Ad Operations Specialist
The behind-the-scenes maestro—ad ops specialists manage ad placements, optimize campaignsStrategy meets storytelling—campaigns bring big ideas to life, driving awareness, engagement, and conversions through powerful, multi-channel messaging., and ensure seamless execution across digital platforms.
What is an Ad Operations Specialist?
The quiet powerhouse behind every ad that lands. Ad ops specialists make the tech side sing—placing, pacing, and optimizing adsThe art of persuasion—advertising is the strategic storytelling that builds brands, shapes perceptions, and drives consumer action across multiple channels. to ensure nothing gets lost in the scroll.
What does an Ad Operations Specialist do?
They handle the nitty-gritty: trafficking creatives, configuring tracking pixels, managing tag managers, and troubleshooting the backend chaos of digital campaignsMarketing campaigns that live online—spanning ads, content, email, and social to drive digital engagement.. It’s performance meets precision.
What does this role look like in a creative agency?
At RIOT, ad ops is where digital strategyThe playbook for success—strategy defines where you're headed, how you'll get there, and what will set you apart. meets delivery. These specialists work hand-in-hand with media buyers and analysts to make sure our boldest campaigns actually reachThe total number of unique people who see your content—used in media planning and performance tracking. the right eyes—and deliver the results we promised.
Dive Deeper
Ad Operations Specialists are the behind-the-scenes maestros who ensure digital ad campaigns launch flawlessly, deliver smoothly, and optimize for performance. They manage ad trafficking, monitor pacing and delivery, troubleshoot issues, and fine-tune placements across display, social, programmatic, videoYour brand in motion—video captures attention, tells stories, and delivers emotion in a way that text and static visuals can’t., and emerging platforms. In agencies, Ad Ops Specialists bridge media planningStrategically deciding where and when ads should run—drives efficiency, targeting, and impact., buying, and tech—turning strategies into real-world executions that drive measurable results.
Related Glossary Terms
| Related Glossary Terms | Why It’s Relevant |
|---|---|
| Paid Media Campaigns | Ad Ops Specialists are responsible for trafficking, monitoring, and optimizing the delivery of paid media campaignsPay to play—paid media campaigns use ads across search, social, and display to drive awareness, traffic, and conversions. across digital channels. |
| Programmatic Media Buying | Many Ad Ops roles now involve working with programmatic platforms—setting up automated buys, optimizing bids, and managing targeting layers. |
| Retargeting Campaigns | They help configure and optimize retargeting flows—ensuring ads reach the right users at the right stages of the funnelThe path from awareness to action—mapped through content, ads, and offers that move users closer to conversion.. |
| KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) | Ad Ops Specialists track and report on key campaign metrics—like impressions, click-through rate (CTR), viewability, and cost per acquisition (CPA). |
| Real-Time Data Tracking | Monitoring live campaign performance and adjusting placements, creatives, or bids in real time is a critical part of the Ad Ops function. |
Related Job Roles
| Related Job Roles | Why It’s Connected |
|---|---|
| Media BuyerThe dealmaker behind the screen—media buyers negotiate, purchase, and place ads across channels to maximize reach and return. | Buys the media placements—Ad Ops Specialists handle the technical setup, trafficking, and post-buy campaign optimizationTweaking and testing live campaigns to improve performance—think better targeting, messaging, and media mix.. |
| Performance Marketing ManagerNumbers-driven growth—this role leads paid, data-backed campaigns designed to drive measurable conversions and revenue. | Partners closely with Ad Ops to ensure campaigns are optimized against KPIsThe pulse of success—KPIs are measurable goals that track performance, guiding brands to optimize, adapt, and crush their objectives. and that performance data informs ongoing strategy. |
| Programmatic SpecialistDeep knowledge, niche focus—a specialist brings expertise in one area, offering high-value insights and precision. | Handles advanced audienceThe heartbeat of every campaign—understanding and engaging the right audience is the key to crafting messages that resonate and drive action. targeting and bidding strategies inside programmatic platforms—working alongside Ad Ops teams for execution. |
| Digital StrategistThe visionary of the digital realm—digital strategists craft campaigns and roadmaps that align brand goals with audience behavior. | Develops the broader paid media strategy that Ad Ops Specialists execute across platforms and channels. |
