Full-Time
Manager – Retail Media Search
Posted on 10/4/2025
Ovative
501-1,000 employees
Digital media, measurement, and creative services.
Compensation Overview
$90k - $132k/yr
Chicago, IL, USA + 2 more
More locations: New York, NY, USA | Minneapolis, MN, USA
In Person
 Growth & Marketing (3) |
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- 6+ years of media experience
- Proven mastery of the following:
- Execution with retail media technologies and tools (e.g. Walmart Connect, Amazon Advertising (AMS, DSP, AAP), Pacvue, Criteo, PromoteIQ, Profitero, and other technologies)
- External partner management
- Previous experience in performance marketing, CPG retail, eCommerce, etc. Preferred
- Experience leading operator workstreams and managing direct reports
- Programmatic buying experience for channels like CTV, OLV, and Display, ideally directly with Amazon preferred
- Experience in Walmart Connect, Luminate preferred
- Own, manage and grow the overall relationship and performance of some of Ovative Group’s largest clients
- Lead day-to-day management of client retail media programs including:
- Clearly defining program objectives, tactics and KPIs
- Developing and delivering client communication
- Effectively manage client relationship and establish trust and credibility
- Strive to be the best interaction of the client’s day
- Lead day-to-day management and optimization of client retail media Search programs including:
- Algorithmic bid platform and manual bidding strategy and optimization
- Custom analysis, reporting and insights
- Campaign tactics and segmentation build-out and optimization
- Strategic partner management
- Identify new test and learn opportunities
- Strategic partner management across key Retail Media Networks (Amazon, Walmart, etc.) and technology partners
- Work with cross-channel team leads to regularly evaluate the effectiveness of media briefs and update based on changes to overarching business strategies, client feedback, learnings, and research
- Custom analysis, reporting and insights that can scale across channels
- Be a leader in defining and building our Retail Media practice
- Drive strategic channel capabilities forward and owning key solution area accountabilities
- Support staffing strategy and help recruit, train and manage new Ovative team members
- Inspire your direct reports to reach their quarterly, annual, and long-term goals
- Foster a culture of open communication and 360-degree feedback
- Act as a subject matter expert for Retail Media by continually evolving Ovative’s approach to best practices; vetting and partnering with new technology companies; managing planning and execution tools, and staying on top of emerging trends
- Develop and drive forward multi-channel digital media strategies and roadmaps aligned with client program growth goals
- Support higher level, cross-functional marketing strategy projects by providing deep media expertise
Ovative Group is an independent firm specializing in digital-first media, measurement, and creative solutions to drive sustainable growth by linking marketing activities to business outcomes through the Enterprise Marketing Return (EMR) framework. It combines six capabilities, including media, measurement, and creative services, into a proprietary platform called EMRge that provides a single view of marketing performance to optimize investments and strategies. It differentiates itself by offering both advisory guidance and hands-on campaign execution and measurement, all supported by the EMR framework rather than relying on technology alone. Goal: help clients achieve sustainable growth by optimizing marketing investments and proving the business value of their marketing efforts.
Company Size
501-1,000
Company Stage
N/A
Total Funding
N/A
Headquarters
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Founded
2009
Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- Chicago office quadrupled to 31,000 sq ft at 111 N Canal in March 2026.
- World Market selected Ovative for digital marketing on March 19, 2025.
- TikTok and Retail Media surged in 2025 EMR Power Rankings effectiveness.
What critics are saying
- TikTok ban enacted early 2025 slashes top EMR channel in-store sales lift.
- Chrome cookie deprecation in Q3 2026 destroys EMRge incrementality accuracy.
- Retail media networks demand in-house execution, eroding Ovative margins.
What makes Ovative unique
- EMRge platform unifies media, measurement, and creative for holistic EMR.
- Enterprise Marketing Return metric links marketing to business outcomes.
- Independent firm integrates six capabilities for omnichannel optimization.
