Manager, Paid Media - Programmatic & Social Activation

Our mission is to create the Experience of a Lifetime for our employees, so they can, in turn, create the Experience of a Lifetime for our guests. We own and operate the most renowned destination resorts in the world as well as regional and local ski areas outside major cities, and connect them all through one unrivaled network. We are looking for ambitious leaders, innovators and creators to join our talented team. If you’re ready to pursue your fullest potential, we want to get to know you!

Candidates for year-round positions are reviewed on a rolling basis. Applications will be accepted up to 90 days after the posting date, or until the position is filled (whichever is first).

Job Summary:

We’re looking for a hands-on programmatic media expert to join our Paid Media team as a Manager, Paid Media - Programmatic & Social Activation. This role will be directly responsible for building and managing campaigns across leading DSP platforms, such as Amazon DSP, The Trade Desk, or similar while ensuring flawless execution and performance optimization. Responsibilities include in-platform campaign setup, building orders and line items, trafficking creatives, applying audience targeting, and ensuring alignment with business goals. The role requires a strong understanding of creative specifications, ad serving tags, and performance marketing metrics.

Beyond programmatic activation, part of the role will be responsible for negotiating and managing direct endemic partnerships and premium media deals, securing strategic placements that drive results. This role spans a wide range of paid media channels, including display, native, digital out-of-home, video, and CTV/streaming, as well as custom online media activations.

There will also be expectations for producing paid social campaigns across Meta, TikTok, and Reddit, etc, ensuring cohesive activation across platforms. The ideal candidate is a detail-oriented digital expert who thrives in a fast-paced environment and can activate paid media tactics that align with the customer journey throughout the marketing funnel.

Job Specifications:

• Starting Wage: $70,944 - $101,494 + annual bonus
• Employment Type: Year Round  
• Shift Type: Full Time hours available
• Minimum Age: At least 18 years of age  
• Housing Availability: No

Job Responsibilities:

Media Buying & Platform Expertise

• Manage paid media campaigns across DSP platforms including specifically in Amazon DSP, The Trade Desk, ensuring optimal performance and delivery.
• Translate strategic media plans into platform-specific executions, collaborating with cross-functional teams to align with business objectives.
• Apply media buying fundamentals such as 1P & 3P audience activation, inventory deal management, frequency capping, and pacing optimization.
• Activate paid social campaigns on Meta, TikTok, Snapchat, and Reddit, leveraging platform-specific tools.
• Negotiate and manage direct publisher and endemic media deals, including PG and PMP activations, and custom media placements & ad packages.

Campaign Activation & Optimization

• Perform hands-on campaign setup, including order and line item creation, audience targeting, and creative trafficking.
• Analyze performance, generate insights, and deliver actionable recommendations to internal teams & stakeholders.
• Continuously monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to ensure campaign efficiency and effectiveness.
• Recommend audience targeting, bidding strategies, and creative testing to drive conversion performance, incorporating guest lifetime value (GLV) models.
• Leverage performance insights to make recommendations around audience refinement, creative messaging, and media mix decisions.
• Conduct audience activation from CDPs, DMP’s, and other data systems. (e.g. LiveRamp,  Amperity)
• Knowledge on Meta Advantage+, predictive budget & bidding tools.

Paid Media Innovation & Technology

• Identify and integrate new media trends, platform updates, and measurement solutions (e.g., incrementality, brand lift studies, attribution models).
• Collaborate with platform partners to explore alpha/beta opportunities and refine best practices.
• Serve as a thought leader within the team & organization, sharing strategic insights to inform planning and elevate overall media sophistication.

Job Requirements:

• 5+ years of hands-on media buying experience in programmatic and paid social platforms.
• Proven expertise in programmatic DSP platforms, campaign setup, optimization, and reporting.
• Deep understanding of audience segmentation, attribution models, and campaign measurement.
• Strong negotiation skills for direct publisher and endemic media deals.
• Proven ability to leverage analytics, audience insights, and performance metrics to inform decision-making, strategy, and media optimization.
• Demonstrated success adopting a test & learn approach to continually test new tactics and ideas.
• Have a growth-oriented mindset with a solutions-driven approach.
• Proficiency use of Microsoft Outlook/ Teams, JIRA, Excel, Tableau.

The expected Total Compensation for this role is $70,944 - $101,494 + annual bonus. Individual compensation decisions are based on a variety of factors.
 

Job Benefits

• Ski/Mountain Perks! Free passes for employees, employee discounted lift tickets for friends and family AND free ski lessons
• MORE employee discounts on lodging, food, gear, and mountain shuttles
• 401(k) Retirement Plan
• Employee Assistance Program
• Excellent training and professional development

Full Time roles are eligible for the above, plus:

• Health Insurance; Medical Insurance, Dental Insurance, and Vision Insurance plans (for eligible seasonal employees after working 500 hours)
• Free ski passes for dependents
• Critical Illness and Accident plans

Vail Resorts offers a ‘Hybrid’ work environment where employees living within 50 miles of the Broomfield office work on-site Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and have flexibility to work off-site on Mondays and Fridays.  Employees living outside of a commutable distance can work remotely from British Columbia, Washington D.C., and the 16 U.S. states* in which we currently operate. This includes: California, Colorado, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New York, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Utah, Vermont, Washington State, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

Please note that the ability to work in person or off-site, and the particulars related to such work, are subject to change at any time; and, accordingly, the Company reserves the right to change its policies and/or require in-person/in-office work or off-site work at any time in its sole discretion. 

In completing this application, and when submitting related documentation, applicants may redact information that identifies their age, date of birth, and/or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution. 

We follow all federal, state, and local laws including restrictions on child/minor labor. Minors hired into this position will not be asked or permitted to engage in any activities restricted to adult workers.

Vail Resorts is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, protected veteran status or any other status protected by applicable law.

Requisition ID  512895
Reference Date: 12/12/2025 
Job Code Function: Media