Director - Ad Operations

At MyFitnessPal, we believe good health starts with what you eat. We provide tools, resources and support to enable users to reach their health goals.

Our freemium app, supported by ads, is a key part of our mission to make food tracking accessible to everyone.  MyFitnessPal aims to enhance the user experience by incorporating premium ad formats that are not only engaging for users but also provide a significant revenue stream for the platform as our user base expands. 

About the Role:

The Director of Ad Operations will lead the vision, strategy, and execution of MyFitnessPal’s advertising operations across direct and programmatic channels. This leader will grow and mentor a high-performing team, develop processes and yield strategies that scale, and serve as a key cross-functional partner with Sales, Product, and Client Success. The Director will also be client-facing, engaging with strategic partners to optimize campaigns and maximize revenue. By combining operational rigor with innovative thinking, this role will elevate MyFitnessPal’s advertising business and help drive long-term growth.

Key Responsibilities:

Leadership & Strategy

• Define the vision and long-term strategy for Ad Operations, ensuring alignment with business goals and revenue growth objectives

• Build, grow, and mentor a high-performing Ad Ops team, fostering professional development and strong execution standards

• Partner with executive leadership to set goals, establish KPIs, and report on business impact of advertising operations

• Serve as a thought leader, staying ahead of trends in ad tech, programmatic, and yield management

• Contribute to organizational design/structure decisions to scale effectively

• Emphasize data-driven decision making, challenging assumptions and evaluating ideas with strong judgment

• Demonstrate smart risk-taking, balancing innovation and stability

• Build clear career pathways, fostering continuous learning, stretch opportunities, and advancement for team members through mentorship, training, and exposure to cross-functional projects

• Cultivate a high-performance, inclusive culture rooted in company values, where collaboration, accountability, and innovation are celebrated and recognized

Campaign, Measurement & Yield Excellence

• Oversee the delivery and optimization of all direct-sold and programmatic campaigns, ensuring performance goals and client commitments are exceeded

• Develop and own yield management strategies across direct and indirect channels, balancing revenue maximization with user experience

• Lead operational innovations, including new workflows, tools, and integrations that scale with business growth

Partner & Client Engagement

• Act as a senior client-facing partner, collaborating with key advertisers and agencies to optimize campaign performance and strengthen long-term relationships

• Manage and deepen relationships with SSPs, DSPs, and ad tech partners to unlock new revenue opportunities and maximize inventory performance

• Collaborate with Sales and Client Success teams to proactively identify campaign risks and develop solutions to ensure client satisfaction

Budget  & Resource Management

• Make trade-off decisions that maximize ROI while balancing short- and long-term growth

• Partner with Finance to manage investments across technology, headcount, and vendors

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Product, Engineering, and Finance to implement new monetization strategies, improve reporting accuracy, and ensure flawless billing

• Advocate for advertising needs within the broader organization, influencing product roadmaps and revenue initiatives

• Serve as a bridge between operational execution and strategic business development

Qualifications to be successful in this role: 

• Experience: 10+ years of progressive experience in digital advertising operations, with at least 3 years in a leadership role managing teams

• Ad Tech Mastery: Deep expertise in ad servers (e.g., Google Ad Manager), SSPs, DSPs, header bidding, programmatic platforms, and measurement tools

• Leadership: Proven track record of building and developing high-performing operations teams, with strong coaching and mentorship skills

• Strategic Thinker: Ability to design and implement yield strategies, workflow innovations, and operational best practices

• Client-Facing Experience: Comfort presenting insights and recommendations directly to advertisers, agencies, and senior stakeholders

• Analytical Strength: Ability to analyze complex campaign and revenue data, extract insights, and influence business strategy

• Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to translate technical concepts to executive, client, and cross-functional audiences

• Innovation Mindset: Proactive in identifying emerging trends, testing new approaches, and scaling best practices

The reasonably estimated salary for this role at MyFitnessPal ranges from $170,000 - $250,000. Actual compensation is based on factors such as the candidate’s skills, qualifications, and experience. In addition, MyFitnessPal offers a wide range of comprehensive and inclusive employee benefits for this role including healthcare, parental planning, mental health benefits, annual performance bonus, a 401(k) plan and match, responsible time off, monthly wellness and technology allowances, and others.