Programmatic Yield Analyst (LA Times Studios)

The Programmatic Yield Analyst is responsible for implementing, managing, and optimizing the company’s programmatic advertising stack to ensure seamless ad delivery, maximum monetization, and strong partner performance. This role oversees ad inventory configuration, troubleshoots delivery issues, analyzes performance metrics, and collaborates cross-functionally with Revenue, Finance, and Technology teams to drive yield and operational excellence. Responsibilities: Ad Stack Management & Inventory Configuration Create, configure, and audit ad inventory across Google Ad Manager (GAM) and all SSP partners to ensure seamless ad delivery and maximum monetization potential. Maintain accurate ad placement mappings and ensure unified ad quality and brand safety settings across all platforms. Monitor performance dashboards to ensure all available ad opportunities are monetized efficiently. Troubleshooting & Technical Support Troubleshoot ad delivery issues using browser developer tools, console debugging, and reporting/log data to identify and resolve monetization-impacting problems. Proactively diagnose and resolve discrepancies in ad serving, latency, and partner response issues. Performance Monitoring & Analysis Monitor ad stack performance daily to identify and resolve issues affecting both overall yield and individual partner performance. Analyze and work with the management team on key programmatic metrics, including CPM, fill rate, viewability, bid requests, and block rate to uncover revenue growth opportunities. Translate performance data into actionable insights and optimization strategies. Revenue Optimization Optimize revenue yield through analysis and adjustment of monetization controls, including: Floor prices Latency timeouts Inventory configurations Blocklists and allowlists Support testing and implementation of new monetization strategies and demand partners, including end-to-end QA of Prebid/Header Bidding configurations, VAST/VPAID tags, and SDK integrations to ensure zero latency or delivery discrepancies. Collaborate on the rollout of innovative monetization strategies and demand sources, conducting A/B tests on existing  floor prices and auction dynamics to maximize Yield and eCPM while maintaining a high-quality user experience.  Ad Product & Data Integration Assist with the integration of new ad formats, ad placements, targeting parameters, and first-party audience segments. Investigate and resolve data discrepancies between internal reporting systems and external partner platforms by identifying root causes and implementing corrective actions. Reporting & Insights Create and distribute regular revenue performance reports with detailed analysis, trend identification, and optimization recommendations for internal leadership and external partners. Support strategic decision-making by providing clear, data-driven insights into programmatic revenue performance. Finance & Reconciliation Support Collaborate with Finance teams to generate partner invoices, track payments, and resolve billing discrepancies or disputes. Support quarterly revenue reconciliation and audit processes by providing required data and documentation. Requirements: Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Business, Data Analytics, Information Systems, or a related field and 2 + years of experience in programmatic ad operations, digital advertising, or ad technology OR  4 + years of experience in programmatic ad operations, digital advertising, or ad technology. Working knowledge and hands-on experience with Google Ad Manager and major SSPs (e.g., Magnite, OpenX, PubMatic, Index Exchange, etc.). Strong understanding of programmatic advertising concepts, including auctions, yield optimization, and demand sources. Experience analyzing metrics such as CPM, fill rate, viewability, latency, and bid density. Proficiency with ad tech platforms (GAM, SSP dashboards, reporting tools). Experience using browser developer tools and console debugging for ad troubleshooting. Strong Excel/Google Sheets skills; experience with BI tools a plus (Looker, Tableau, Power BI, etc.). Familiarity with ad tags, header bidding, and audience targeting concepts preferred. Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment. Detail-oriented with strong data validation and quality control skills. Excellent communication skills with the ability to explain technical issues to non-technical stakeholders. Proven ability to work cross-functionally with Revenue, Finance, and Technology teams. Strong organizational skills and follow-through on issue resolution. Preferred Qualifications: 2+ years of yield management experience at a publisher or at an SSP. Basic proficiency with SQL/Snowflake, e.g., being able to write basic queries or modify existing queries to pull data. Hands-on experience with Permutive.