for Young Talent and in Canada by Great Place to Work®
- #1 DSP on G2 and leader in a number of categories including Cross-Channel Advertising
To learn more about our privacy practices, please see our Privacy Policy.
Frequently Asked Questions
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