Business Overview 

KINESSO is the technology-driven performance marketing agency that sits at the very heart of IPG Mediabrands, providing actionable growth for both our agency partners and clients. We turn 'action' into 'outcome' for our clients, leveraging our unique capabilities in optimization, analytics, AI, and experimentation. KINESSO has brought together the collective power of what was formerly Matterkind, Reprise, P3, and Kinesso under one collective entity that will serve as the most powerful delivery engine in the industry. We have extensive offerings spanning across performance marketing and data and technology. Fueled by a deep understanding of consumer behavior, we offer an end-to-end engine of planning and optimization while also delivering on data-driven strategy for social platforms, actionable growth in e-commerce, and creating curated marketplaces specific to each client's function and needs. The company has more than 6,000 employees operating in more than 60 countries. Learn more at www.KINESSO.com.

Position Summary

The Director, Broadcast Ad Operations is a senior leadership role within Initiative, responsible for overseeing the strategic and day to day operations of the broadcast traffic team. This individual ensures the flawless execution of national and local broadcast campaigns, driving operational excellence while meeting the evolving needs of our clients across a dynamic media landscape. 

This role demands a seasoned leader with deep expertise in traffic management, broadcast clearance, and Mediaocean MBOX/OX platforms. The Director will lead a team of traffic professionals, providing mentorship, clear direction, and performance management including goal setting, development planning, and regular reviews to foster a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement. 

In addition to overseeing the execution of clients’ traffic needs, this role requires the ability to effectively juggle multiple priorities, drive workflow efficiency, and implement scalable processes. The Director collaborates closely with internal investment teams, senior leadership, clients, creative agencies, media outlets, and traffic vendors to deliver seamless campaign execution and address any operational challenges proactively. 

Experience with competitive programming is a strong plus, providing valuable insight into planning and optimizing around high profile media events. 

The ideal candidate brings a strategic mindset, operational rigor, and a proven track record of leading high performing teams in fast paced, deadline driven environments. 

Responsibilities

Client Leadership 

• Serve as a senior point of contact for clients, delivering proactive, solution-oriented service and expert guidance on all traffic and clearance-related matters. 

• Own communication of traffic strategy and best practices to clients and their creative agencies; ensure team accountability in meeting daily and long-term client needs. 

• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients and external partners, fostering collaboration, trust, and operational transparency. 

• Provide high-level oversight on deadlines, ensuring clients and creative agencies are fully informed of traffic timelines, clearance requirements, and media outlet specifications. 

• Deliver accurate and timely traffic documents (e.g., traffic lists, creative rotations, talent schedules) and ensure all client-facing deliverables are of the highest quality. 

• Monitor campaign activity using MediaQurator and clearance platforms to verify buy implementation and ensure all creative is legally cleared and network-accepted. 

• Proactively identify and communicate potential issues to clients, offering solutions and alternatives aligned with campaign goals and compliance requirements. 

• Leverage expertise in competitive programming to guide clients through high-visibility placements and event-based media planning. 

Internal Leadership 

• Lead and manage the daily operations, workload distribution, and development of the broadcast traffic team to ensure seamless execution across all campaigns. 

• Collaborate across departments (Partnerships, Client Advice, Specialty Business Units, Investment, and external agency partners) to align traffic operations with strategic media objectives. 

• Act as the agency wide expert on broadcast traffic functions, educating internal stakeholders on clearance procedures, network regulations, and traffic workflows. 

• Ensure the team maintains proficiency in required tools and systems, including MediaQurator, Microsoft Office, Ad-ID, and other relevant platforms. 

• Oversee the end-to-end process of creative trafficking, ensuring all materials are submitted in accordance with network deadlines and station specifications. 

• Liaise with creative agencies and networks to manage legal clearances, content acceptances, and technical specifications, advocating on behalf of clients. 

• Confirm and document that creative agencies have secured all required legal and clearance approvals before air. 

• Prepare and distribute talent schedules, and coordinate with clients and agencies to support accurate talent payments; pull talent reports post-traffic processing. 

• Resolve traffic discrepancies efficiently: 

• Reconcile creative rotation and usage in MediaQurator or platform of record against station invoices. 
• Investigate discrepancies and provide clear, documented resolutions or recommendations for credit approvals. 

Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s) 

Client Excellence 

• Establish and maintain direct, strategic communication with clients and their creative agencies for all traffic and clearance related needs. 

• Develop and nurture strong, solution oriented relationships with client stakeholders and agency partners, positioning traffic as a trusted strategic function. 

• Ensure the successful implementation, management, and optimization of all client traffic operations, including broadcast clearance and competitive programming support. 

