Director, Buyer Development (Copy) in Düsseldorf

About Index Exchange

Index Exchange is a globally trusted independent supply-side platform, powering intelligent decisioning that maximizes value for media owners.

As a neutral, conflict-free exchange, we help media owners connect more effectively with the world’s leading brands, enabling marketers to achieve stronger performance while advancing efficiency, transparency, and quality across the programmatic ecosystem.

With more than 20 years of industry leadership, we continue to accelerate the ad technology evolution by applying intelligence closer to the impression and reducing waste across the supply chain.

Through radically transparent practices and exceptional standards, we deliver long-term value for media owners, marketers, and partners worldwide.

What’s it like to work at Index?

Index is an exciting and fast-paced place to work.

You'll be able to feed your ambition, lean into trust and transparency, and feel genuine support from your colleagues.

We’re built on our core values and live them each day. They're not just buzzwords.

We pride ourselves on our independence and openness, not only in our technology, but in our teams, too. Our diverse and inclusive culture celebrates how we can leverage our unique differences to help drive Index forward.

We have more than 550 Indexers around the globe dedicated to building a safe and transparent marketplace that provides a trusted experience for consumers, and we’re looking for talented professionals to help take us to the next level.

Are you ready to join the programmatic evolution?

What we’re looking for

Index Exchange is seeking a Director, Buyer Development to lead and grow our buyer relationships across Central and Eastern Europe, with a primary focus on Germany.

The Buyer Development team works closely with agencies, trading desks, DSPs and advertisers to provide strategic insights into the programmatic landscape, drive adoption of Index Exchange’s buyer solutions and maximise access to premium publisher inventory.

This role will be responsible for developing and executing the regional buyer development strategy, strengthening existing partnerships, identifying new commercial opportunities and driving revenue growth.

The Director will also have people management responsibilities, providing leadership, coaching and development to a direct report while ensuring alignment with regional and wider EMEA commercial objectives.

The successful candidate will combine strong commercial acumen, deep programmatic expertise and an established network across the German buy-side market.

They will be comfortable engaging with senior stakeholders, delivering consultative solutions and operating within a highly technical environment.

Here’s what you’ll be doing

• Buyer Development & Commercial Growth
• Develop and execute the buyer development strategy across CEE, with a primary focus on Germany.
• Own and grow strategic relationships with agencies, advertisers, trading desks and DSP partners.
• Identify and secure new commercial partnerships, revenue opportunities and sources of programmatic demand.
• Drive adoption and growth of Index Exchange’s buyer products and marketplace solutions.
• Manage a pipeline of prospective agency and buyer partners, developing strategies to expand Index Exchange’s market presence.
• Take ownership of regional revenue performance, commercial targets and partnership growth.
• Strategic Partnerships & Client Engagement
• Act as a senior commercial contact for key agency, advertiser and programmatic buying partners across the region.
• Build trusted relationships with stakeholders at all levels, from programmatic traders to senior agency and brand leadership.
• Provide strategic and consultative guidance on programmatic advertising, supply-path optimisation, marketplace solutions and emerging industry trends.
• Deliver educational sessions, product presentations and thought leadership to strengthen partner engagement.
• Lead quarterly business reviews with key partners, identifying opportunities for growth and partnership expansion.
• Represent Index Exchange at industry events, conferences and client engagements.
• Leadership & People Management
• Lead, manage and mentor a direct report, providing ongoing coaching, performance feedback and professional development to support individual and team success.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Partner closely with Buyer Account Management, Operations, Product and Publisher teams to ensure successful execution of regional buyer strategies.
• Collaborate with Account Management teams to drive agency activation, deal performance and revenue growth.
• Work with Product teams to provide market feedback, identify opportunities for innovation and contribute to future product development.
• Ensure buyer requirements and commercial opportunities are effectively communicated across internal teams.
• Support alignment between regional buyer development priorities and broader EMEA commercial objectives.
• Market Intelligence & Reporting
• Monitor developments across the CEE programmatic advertising landscape, including emerging buyer trends, competitive activity and evolving market requirements.
• Provide regular reporting and insights to senior leadership on revenue performance, pipeline development, partnership growth and market opportunities.
• Identify commercial challenges and recommend strategies to improve performance and accelerate growth.
• Maintain accurate pipeline forecasts and contribute to regional business planning.

Here's what you need

8+ years of experience in digital advertising, ad technology or programmatic media, ideally within a commercial, business development or strategic partnerships role.

• Deep understanding of the programmatic advertising ecosystem, including SSPs, DSPs, ad exchanges, agency trading desks, private marketplaces and supply-path optimisation.
• Strong knowledge of the German buy-side market, with an established network of agency, advertiser, trading desk and DSP relationships.
• Proven track record of developing strategic partnerships, generating new business and delivering revenue growth.
• Previous experience in a buyer-facing commercial role within an SSP, ad exchange, DSP or related ad technology business is highly desirable.
• Experience managing, mentoring or developing commercial talent.
• Strong consultative selling skills, with the ability to translate complex technical solutions into clear commercial value.
• Experience engaging and influencing senior stakeholders across agencies, advertisers and technology partners.
• Excellent communication, presentation, negotiation and relationship management skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively across commercial, technical and operational teams.
• Strong commercial judgement, analytical capabilities and experience managing revenue targets and forecasts.
• Fluency in both German and English is required.

Why you’ll love working here

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision plans for you and your dependents
• Paid time off, health days, and personal obligation days plus flexible work schedules
• Competitive retirement matching plans
• Equity packages
• Generous parental leave available to birthing, non-birthing, and adoptive parents
• Annual well-being allowance plus fitness discounts and group wellness activities
• Employee assistance program
• Mental health first aid program that provides an in-the-moment point of contact and reassurance
• One day of volunteer time off per year and a donation-matching program
• Monthly town halls and regular community-led team events
• Multiple resources and programming to support continuous learning
• A workplace that supports a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment – learn more here
• Equal employment opportunity

At Index Exchange, we believe that successful products are built by teams just as diverse as the audience who uses them.

As such, we are committed to equal employment opportunities.

We celebrate diversity of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or expression, or veteran status.

Additionally, we realize that diversity is deeper than any status or classification—diversity is the human experience.

For those who show grit, passion, and humility—Index will welcome you.

Accessibility for applicants with disabilities

Index Exchange welcomes and encourages individuals with disabilities to apply to work with us.

If you require an accommodation, please share the details of your request and any information how we can assist you with the hiring recruiter when they contact you.

Index Exchange will make reasonable efforts to ensure accommodation requests are met throughout the recruitment process.

Index everywhere, Index anywhere

Our corporate headquarters are in Toronto, with major offices in New York, Montreal, Kitchener, London, San Francisco, and many other global cities.

As a major global advertising exchange, we are committed to operating as a tightly knit global team and embracing and empowering talent wherever our colleagues may be.

AI Disclaimer

Automated tools including artificial intelligence may be used to assist in screening and assessing applicants for this role. All hiring decisions involve human review.

Vacancy Status

This posting is for an existing vacancy.