Head of Trading/Media Buying

By bringing together next-gen technology and the finest live data available, Genius Sports is enabling a new era of sports for fans worldwide, delivering experiences that are more immersive, interactive and personalized than ever before. Learn more at geniussports.com. 

We’re looking for enthusiastic and ambitious people to join our talented team.

If you see yourself becoming part of a global family building the future of sports entertainment together, then come and grow with us.

We put trust in our people to deliver the difference for our clients around the world. It’s why many of the world’s largest leagues & federations such as the NFL, English Premier League, FIBA and NCAA choose to work with Genius Sports.

Genius Sports is the leading provider of sports data, technology, and media solutions. We connect brands, advertisers, and rights holders with sports audiences through cutting-edge programmatic advertising, proprietary data, and real-time insights. As we continue to scale our media operations, we are seeking a dynamic Head of Trading to lead our programmatic trading function and drive growth in our media business.

The Role:

The Head of Trading (media buying) will oversee all programmatic trading across Genius Sports, managing the trading team and ensuring the company maximizes revenue opportunities through strategic and data-driven media buying. This role requires a deep understanding of the digital advertising ecosystem, programmatic platforms, audiences, deal curation and sports media, as well as the ability to optimize trading strategies, scale operations, and drive innovation. Due to the demands of the team there will be a player/coach element to this role including some hands on management of Tier 1 client accounts.

Additionally, this role will play a key part in the evolution of Genius Sports buying ecosystem, working closely with product and development teams to enhance capabilities, improve automation, and refine audience targeting.

What You'll Do:

Programmatic Trading Leadership

• Lead and manage the programmatic trading team, setting strategic direction, performance benchmarks, and best practices.
• Oversee the execution of all programmatic media buying across DSPs, SSPs, and data platforms, ensuring efficiency and performance.
• Develop and refine trading strategies to maximize revenue, increase yield, and improve campaign outcomes.
• Create and enforce global trading best practices, campaign setup checklists, optimization policies, and rigorous brand safety/suitability standards.

Strategic Growth & Business Development

• Develop and execute a roadmap for programmatic media buying to align with Genius Sports’ broader media strategy.
• Identify new revenue opportunities within programmatic trading, including new ad formats, inventory sources, and data partnerships.
• Work closely with commercial teams to develop advertiser and brand solutions that leverage Genius Sports’ unique data assets.
• Stay ahead of industry trends, emerging technologies, and changes in ad tech regulations to maintain a competitive edge.

Operational Excellence & Collaboration

• Collaborate with analytics and data science teams to refine audience segmentation, targeting, and attribution models.
• Implement robust tracking, reporting, and measurement frameworks to assess trading performance and inform strategic decisions.

Leadership & Team Development

• Build, mentor, and develop a high-performing programmatic trading team.
• Foster a culture of innovation, agility, and continuous improvement within the team.
• Design an optimal organizational structure (e.g., centralized vs. distributed, channel-specific teams) that can scale with business growth.
• Talent Development: Implement comprehensive training and mentorship programs to build deep expertise, focusing on technical skills, leadership, and commercial acumen.

What You'll Bring:

• 7+ years of experience in programmatic media buying, digital advertising, or ad tech, with a strong track record in trading leadership roles.

• Deep expertise in DSPs, SSPs, ad exchanges, DMPs, and data-driven trading strategies.

• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex data sets and make data-driven decisions.

• Experience working closely with product and development teams to evolve media buying platforms or automation tools.

• Understanding of sports media, gaming, betting, or related industries is a plus.

• Strong stakeholder management skills, with experience collaborating across commercial, product, and engineering teams.

• Proficiency in ad tech tools, trading platforms, and analytics solutions.

The salary for this role is based on an annualized range of $140,000 - $175,000 USD. In addition to base salary, this role will be eligible to participate in Genius Sports variable compensation schemes, as well as our US benefits and 401k plans.

We enjoy an ‘office-first’ culture and maximize opportunities to collaborate, connect and learn together. Our hybrid working models differ depending on your role and location.

As well as a competitive salary and range of benefits, we’re committed to supporting employee wellbeing and helping you grow your skills, experience and career. Learn more about how rewarding life at Genius can be at Reward | Genius Sports.

One team, being brave, driving change 

We strive to create an inclusive working environment, where everyone feels a sense of belonging and the ability to make a difference. Learn more about our values and culture at Culture | Genius Sports.  

Let us know when you apply if you need any assistance during the recruiting process due to a disability.