Benjamin N. Ross

Director, Marketing & Operations Strategy
Durham, NC, US.

About

Strategic Marketing & Operations Leader with over 20 years of experience driving business transformation and performance optimization within the higher education and technology sectors. Expertly leads cross-functional teams to achieve operational excellence and align stakeholders behind data-driven strategies that scale. Proven ability to deliver significant revenue growth, cost savings, and efficiency improvements through innovative GTM and marketing operations initiatives.

Work

KlientBoost
|

Account Manager

Full-time

Summary

Managed multi-channel demand generation strategies for B2B SaaS, lead generation, and eCommerce clients, driving sales, increasing leads, and achieving growth revenue goals.

Highlights

Led client communication and executed multi-channel demand generation strategies for B2B SaaS, lead generation, and eCommerce clients, achieving significant sales and lead growth.

Built comprehensive campaign dashboards using Looker Studio, ensuring data-driven alignment with strategic account plans and optimizing performance.

Managed over $1MM in marketing budgets, strategically allocating spend across diverse platforms to drive client KPIs and maximize ROI.

Increased managed agency revenue for a book of business by +5% year-over-year through effective client relationship management and strategic execution.

RUFFALO NOEL LEVITZ
|

Program Manager, Marketing Operations

Summary

Scoped and implemented an organization-wide onboarding framework, streamlined workflows, consolidated MarTech platforms, and accelerated sale-to-revenue timelines.

Highlights

Scoped and implemented an organization-wide onboarding framework, reducing new-hire time-to-productivity by 33%.

Streamlined workflows and consolidated MarTech platforms, accelerating the sale-to-revenue timeline by 20% and revenue recognition for SEO campaigns by 15%.

Consolidated multiple client communication platforms into a unified, company-wide technology stack, enhancing operational efficiency and collaboration.

RUFFALO NOEL LEVITZ
|

Manager, Marketing Innovation

Summary

Improved campaign launch speed, reduced error rates, and identified significant tech stack cost savings through workflow optimization.

Highlights

Improved campaign speed to launch by 17% and reduced error rates by optimizing project and task workflows.

Identified and saved $40K in annual tech stack costs by streamlining feature sets and eliminating overlap, optimizing resource allocation.

Led cross-functional teams to successfully enable new product launches across sales, operations, and client success teams.

RUFFALO NOEL LEVITZ
|

Client Success Director

Summary

Directed cross-functional teams to execute effective paid search (SEM), social, and programmatic display campaigns, retaining 100% of clients and increasing revenue.

Highlights

Led cross-functional teams in executing effective paid search (SEM), social, and programmatic display campaigns, achieving 100% client retention and increasing revenue by 15%.

Created a $500K+ yearly recurring revenue stream by optimizing the client ad-spend reconciliation process, enhancing financial efficiency.

Recruited and managed an Ad Expense Coordinator role, tracking over $7MM in annual client ad spend reconciliation with high accuracy.

CONVERGE CONSULTING
|

Director, Talent Operations

Summary

Increased Raleigh team headcount by 20% in four months and managed comprehensive employee acquisition, onboarding, and retention via consistent practices.

Highlights

Increased the Raleigh team headcount by 20% within four months, significantly expanding operational capacity.

Managed comprehensive employee acquisition, onboarding, and retention strategies through consistent hiring and training practices.

CONVERGE CONSULTING
|

Client Services & Digital Strategy Manager

Summary

Achieved a 50% reduction in single-campaign cost per lead and decreased average inquiry cost by 55% through innovative demand-generation tactics.

Highlights

Achieved a 50% reduction in single-campaign cost per lead by implementing first-in-industry demand-generation tactics.

Developed and executed digital marketing strategies for 18 campaigns, decreasing average inquiry cost by 55% and optimizing ROI.

AOL, INC. / VERIZON MEDIA
|

Program Manager, Digital Ad Inventory

Summary

Managed digital advertising inventory enablement and automated manual ad placement steps, significantly improving profitability.

Highlights

Managed digital advertising inventory enablement for direct-buy, exchange, and programmatic monetization, optimizing revenue streams.

Automated 90% of manual steps in low-margin ad placement configuration, improving profitability by 15%.

Improved time-to-revenue by 10-30% across multiple ad product lines by optimizing GTM schedules.

AOL, INC. / VERIZON MEDIA
|

Program Manager, Digital Ad Product Enablement

Summary

Increased ad product speed-to-market by introducing GTM rhythm to deploy products at scale, and managed a team of Video Yield Specialists.

Highlights

Increased ad product speed-to-market by introducing a GTM rhythm, enabling product deployment at scale.