• Deliver exceptional client service through responsiveness, proactive issue resolution, and continuous alignment with campaign goals and regulatory requirements. 

Operational & Internal Leadership 

• Demonstrate effective time and team management, ensuring all materials meet network deadlines, are legally cleared, and are accurately trafficked with no disruption to air schedules. 

• Lead cross functional collaboration with internal teams (e.g., Partnerships, Comms Design, Investment, Finance, SBUs) to ensure end to end alignment on campaign execution and traffic needs. 

• Drive swift and thorough resolution of traffic related discrepancies in coordination with buying and billing teams; ensure documentation and communication are clear and client ready. 
• Maintain a high level of compliance, accuracy, and efficiency across traffic workflows, tools, and reporting systems. 

Required Skills & Experience

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with the ability to influence and build consensus at senior client and internal stakeholder levels. 

• Deep and comprehensive understanding of national and local broadcast traffic functions, including broadcast clearance and competitive programming. 

• Proven leadership experience managing and developing high performing teams in a fast paced, deadline driven environment. 

• Highly detail oriented with superior organizational and multitasking skills, capable of managing complex workflows and multiple simultaneous projects. 

• Strong track record of cultivating and sustaining strategic professional relationships with clients, internal teams, creative agencies, vendors, and media partners. 

• Demonstrated ability to lead cross functional collaboration, drive process improvements, and deliver operational excellence under tight deadlines. 

• Advanced critical thinking, problem solving, and decision making skills with a proactive approach to identifying and resolving challenges. 

• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) with strong data analysis and reporting capabilities. 

• Expertise in MediaQurator, clearance platforms, and traffic management systems; familiarity with Ad-ID and other industry tools preferred. 
• In depth knowledge of network guidelines, acceptances, rules, and regulations, with the ability to stay current on industry changes and communicate impacts effectively. 

DO NOT OVERWRITE BELOW

We See You  

At IPG Mediabrands, we are unified behind a commitment to fostering a culture of inclusion and belonging. Together, we shine through a set of shared values and behaviors. We take pride in our responsibility to our clients, communities, and to each other. We embrace differences and recognize the unique value that each of us brings to our community.  

We encourage you to apply, as unique backgrounds, perspectives, and lived experiences are welcomed.   

We See You at IPG Mediabrands. 

Wage and Benefits

We offer a Total Rewards package that includes medical and dental coverage, 401(k) plans, flex spending, life insurance, disability, employee discount program, employee stock purchase program and paid family benefits to support you and your family. To give you the ability to better meet your personal needs, and in support of your physical and emotional well-being, you will receive discretionary time off days and company-wide Appreciation Weeks and Wellness Days. 

We also offer a competitive Total Compensation package, including a competitive salary and eligibility for an annual discretionary incentive award or a relevant incentive award. 

The salary range for this position is posted below.  Where an employee or prospective employee is paid within this range will depend on, among other factors, actual ranges for current/former employees in the subject position, market considerations, budgetary considerations, tenure and standing with the Company (applicable to current employees), as well as the employee’s/applicant’s skill set, level of experience, and qualifications.   

Employment Transparency

It is the policy of Mediabrands, division of the Interpublic group, to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, gender, age, religion, creed, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, citizenship, genetic information, veteran status, disability, or any other basis prohibited by applicable federal, state, or local law. 

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice. 

The employer will make reasonable accommodations in compliance with the American with Disabilities Act of 1990. The job description will be reviewed periodically as duties and responsibilities change with business necessity. Essential and other job functions are subject to modification. Reasonable accommodations may be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  

For applicants to jobs in the United States: In compliance with the current Americans with Disabilities Act and state and local laws, if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation to apply for a position with Mediabrands, please email [email protected].

About IPG Mediabrands 

IPG Mediabrands is the media and marketing solutions division of Interpublic Group (NYSE: IPG). IPG Mediabrands manages over $47 billion in marketing investment globally on behalf of its clients across its full-service agency networks UM, Initiative and Mediahub and through its award-winning specialty business units Healix, Kinesso, MAGNA, Mediabrands Content Studio, Orion Holdings, Rapport, and the IPG Media Lab. IPG Mediabrands clients include many of the world’s most recognizable and iconic brands from a broad portfolio of industry sectors including automotive, personal finance, consumer product goods (CPG), pharma, health and wellness, entertainment, financial services, energy, toys and gaming, direct to consumer and e-commerce, retail, hospitality, food and beverage, fashion and beauty. The company employs more than 18,000 diverse marketing communication professionals in more than 130 countries. Learn more at www.ipgmediabrands.com.