Product Strategy & Operations Lead, Ad Performance

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Strategy & Operations Lead, Ad Performance

Company: Roku

Location: Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Product Strategy & Operations / Advertising Technology

Date Posted: 2026-08-21

Experience Level: 5-10 years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive product strategy and operational readiness for Roku's performance advertising portfolio, with a focus on outcome-based buying systems.

• Analyze and optimize ad delivery, bidding, targeting, forecasting, and measurement workflows to identify and resolve operational gaps.

• Act as a key strategic partner bridging product development with business enablement for advertising products.

• Develop and execute go-to-market (GTM) strategies for new performance advertising products, ensuring alignment with sales, product, and legal teams.

• Leverage AI tools to enhance productivity in research, analysis, and communication for strategic initiatives.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned within Roku's Ad Product organization, specifically within the Ad Product Strategy & Operations (PS&O) function. It requires a deep understanding of performance advertising mechanics and a strong ability to translate product vision into scalable operational execution. The emphasis on AI usage for productivity suggests a forward-thinking approach to operational tasks.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Develop and refine the product strategy for Roku's performance advertising portfolio, integrating market dynamics, buyer needs, and overarching business objectives into product roadmaps and prioritization frameworks.

• Conduct in-depth analysis of existing systems, workflows, and dependencies across ad delivery, bidding, targeting, forecasting, and measurement to pinpoint inefficiencies and propose scalable operational solutions.

• Collaborate closely with Product Management, Ad Sales, Operations, and Legal teams to proactively unblock revenue opportunities and enhance team readiness to sell and support performance buying products by addressing compliance, operational, and go-to-market challenges.

• Establish and implement scalable frameworks to support the growth of performance advertising across Roku’s direct channels, including Home Screen and native surfaces, as well as in-stream video ad businesses.

• Serve as the primary point of accountability for performance advertising GTM initiatives, ensuring robust cross-functional team alignment, clear accountability, and the delivery of measurable business outcomes.

• Own the comprehensive operational readiness and successful launch execution for new performance buying products, ensuring Ad Sales teams are thoroughly equipped to effectively support advertisers from day one.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic planning and hands-on execution, common in operations leadership roles. The focus on "unblocking revenue opportunities" and "operational readiness" indicates a direct impact on business performance, requiring a strong understanding of the entire ad tech ecosystem.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as Business, Marketing, Economics, Computer Science, or a related discipline is typically expected for roles of this seniority. Advanced degrees or relevant certifications may be beneficial.

Experience: Minimum of 4+ years of progressive experience in strategy and operations, growth marketing, performance marketing, or a closely related field, preferably within the digital advertising technology (AdTech) sector. Demonstrated track record of growth and progression in prior roles, showcasing strong performance and increasing levels of responsibility.

Required Skills:

• Proven experience in developing and shaping product strategy through rigorous market analysis, competitive intelligence gathering, and effective cross-functional alignment.

• Deep understanding of performance advertising systems, including outcome-based bidding strategies (e.g., cost-per-action), conversion optimization principles, advanced audience targeting, measurement, and attribution methodologies.

• Strong systems thinking capabilities with a demonstrated ability to design, scale, and optimize operational processes to achieve measurable business outcomes.

• Exceptional communication and influence skills, with the ability to articulate complex technical concepts to diverse audiences and drive consensus.

• Highly analytical and detail-oriented, with a meticulous approach to problem-solving and data interpretation.

• Proficiency in leveraging AI tools to enhance productivity in areas such as research, presentation development, briefing document creation, and financial analysis. Preferred Skills:

• Experience managing performance advertising budgets, with a nuanced understanding of how bidding and optimization decisions impact budget allocation and overall campaign effectiveness.

• Familiarity with Roku's advertising platform, its ecosystem, and the specific challenges and opportunities within Connected TV (CTV) advertising.

• Experience in product commercialization and go-to-market (GTM) strategy development for digital advertising products.

• Familiarity with project management methodologies and tools to manage complex, cross-functional initiatives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The experience requirements emphasize a blend of strategic acumen and operational execution within the AdTech space. The specific mention of AI proficiency is a key differentiator, suggesting that candidates should be prepared to showcase how they've utilized AI in previous roles. The "4+ years" combined with "proven track record of growth" implies a need for candidates who have demonstrably advanced in their careers.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Documented examples of developing and implementing product strategies for advertising products, showcasing the process from market analysis to roadmap integration.

