Advertising Traffic Manager
The master of workflow—advertising traffic managers ensure creative assets move seamlessly through production, keeping campaignsStrategy meets storytelling—campaigns bring big ideas to life, driving awareness, engagement, and conversions through powerful, multi-channel messaging. on track and on time.
What is an Advertising Traffic Manager?
The campaign router keeping everything moving—and everyone sane
Think of an ad agencyThe creative engine for brands—ad agencies craft campaigns that persuade, perform, and provoke. like a high-speed train. Ideas, assets, briefs, and approvals are flying down the tracks. If no one’s directing the flow? You get creative gridlock and a lot of late-night panic.
Enter the Advertising TrafficAdvertising traffic = proof your paid media is pulling its weight. Manager—the ultimate logistics lead. They ensure everything from banner adsVisual storytelling at scale—display advertising uses graphics and targeting to engage users across websites and platforms. to broadcast campaigns move through the pipeline smoothly, on time, and in sync with every team and touchpoint.
At RIOT, they’re not just operational—they’re essential. Without them, creative doesn’t move. Literally.
What do they actually do?
An AdvertisingStories with purpose—marketing connects brands to people through strategy, creativity, and campaigns that drive impact. Traffic Manager manages the flow of work through an agency’s departments—making sure each piece of the campaign hits the right person, at the right moment, with the right information.
Their responsibilities include:
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Receiving and routing creative briefsThe creative blueprint—client briefs lay out the objectives, tone, and deliverables, setting the foundation for standout work. across internal teams
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Coordinating timelines between creative, media, production, and accounts
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Managing revisions, approvals, and final delivery deadlines
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Tracking progress and flagging delays or resourcing gaps
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Serving as the point of contact between teams and departments
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Ensuring compliance with specs, platform rules, and media handoffs
They’re the connective tissue between chaos and completion.
What’s in their toolkit?
Traffic Managers don’t just wing it. Their systems are tight, their tools are sharp, and their dashboards are gospel.
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Traffic management softwareTools that keep teams, tasks, and timelines aligned—used to streamline agency ops and creative delivery.: Workamajig, Advantage, Screendragon
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Project trackers: Monday.com, Smartsheet, AsanaThe productivity driver—these tools organize, assign, and prioritize tasks to keep teams moving in the right direction., Jira
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Resource managementOptimizing people power—resource management is about assigning the right talent to the right tasks at the right time.: Float, 10,000ft, Forecast
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Internal comms: SlackThe digital workspace—collaboration platforms bring creatives, strategists, and clients together in real time to share, build, and approve faster., Notion, Google Workspace
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Approval workflows: Ziflow, ProofHQ, Frame.io
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Campaign checklists: Platform specs, adThe art of persuasion—advertising is the strategic storytelling that builds brands, shapes perceptions, and drives consumer action across multiple channels. server timelines, legal compliance
And above all: a sharp eye for detail and a sixth sense for bottlenecks.
Why it matters for creative agencies
Great ideas fall flat without great execution.
The Advertising Traffic Manager makes sure nothing gets lost in translation—or buried under revisions.
With a solid traffic manager, your agency gains:
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Faster turnaround times and fewer missed deadlines
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Clearer cross-team communication
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Better resourcing and team balance
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Smoother clientThe reason we do what we do—the client is the partner, the collaborator, and the audience we’re here to impress and grow with. experiences from start to sign-off
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Campaigns that land on time, every time
It’s the difference between hustle and harmony.
A day in the life—precision under pressure
You’re mid-campaign for a multi-market beauty brandMore than a logo—brand is the essence of a company, shaping identity, reputation, and customer perception.. Digital, print, social, OOHBig, bold, and outside—OOH ads reach people where they live, commute, and explore, blending creativity with visibility.. Deadlines everywhere. Feedback loops running wild.
The Advertising Traffic Manager:
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Confirms that revised assets go to the right designer
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Adjusts the schedule when a shoot gets pushed
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Notifies media buyers of updated specs
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Sends final files to the QA team for approval
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Updates leadership with a campaign status snapshot before EOD
They don’t just manage traffic—they orchestrate flow.
What makes a great Advertising Traffic Manager?
This is a role for someone who thrives on clarity, precision, and progress. Great Traffic Managers aren’t just organized—they’re operationally gifted and emotionally tuned in.
Key traits:
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Hyper-detail-oriented and deadline-obsessed
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Proactive communicator and team translator
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Strong understanding of ad platforms and production specs
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Calm under pressure, quick with solutions
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Relentless about process—but flexible with people
They keep the machine humming—without making anyone feel like a cog.
RIOT’s POV
At RIOT, the Advertising Traffic Manager is a creative enabler. They protect timelines and team sanity. They make sure the right work reaches the right hands at the right time—with no drama, no gaps, and no excuses.
Because creativityThe spark that starts it all—creativity is the fearless pursuit of new ideas, powerful stories, and unforgettable brand moments. moves fast—and if you want to keep up, you need someone who can direct the traffic.
Related Glossary Terms
Creative Brief, Media Handoff, Production Timeline, Project Tracking, Campaign ManagementOrchestrating creative, media, budgets, and timelines to keep marketing campaigns running smoothly from start to finish., Approval Workflow
Related Job Roles
Creative Traffic ManagerThe workflow maestro—traffic managers keep the creative pipeline flowing, juggling priorities and timelines like a pro., Project Coordinator, Resource Manager, Media PlannerThe placement strategist—media planners determine where, when, and how your ads will make the biggest impact., Producer, Campaign Manager
