Starcom
Programmatic Account Director

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Company Description
With a history that dates back over 80 years, Starcom is a global communications planning and media leader. We are an agency still grounded in our founding principle that people are at the centre of all we do. Each day, we apply this belief to harness the transformative power of data and technology to inspire and move people and business forward. With more than 7,000 employees in over 100 offices around the world, we are the flagship Publicis Media agency that uses our ‘Power of One’ business model, with teams that span multiple disciplines across clients such as Aldi, P&G, Primark, Samsung, Stellantis, and Visa.
We place a huge focus on our People, and have driven flagship D&I and L&D programmes within Publicis Media; our goal is to help every individual reach their fullest potential, and we encourage everyone to make “Brave Plays” in how they approach their work and their own career development. As a result, we have an exceptionally energised and committed talent base, all of us proud of our welcoming and supportive culture, as evidenced by our recognition as one of Campaign’s Best Places to Work for five years in a row, Media Week's Agency of the Year 2025 and one of the Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2025.
Overview
We are hiring a Programmatic Account Director to join the team, playing a pivotal role in shaping best-in-class programmatic delivery for a high-profile international client portfolio. This is an opportunity to influence strategy, build strong client partnerships, and lead a talented team delivering impactful, data-led campaigns across Europe. You will sit at the heart of innovation, helping to evolve our programmatic product and drive measurable value for both our clients and the wider Publicis Media network. If you thrive on ownership, collaboration, and creating work you’re proud of, this role offers both scale and visibility.
Reasons to use Rodeo
I’m in my final year doing Economics and I don’t know whether to apply for grad schemes now or do a masters first. What do you think?
Honest answer — it depends on where you want to end up. A lot of top grad schemes (Big 4, civil service, banking) don’t need a masters. Let’s look at the ones you’d be competitive for now, and we can decide if a masters actually adds anything.
Also worth knowing: most autumn 2026 applications are open now. Timing matters more than you think.
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Graduate Consultant — 2026 Scheme
Why you're a good match
StrongYour economics background and your summer at a regional bank line up with what PwC looks for on the consulting scheme. Applications close in four weeks.
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Why you're a good match
You’ve got the grades and the economics background, and your bank internship is exactly the experience this scheme looks for. Apply soon — deadlines close within the month.
Experience fit
Your summer at the bank plus your econometrics coursework map directly to the day-one responsibilities on this scheme — client modelling, market briefings, and deal support.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
Responsibilities
What you’ll be doing:
- Lead the strategic direction and growth of programmatic activity across multiple client accounts, aligning media approach with business goals
- Act as a trusted advisor to senior stakeholders, building strong, consultative relationships internally and externally
- Drive operational excellence across planning, activation, optimisation and financial processes, ensuring accuracy and consistency
- Oversee the delivery of complex, multi-channel programmatic campaigns across display, video, CTV and BVOD
- Champion innovation through testing, learning, and new product development, including data-led and privacy-first solutions
- Manage and develop a team of programmatic specialists, creating a supportive and high-performing environment
- Contribute to new business opportunities and award submissions, showcasing the impact and quality of your team’s work
Qualifications
Skills we’re looking for:
- Strong experience in programmatic media within a digital agency or vendor environment
- Deep understanding of the digital advertising ecosystem, including DSPs, SSPs and ad serving
- Proven ability to lead and develop teams, supporting performance, growth and inclusive working practices
- Experience advising clients and translating business objectives into effective programmatic strategies
- Commercial mindset, with the ability to identify and drive revenue growth opportunities
- Confidence working across multiple stakeholders and navigating complex, international client environments
- Interest in innovation, including automation, data solutions and evolving measurement approaches


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Additional Information
Starcom offers a wide range of benefits to support our employees. Full details are shared when you join, but highlights include core benefits such as Pension, Life Assurance, and Private Medical cover, alongside enhanced policies like Reflection Days and Shared Parental Leave. You’ll also have access to a range of additional initiatives, including:
📖 Please check out the Publicis Career Page which showcases our Inclusive Benefits and our EAG’s (Employee Action Groups).
Publicis Groupe works primarily from the office or our clients' office four days per week.
At Starcom, we are proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, and do not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, nationality, religion or belief, disability, age, citizenship, relationship status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other protected characteristic.
We are committed to providing a fair, accessible, and inclusive recruitment process. If you have any access needs - for example, related to disability, neurodivergence, or a health condition - please let us know. We’ll work with you to ensure the process works for you. Sharing this information will never impact your application.
Guided by our values, we listen with empathy, uplift each other, take responsibility, and embrace change - building a culture where everyone feels seen, respected, and genuinely included.
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