• Case studies detailing the optimization of performance advertising workflows, including improvements in ad delivery, bidding, targeting, measurement, or attribution.

• Evidence of operationalizing new products or features, demonstrating the ability to bridge product development with business enablement and cross-functional readiness.

• Examples of analytical frameworks or models used to evaluate market dynamics, competitive landscapes, or the financial performance of advertising products.

• Demonstrations of how AI was leveraged to improve efficiency in research, analysis, or strategic document creation. Process Documentation:

• Detailed outlines of processes developed for go-to-market (GTM) execution for new advertising products, including stakeholder alignment and launch readiness checklists.

• Workflow diagrams illustrating the analysis of systems, dependencies, and bottlenecks within ad tech stacks (e.g., ad delivery, bidding, measurement), along with proposed solutions.

• Examples of frameworks established for scaling operational processes across different product lines or channels within a digital advertising environment.

• Documentation of how cross-functional teams (Product, Sales, Legal, Operations) were aligned and managed to achieve specific product launch or revenue growth objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the role's focus on strategy, operations, and GTM execution, a portfolio demonstrating tangible results in these areas is crucial. Applicants should be prepared to showcase their ability to analyze complex systems, optimize workflows, and drive successful product launches, with a particular emphasis on performance advertising. The inclusion of AI in the requirements suggests that portfolio pieces demonstrating AI-driven efficiencies would be highly valuable.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: The estimated annual salary for this position in Massachusetts is between $130,000 - $170,000. This range is based on the provided information and industry benchmarks for similar roles in the Boston area, considering the experience level and responsibilities.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health insurance coverage (medical, dental, and vision).

• Equity awards, offering potential for long-term financial growth.

• Life insurance and disability benefits for financial security.

• Parental leave to support new parents.

• Wellness benefits and global access to mental health and financial wellness support resources.

• Retirement options (e.g., 401(k) or pension plans).

• Commuter benefits to assist with transportation costs.

• Paid time off, in accordance with local leave policies.

Working Hours: The standard workweek is 40 hours, with a hybrid work arrangement. Employees are generally expected in the office Monday through Thursday, with Fridays offering flexibility for remote work, unless specific role requirements necessitate a five-day in-office presence.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is explicitly provided for the Massachusetts location. The benefits listed are extensive, covering health, financial, and personal well-being, which is standard for a company of Roku's size and industry. The hybrid work model is detailed, providing clarity on expected in-office days.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology / Streaming Media / Advertising Technology. Roku operates at the forefront of the rapidly evolving Connected TV (CTV) and digital advertising landscape, connecting consumers with content and advertisers with audiences.

Company Size: Roku is a large, publicly traded company with a significant global presence, indicated by its diverse employee base and extensive product offerings. This scale implies a need for robust operational processes and strategic alignment across numerous teams and functions.

Founded: 2002. Founded in 2002, Roku has a long history of innovation in the streaming space, evolving from a pioneer in streaming devices to a comprehensive platform provider. This history suggests a culture that values long-term vision, adaptability, and a pragmatic approach to innovation.

Team Structure:

• The Ad Product Strategy & Operations (PS&O) team is a specialized function within Roku’s broader Ad Product organization, acting as a hybrid strategy and execution group.

• This team collaborates closely with core Product Management, Ad Sales, Legal, and other operational teams, indicating a highly cross-functional working environment.

• The PS&O Lead will likely report into a senior leader within Ad Product or a dedicated Head of Strategy & Operations for Advertising. Methodology:

• Data-driven decision-making is a core tenet, with an emphasis on market analysis, competitive intelligence, and performance metrics to inform strategy and prioritization.

• Workflow optimization and the identification of systemic roadblocks are critical to ensuring scalability and efficient product launches.

• A pragmatic, action-oriented approach to innovation, focusing on delivering solutions to the customer, is a defining characteristic of Roku's culture.

• AI is increasingly being integrated into operational workflows to enhance productivity and strategic analysis.

