Reports To: EU Head of Client Leadership

Why this role matters:

Programmatic is a critical part of Assembly’s offer and an important driver of growth for our clients and our business. We are looking for an exceptional European leader to take clear ownership of the function and move it forward with pace.

You will lead our Programmatic strategy, proposition, client development, commercial growth and people agenda across Europe. You will be expected to set a clear direction, translate it into practical plans and make sure those plans are delivered.

This is a broad leadership role. It requires deep programmatic credibility, but success will be determined by your ability to influence clients and colleagues, build strong teams, create commercial momentum and follow through consistently.

What you’ll do:

Strategic Leadership

• Set and deliver the European Programmatic strategy, aligned to business priorities.
• Act as a senior voice on Programmatic, data, technology and AI.
• Embed Programmatic within Assembly’s wider proposition, growth plans and product development.
• Translate strategy into clear actions, ownership and measurable outcomes.

Elevate Client Capability

• Partner with Client Leadership to grow Programmatic maturity across key accounts.
• Develop roadmaps that expand Programmatic’s impact and commercial value.
• Lead senior client conversations, reviews and pitches.
• Drive excellence across Programmatic planning, product and delivery.

Drive Programmatic Growth

• Lead Programmatic growth across existing clients, new business and partnerships.
• Own pipeline performance, revenue delivery and forecasting.
• Partner with Growth, Client Leadership and Commercial teams to drive profitable growth.

Lead Strategic Partnerships

• Build senior relationships with key media and technology partners.
• Turn partner capabilities into innovation and client value.
• Represent Europe in global forums and drive local execution.

Build a High-Performing Team

• Lead team structure, succession planning and workforce strategy.
• Recruit, develop and retain top talent.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration and excellence.

Own Delivery & Commercial Performance

• Oversee client performance, delivery quality and risk management.
• Manage revenue, margin, utilisation and resourcing.
• Uphold high standards across activation, optimisation, measurement and governance.

What we’re looking for:

Essential

• A strong track record of leading Programmatic teams and improving the capability, performance and commercial contribution of a function.
• Deep understanding of the Programmatic ecosystem, including major DSPs, media and technology partners, data, identity, verification, measurement, supply and managed-service models.
• Evidence of expanding existing client relationships and converting new-business opportunities into meaningful revenue.
• Strong executive presence with clients, partners and senior internal stakeholders, supported by the ability to simplify complexity and make a clear recommendation.
• Experience leading distributed teams and integrating European markets with offshore or Global Delivery capability.
• Commercial fluency across scopes, staffing, forecasts, partner economics and margin

Nice to Have

• Experience working across international markets
• Knowledge of relevant industry tools and platforms
• Experience mentoring or developing others

What success looks like

In your first 12 months, you’ll:

• Build trusted client relationships
• Deliver measurable campaign outcomes
• Contribute to team growth
• Mentor junior talent

Why Assembly

At Assembly, our mission is to find the change that fuels growth. As a global media and digital marketing agency, we bring together media, data, technology, commerce, and talent to help ambitious brands grow and thrive in an increasingly connected world.

Home to more than 1,500 people across 25 offices worldwide, our teams span media planning, performance marketing, analytics, strategy, commerce, technology, and client leadership. Together, we deliver innovative, performance-driven solutions that create measurable impact for some of the world's most ambitious brands.

What sets Assembly apart is our people and the culture we've built together. Guided by our values:

Show Up, Make Change, and Win Well.

We foster an environment where diverse perspectives are valued, continuous learning is encouraged, and collaboration drives success. These values shape how we work, lead, and support one another every day. We're proud that our people-first approach has been recognised globally. Assembly was named Ad Age's first-ever Purpose-Led Agency of the Year, achieved B Corp certification for our commitment to using business as a force for good, and most recently earned IPA Gold accreditation in recognition of our investment in learning, development, and agency excellence. As we continue to grow across media, technology, data, and commerce, we're creating opportunities for people who want to make an impact, grow their careers, and help shape what's next.

Purpose & Impact

As a proud B Corp, we're committed to using business as a force for good. We encourage our people to champion sustainability, inclusion, and positive change through the work they do, the decisions they make, and the impact they create for our clients, communities, and each other.

What we offer

• Flexible working (Work Where You Want August & Remote working blocks)
• Wellbeing Partnerships
• Dedicated L&D support
• Global Opportunities & Incentives