Managed and mentored a team of three Video Yield Specialists, ensuring 100% video ad monetization.

Led successful transition of Windows 10 content- and partner-monetized ad demand to the Microsoft team.

Developed standardized documentation and deployed over 20 account management process guides, enhancing operational consistency.

MICROSOFT CORPORATION
|

Sr. Program Manager, Digital Ad Product Incubation

Summary

Managed a team of Video Yield Specialists to ensure maximum monetization, developed GTM strategies, and deployed numerous content injection initiatives.

Highlights

Managed a team of three Video Yield Specialists, ensuring maximum monetization across hundreds of clients and optimizing ad product performance.

Developed and executed GTM strategies across multiple product lines, contributing to $80MM in annual ad product revenue and improving time-to-revenue by up to 30%.

Deployed over 50 initiatives of Windows OS content injection via ad server, demonstrating proof-of-concept and technical innovation.

Enabled revenue-share partnerships between Microsoft and select publishing partners, unlocking additional revenue streams.

MICROSOFT CORPORATION
|

Sr. Ad Operations Manager

Summary

Led a five-office national Ad Operations functional community, supporting $40MM in annual ad revenue and reducing training time by 15%.

Highlights

Led a five-office national Ad Operations functional community, continuing to support $40MM in annual ad revenue.

Reduced training time by 15% by developing and deploying new-hire onboarding and peer mentor programs, enhancing team efficiency.

Achieved 100% individual accuracy and improved team-wide accuracy rates to 98% on high-impact campaigns through rigorous quality control.

Implemented quality control (QC) processes and scaled best practices nationally for continuous education and operational improvement on technical and client success KPIs.

MICROSOFT CORPORATION
|

Ad Operations Manager

Summary

Implemented paid display advertising campaigns for strategic clients, analyzed performance, and supported $40MM in annual advertising revenue.

Highlights

Implemented paid display advertising campaigns across web, mobile, and online video for strategic clients in CPG, Automotive, and Pharmaceutical industries.

Analyzed campaigns to benchmark performance and recommend optimizations, ensuring efficient spend aligned with client goal KPIs.

Supported $40MM in annual advertising revenue with 100% accuracy, demonstrating meticulous financial management.

Won incremental $3MM in video advertising from a CPG client due to operational efficiency and campaign excellence.

MARS, INC.
|

Summer MBA Marketing Associate

Summary

Contributed to marketing initiatives during a summer MBA associate role at MARS, Inc.

ACXIOM CORPORATION
|

Email Campaign Manager & Team Lead

Summary

Managed email campaigns and led a team, contributing to digital marketing efforts.

PENGUIN PUBLISHING GROUP
|

Digital Advertising Coordinator

Summary

Coordinated digital advertising initiatives for Penguin Publishing Group.

PRIME VISIBILITY, LLC
|

SEO Strategist

Summary

Developed and implemented SEO strategies to improve online visibility for clients.

Volunteer

Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity
|

Region L Information Officer

Summary

Served as Region L Information Officer for a national service fraternity, managing information dissemination and communication strategies.

Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity
|

Alumni Presenter / Facilitator

Summary

Facilitated alumni engagement and presented on various topics for the national service fraternity.

American Marketing Association, Triangle Chapter
|

VP Communication

Summary

Led communication strategies as VP Communication for the Triangle Chapter of the American Marketing Association.

American Marketing Association, Triangle Chapter
|

Director of Web Communications

Summary

Directed web communication efforts for the Triangle Chapter of the American Marketing Association.

Education

CORNELL UNIVERSITY

M.B.A.

Strategic Brand Management

CORNELL UNIVERSITY

B.S.

Communication (minor: Information Science)

Skills

Marketing & Product Operations

Digital Marketing Strategy, Program & Project Management, Digital Marketing & Advertising, Go to Market Strategy (GTM), Client Account Management.

Operations Management

Process Development & Automation, Client & Employee Onboarding, Team Leadership & Training, Workflow Optimization, MarTech Platforms, Quality Control (QC).

Digital Marketing

Demand Generation, B2B SaaS, Lead Generation, eCommerce, Campaign Dashboards, Looker Studio, Marketing Budgets, Paid Search (SEM), Social Media Marketing, Programmatic Display, Digital Ad Inventory, Ad Monetization, Ad Product Enablement.

Leadership & Strategy

Business Transformation, GTM Innovation, Performance Optimization, Cross-functional Leadership, Operational Excellence, Data-driven Strategies, Scaling Operations, Talent Operations, Employee Acquisition, Onboarding, Retention.