Company Website: https://www.weareroku.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Roku's culture is described as fast-paced, collaborative, and focused on results, with a strong emphasis on problem-solving and independent thinking. The company's history and size suggest a mature yet agile operational environment where strategic thinkers can make a significant impact. The PS&O team's positioning highlights its central role in connecting product vision with market reality.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Lead, indicating a mid-to-senior level position. It requires significant autonomy, strategic influence, and the ability to drive initiatives with minimal direct supervision. The scope includes developing product strategy, operationalizing GTM plans, and resolving complex operational challenges within the performance advertising domain.

Reporting Structure: The Product Strategy & Operations Lead will likely report to a Director or VP within the Ad Product organization. They will work closely with Product Managers, Sales leadership, Legal counsel, and various operational teams, requiring strong stakeholder management skills.

Operations Impact: The role has a direct impact on Roku's revenue growth by ensuring the successful development, launch, and scaling of performance advertising products. By identifying and resolving operational bottlenecks, the lead directly contributes to the platform's ability to attract and retain advertisers, ultimately driving ad spend and platform adoption.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization & Leadership: Opportunity to deepen expertise in performance advertising, AdTech, and product operations, potentially leading to more senior strategy or operational roles within Roku's advertising division.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Extensive collaboration across Product, Sales, Marketing, Legal, and Engineering teams offers broad business understanding and networking opportunities.

• Skill Development: Continuous learning and application of AI in strategic and operational contexts, along with honing skills in market analysis, competitive intelligence, and GTM execution.

• Impactful Projects: Ownership of high-visibility initiatives that directly influence the company's advertising revenue and market position.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers significant potential for career advancement within Roku's growing advertising business. The "Lead" title suggests an expectation of leadership and strategic contribution, with clear pathways for further growth into senior operational or product leadership roles. The emphasis on impact and cross-functional exposure is a strong draw for ambitious operations professionals.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Roku utilizes a hybrid work model, blending in-office collaboration with remote flexibility. The primary office location is in Boston, Massachusetts.

Office Location(s): Boston, Massachusetts. This location likely offers a vibrant tech ecosystem with access to talent and industry networks. Specific details regarding office amenities and accessibility would be available upon inquiry.

Workspace Context:

• The hybrid model fosters collaboration on designated in-office days (typically Monday-Thursday), encouraging team interaction, brainstorming, and alignment.

• Fridays offer flexibility, allowing for focused individual work and better work-life integration.

• Employees are expected to have a suitable remote work setup on flexible days, ensuring productivity and connectivity.

• Access to Roku's internal tools, systems, and support infrastructure will be provided to facilitate efficient work.

Work Schedule: The standard work schedule is aligned with a 40-hour workweek. The hybrid arrangement provides flexibility, allowing for a balance between structured team collaboration and independent, focused work. This schedule is designed to accommodate the demands of strategic and operational responsibilities while promoting employee well-being.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid work environment at Roku is clearly defined, emphasizing structured in-office collaboration for key team activities, while offering flexibility for individual focus. This model is common in the tech industry and aims to balance team cohesion with employee autonomy.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will likely conduct an initial call to assess general qualifications, interest, and cultural fit.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A deeper dive into your experience, strategic thinking, and operational approach, likely focusing on performance advertising, GTM, and problem-solving scenarios. Be prepared to discuss your experience with AI for productivity.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Interviews with peers or stakeholders from Product, Sales, or Legal teams to evaluate collaboration skills, ability to influence, and understanding of their respective functions.

• Case Study/Presentation: A common step for strategy and operations roles. You may be asked to analyze a hypothetical business problem, develop a strategy, or present a plan for operationalizing a new product. This is where your portfolio will be crucial.

• Final Round: Potentially with senior leadership to assess strategic vision, leadership potential, and overall fit with Roku's culture.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 impactful projects that best demonstrate your experience in product strategy, performance advertising operations, GTM execution, and AI-driven productivity.

• Quantify Impact: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the actions taken, and the measurable outcomes (e.g., revenue growth, efficiency gains, adoption rates). Use metrics relevant to ad tech and performance marketing.

• Showcase Process: Detail your methodology for market analysis, competitive intelligence gathering, workflow optimization, and cross-functional alignment. Illustrate how you identified and addressed operational gaps.

• Highlight AI Usage: Specifically showcase examples where you leveraged AI tools for research, analysis, presentation creation, or other productivity enhancements, detailing the tools used and the impact achieved.

• Tailor to Roku: Research Roku's advertising products and performance advertising offerings. Frame your portfolio examples to align with their business objectives and challenges.