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Benefits
Health Insurance
Flexible Paid Time Off
401(k) Company Match
Sabbatical Leave
Phone/Internet Stipend
Company News
Ovative signals continued growth with strategic Chicago office expansion at 111 N Canal. Article authors: Ovative Group CHICAGO, IL March 3rd, 2026 - In an unpredictable economic and technological landscape, Ovative is quadrupling down on growth. The independent media, measurement, and creative firm has signed a 31,000-square-foot lease at 111 N. Canal in Chicago's West Loop, quadrupling its local footprint and marking a major milestone in the company's continued growth. The new space, previously occupied by Pinterest, places Ovative alongside globally recognized brands and further cements its presence in one of the nation's most iconic advertising and marketing cities. The expansion comes as Ovative reaches another significant milestone: the hiring of its 100th Chicago-based team member. The growth in headcount reflects not only the firm's continued business momentum, but its long-term commitment to investing in talent and building a thriving presence in the city. Founded in Minneapolis, Ovative has rapidly expanded its Chicago presence in recent years. The firm has been listed as one of AdWeek's Fastest-Growing Agencies for four years running and reported nearly 30% revenue growth from 2022 to 2024. That momentum is mirrored in Chicago, not only in square footage, but in talent, partnerships, and client impact. "In a market known for shaping the future of advertising, we're proud to be building something distinctive here," said Dale Nitschke, CEO and Founder of Ovative Group. "Our growth isn't just about space. It's about people. It's about creating an environment where talented teams can come together, collaborate deeply, and drive meaningful growth for our clients. As other companies pull back, we're leaning in: investing in our people, our clients, and the communities we're part of." Chicago has long been synonymous with advertising innovation, home to some of the industry's most influential agencies and brands. Ovative's expansion reflects its ambition to contribute to that legacy while bringing a differentiated approach to the market, one grounded in its proprietary marketing intelligence platform, EMRge(TM), and its focus on driving enterprise-wide business growth, not just media performance. The move to 111 N. Canal signals more than physical expansion. The building, which recently underwent significant upgrades, offers open, collaborative spaces designed to bring people together. For Ovative, that intentional investment in gathering space is strategic. "Connection fuels growth," Nitschke added. "We believe in bringing people together across disciplines, clients, and industries. This office is a commitment to that belief. We're building a space where teams can solve complex challenges side by side, where relationships are strengthened in person, and where the energy of collaboration drives better outcomes." Ovative's Chicago growth mirrors its broader trajectory as an independent, impact-driven firm. The company partners with leading retail, CPG, and healthcare brands to unlock measurable, profitable growth by integrating media, measurement, and creative. Its approach aligns media investment to enterprise outcomes, helping brands move beyond siloed channel metrics to true business impact in revenue, brand health, and customer growth. With the new Chicago office set to open on March 3rd, Ovative is inviting clients, partners, and talent to be part of what's next. About Ovative Group Ovative Group is an independent, full-funnel media, measurement, and creative firm. Leveraging its deep industry expertise, Ovative Group help brands like Polaris, Boost Mobile, Post Consumer Brands, American Eagle Outfitters, Petco, and UnitedHealth Group transform their media, measurement, and creative programs. The result? Profitable growth that speaks for itself. At Ovative, Ovative Group don't just track data, Ovative Group redefine success. How do Ovative Group do it? Its proprietary marketing intelligence platform, EMRge(TM) helps businesses transform marketing into a driver of sustainable growth. Powered by Enterprise Marketing Return (EMR), its differentiated approach to holistic media buying, planning, and measurement, EMRge(TM) is the first marketing intelligence platform to measure businesses holistically. Ovative Group is all about raising the bar every day, and it shows. Its work has been recognized by organizations like AdWeek, Digiday, Google, Meta, Inc. 5000, and USA Today. For more information about Ovative, visit its website or follow Ovative on Instagram or LinkedIn. For media inquiries or to connect with the Ovative Chicago team, please contact: Courtney Stoesz Sr. Manager of Brand Marketing and Events [email protected] 715-307-2255 ARTICLE AUTHOR * Ovative Group Ovative Group is an independent, full-funnel media, measurement, and creative firm. Leveraging its deep industry expertise, Ovative Group help brands like Domino's, Facebook, The Home Depot, General Mills, Disney, and UnitedHealth Group transform their media and measurement programs. The result? Profitable growth that speaks for itself.