Challenge Preparation:

• Performance Ad Scenarios: Prepare to discuss how you would approach common challenges in performance advertising, such as optimizing bids for specific conversion events, improving audience targeting accuracy, or developing measurement frameworks for new ad formats.

• GTM Strategy Development: Practice outlining a GTM plan for a new advertising product, considering target audience, sales enablement, legal review, and operational readiness.

• Operational Problem-Solving: Be ready to analyze a complex operational issue within an ad tech stack and propose a structured, data-driven solution.

• AI Application: Anticipate questions about how you've used AI in previous roles and how you envision applying it to Roku's operations. Be prepared to discuss specific tools and methodologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is likely rigorous, designed to assess both strategic thinking and operational execution capabilities. A well-curated portfolio that clearly demonstrates impact, process, and AI utilization is essential for success in this role. Preparing for case studies and scenario-based questions will be critical.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• CRM: Salesforce (or similar, for sales enablement and customer data management).

• Project Management: Jira, Asana, Trello (for workflow management, task tracking, and cross-functional collaboration).

• Productivity Suites: Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides, Meet) and/or Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams) for documentation, analysis, and communication.

• AI Tools: Proficiency with AI-powered research assistants, data analysis tools, presentation generators, and productivity enhancers is explicitly mentioned as a requirement. Examples might include ChatGPT, Bard, or specialized AI platforms for business intelligence.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Data Visualization: Tableau, Looker, Power BI (for creating dashboards and reporting on ad performance, market trends, and operational efficiency).

• Analytics Platforms: Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics (for website and product usage analysis).

• Ad Performance Platforms: Internal Roku analytics tools, potentially third-party ad server analytics (e.g., Google Ad Manager, FreeWheel) for deep dives into campaign data.

CRM & Automation:

• Marketing Automation: HubSpot, Marketo (if applicable for campaign execution or lead nurturing aspects of performance marketing).

• Data Warehousing/BI: Snowflake, BigQuery (for accessing and analyzing large datasets relevant to ad performance and user behavior).

• Integration Tools: Tools facilitating data flow between CRM, ad platforms, and analytics systems may be used.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack emphasizes tools common in AdTech and operations roles. Proficiency with AI tools is a key differentiator for this role, indicating a modern approach to operational efficiency. Familiarity with specific ad servers and analytics platforms used in digital advertising will be beneficial.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Impact-Driven: A strong focus on delivering measurable business outcomes and driving revenue growth through strategic and operational excellence. Operations professionals are expected to demonstrate clear ROI for their initiatives.

• Data-Informed: Decisions are grounded in data analysis, market research, and performance metrics. A commitment to rigorous analysis and evidence-based recommendations is crucial.

• Efficiency & Scalability: A continuous drive to optimize workflows, eliminate inefficiencies, and build scalable processes that can support Roku's rapid growth.

• Collaboration & Transparency: Working effectively across diverse teams (Product, Sales, Legal, Engineering) to achieve shared goals, with open communication and a willingness to share knowledge and feedback.

• Agility & Adaptability: The ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment, adapting quickly to market changes and evolving business priorities.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Partnerships: The role requires building strong relationships and fostering collaboration with Product Management, Ad Sales, Legal, and other operational teams to ensure seamless product development and market launch.

• Proactive Communication: Regular updates, clear articulation of needs and dependencies, and proactive problem-solving are key to effective collaboration.

• Feedback Integration: An open culture where feedback is welcomed, discussed constructively, and integrated into process improvements and strategy refinement.

• Shared Ownership: A collective responsibility for the success of advertising products, encouraging a team-oriented approach to overcoming challenges and achieving objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: Roku's culture emphasizes a results-oriented, collaborative, and data-driven approach. Operations professionals are expected to be proactive problem-solvers who can navigate complex organizational structures and drive tangible business impact. The values align well with a fast-paced, growth-focused environment.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating a Dynamic Market: The AdTech landscape is constantly evolving with new technologies, regulations, and consumer behaviors. Staying ahead of these changes and adapting product strategy accordingly will be a continuous challenge.

• Balancing Product Vision with Operational Reality: Ensuring that ambitious product roadmaps are translated into scalable, executable operational plans requires careful planning and cross-functional alignment.