10 Ovative Group employees win 32 Under 32 Award.
MINNEAPOLIS, March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Ovative Group, a leading media and measurement firm, partnered with Meta to release a groundbreaking white paper, "Unlocking the Full Potential of Your Marketing Budget with Omni Optimization and Measurement." The paper reveals how brands can unlock untapped revenue by shifting from e-commerce-only optimization to a holistic, omnichannel strategy.Despite only 15% of retail sales occurring online between January and September 2024, 80% of brands continue optimizing media spend exclusively for e-commerce—leaving significant revenue on the table."Marketers who continue optimizing to digital-only KPIs are leaving significant revenue on the table. The shift to omni measurement isn't just an option—it's a necessity," said Beth McKigney, SVP of Measurement at Ovative Group.Ovative's testing of Meta's new Omnichannel Ads—which optimize for both online and offline conversions—showed a 39% to 53% increase in store sales compared to business-as-usual campaigns. However, some brands experienced a dip in e-commerce sales, highlighting the need for incrementality-based measurement to understand total omni impact.Ovative's EMRge™ technology enables this precise measurement through a triangulated approach combining in-market testing, MMM+, and bottom-up analytics—ensuring cross-functional trust in media's impact.Meta is also piloting Conversion Rules, a new tool allowing advertisers to balance online and offline conversions—helping omnichannel retailers minimize e-commerce declines while maximizing total revenue.Key Takeaways:85% of retail sales still happen offline , yet 80% of brands continue optimizing media spend for e-commerce only., yet 80% of brands continue optimizing media spend for e-commerce only. Testing of Meta's new Omnichannel Ads drove a 39% to 53% increase in store sales vs. standard campaigns—but also revealed e-commerce trade-offs, emphasizing the need for incrementality-based measurement .drove a vs. standard campaigns—but also revealed e-commerce trade-offs, emphasizing the need for
MINNEAPOLIS, March 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Ovative Group, a leading performance marketing and measurement firm, unveiled its highly anticipated 2025 EMR Power Rankings, providing marketers with essential data on which paid media channels drive the highest Enterprise Marketing Return (EMR). As brands navigate an increasingly omni-focused landscape, these rankings deliver actionable insights to optimize media investments and maximize business impact.With the lines between ecommerce and in-store sales continuing to blur, Ovative's proprietary EMR framework—powered by its EMRge™ technology—offers a holistic approach to measuring media's full-funnel impact. Unlike traditional ROAS metrics, EMR accounts for online and offline revenue, future customer value, incrementality, and profitability, empowering marketers to make smarter, more sustainable media investment decisions."The 2025 EMR Power Rankings go beyond digital performance metrics to reveal the true impact of media on a brand's bottom line," said Alexander Matoushek, author of the EMR Power Rankings report. "This data is a game-changer for brands looking to maximize omni-channel profitability."Key Insights from the 2025 EMR Power Rankings:TikTok : Despite regulatory uncertainty, TikTok surged in effectiveness, especially in driving in-store sales.: Despite regulatory uncertainty, TikTok surged in effectiveness, especially in driving in-store sales. Retail Media : Climbed from #15 to #8 in under nine months, proving its increasing value in the media mix.: Climbed from #15 to #8 in under nine months, proving its increasing value in the media mix. Connected TV (CTV) : Dropped from #6 to #16 as audience fragmentation and saturation challenge its effectiveness.: Dropped from #6 to #16 as audience fragmentation and saturation challenge its effectiveness
As a badged Meta Measurement Partner, Ovative partnered with Meta to measure their new Omnichannel Ads capability's impact on omni revenue.