• Driving Adoption of New Products: Convincing sales teams and advertisers to adopt new performance advertising products requires strong enablement, clear value propositions, and demonstrated performance.

• Leveraging AI Effectively: Integrating and maximizing the benefits of AI tools across various operational tasks requires ongoing learning, experimentation, and strategic implementation.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AdTech Expertise: Deepen knowledge of the Connected TV (CTV) advertising ecosystem, performance marketing strategies, and emerging trends in digital advertising.

• Product Strategy & Operations: Enhance skills in developing and operationalizing product strategies, managing GTM initiatives, and optimizing complex workflows.

• AI Integration: Gain hands-on experience and leadership in applying AI to drive productivity and strategic insights within an operations function.

• Leadership & Influence: Develop advanced skills in stakeholder management, cross-functional leadership, and influencing strategic decisions within a large organization.

• Industry Exposure: Potential for attending industry conferences, participating in workshops, and engaging with thought leaders in the advertising and technology space.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role presents significant opportunities for professional growth by tackling complex challenges in a rapidly evolving industry. The emphasis on AI and performance advertising provides a strong platform for developing highly sought-after skills.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you developed a product strategy for an advertising product. What was your process, and what were the key outcomes?" (Focus on market analysis, competitive intelligence, and alignment).

• "How would you approach operationalizing a new performance advertising bidding system for Roku's platform? What are the key considerations and stakeholders?" (Highlight systems thinking, GTM planning, and cross-functional collaboration).

• "Tell me about a significant operational bottleneck you identified and resolved in a previous role. How did you use data and influence to achieve your solution?" (Showcase problem-solving, analytical skills, and impact).

• "How have you leveraged AI tools to improve productivity in your work, specifically in areas like research, analysis, or presentation development? Provide specific examples." (Be ready to detail tools used, methodologies, and quantifiable benefits). Company & Culture Questions:

• "Why are you interested in Roku, and specifically in this Product Strategy & Operations role within our Ad Product organization?" (Research Roku's mission, products, and recent news; connect your skills to their needs).

• "How do you approach collaboration with Product Managers, Sales teams, and Legal departments, especially when there are competing priorities?" (Emphasize communication, influence, and finding common ground).

• "Describe your understanding of the performance advertising landscape and what makes a platform attractive to growth marketers." (Demonstrate industry knowledge and strategic perspective).

• "How do you stay current with changes in the AdTech industry and leverage that knowledge to inform your work?" (Showcase continuous learning and adaptability). Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your presentation logically: Problem/Opportunity -> Your Approach/Strategy -> Execution/Actions -> Results/Impact.

• Quantify Everything: Use specific numbers and metrics to demonstrate the impact of your work. For advertising roles, this means metrics like CPM, CPC, CPA, conversion rates, revenue lift, efficiency gains, adoption rates, etc.

• Showcase Process: Clearly articulate the "how" behind your successes – your analytical frameworks, GTM planning process, operational optimization methodologies, and how you engaged stakeholders.

• Highlight AI: Dedicate a section or integrate throughout your presentation examples of how you used AI to achieve better results or greater efficiency. Be specific about the tools and your process.

• Conciseness: Be mindful of time. Focus on the most impactful projects and deliver your message clearly and concisely. Practice your delivery to ensure smooth transitions and impactful storytelling.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating a strong understanding of performance advertising, strategic thinking, operational execution, and the ability to leverage AI. Case studies and portfolio presentations are critical for showcasing practical application of skills and quantifiable impact.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the Roku careers page.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight keywords from the job description, such as "Product Strategy," "Performance Advertising," "Go-to-Market," "Ad Tech," "Systems Thinking," and "AI Productivity." Quantify your achievements with specific metrics related to revenue growth, efficiency improvements, or operational scaling.

• Prepare Your Portfolio: Curate 3-5 key projects that showcase your expertise in product strategy, performance advertising operations, GTM execution, and AI-driven productivity. Ensure each example clearly outlines the challenge, your actions, and the measurable impact.

• Practice Your Narrative: Rehearse how you will present your portfolio and answer common interview questions, focusing on clear, concise, and impactful communication. Be ready to discuss your experience with AI tools and their practical application.

• Research Roku: Thoroughly understand Roku's advertising products, its market position, and its company culture. Prepare thoughtful questions to ask the interviewer that demonstrate your engagement and strategic thinking.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.