Platform and channel specialists
Hire an Ad Ops Specialist | Ad Operations Manager
An ad ops specialist keeps advertising running correctly behind the scenes. I handle campaign set-up, tagging and tracking checks, quality assurance, billing and approvals, and reporting across accounts. I worked across 64 client ad accounts in an agency. It suits teams whose ads are fine but whose operations are error-prone.
Pricing is scoped to each project. Book a call and I will tell you what yours involves.
- 10 yearsin digital growth
- 4 marketsUK, Australia, USA and Bangladesh
- 30-60-90day plan with a written checkpoint
- 1 callto scope your project
The role
What an Ad ops specialist does
As your Ad ops specialist, I set up and QA campaigns against a launch checklist, check tags, UTM parameters and conversion events, and report on campaigns launched without errors, time to fix disapprovals and tracking breaks and on-time reporting. I work hands-on: I do the work myself, inside your accounts and files, and show you the output every week.
Before
Ads launch late, tracking tags break unnoticed and nobody checks accounts before invoices go out.
With me as your Ad ops specialist
- Set up and QA campaigns against a launch checklist
- Check tags, UTM parameters and conversion events
- Monitor budgets, disapprovals and account health daily
- Produce client or leadership reporting on a fixed schedule
Deliverables
Services and deliverables
Everything I do as an Ad ops specialist falls into four groups of work. Each group produces something you can open, read and check, not just activity.
- 01
Set up and QA campaigns against a launch checklist
- 02
Check tags, UTM parameters and conversion events
- 03
Monitor budgets, disapprovals and account health daily
- 04
Produce client or leadership reporting on a fixed schedule
Common mistakes
Platform-specific tactics and common mistakes
Most problems I find fall into the same few patterns. Two of the most common are listed below, and an audit usually finds more of them in the first week.
Launching without a second person checking the settings.
Using different UTM rules for each channel.
Pricing
How pricing works
The cost of hiring an Ad ops specialist depends on the number of accounts and platforms, the reporting frequency and monitoring hours, the number of channels or platforms involved, the size of the team I work with, how long we work together and how quickly you need results. I scope every engagement to your situation and do not publish rates, so you pay only for the work your business needs.
What changes the scope
Number of accounts and platformsReporting frequency and monitoring hoursThe number of channels or platformsTeam size and who needs to be managedLength of the engagementHow fast you need results
- Project
A defined piece of Ad ops specialist work with a start, an end and agreed deliverables.
- Monthly retainer
Ongoing Ad ops specialist work with a fixed monthly scope, reviewed every month.
- Fractional or part-time
A set number of days or hours each week, with me working inside your team.
Freelancer vs agency vs in-house for Ad ops specialist work
| Option | Speed | Control | Accountability | Flexibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freelancer (me) | Starts within days of agreeing scope | Direct access to the person doing the work | One named person answers for results | Scale up or down by month |
| Agency | Slower to start; account and delivery teams | Work passes through several people | Shared across a team and account manager | Fixed packages and notice periods |
| In-house hire | Slowest: recruiting and onboarding first | Full day-to-day control | Direct line manager, but one person covers many tasks | Long-term commitment, harder to change |
First 90 days
Process and timeline: first 30, 60 and 90 days
I start with an audit, fix the highest-impact problems, then run the platform on a weekly rhythm. These are the three phases.
- Days 1-30
Review accounts, naming and tracking standards.
- Days 31-60
Write the launch and QA checklists and start daily checks.
- Days 61-90
Run the first reporting cycle and fix recurring errors.
Proof
Case studies with numbers
These are real projects from my own records, with the first number shown exactly as it is reported in the full case study.
Tools
Tools and stack
I work with the tools you already own wherever possible, so you keep control of the accounts and the data. For Ad ops specialist work the stack usually includes Google Ads and Meta Ads managers, Google Tag Manager, UTM and naming conventions and Looker Studio.
The stack
Google Ads and Meta Ads managersGoogle Tag ManagerUTM and naming conventionsLooker Studio
Compare
Freelancer, agency or in-house
A PPC specialist optimises performance; an ad ops specialist protects accuracy, process and delivery around the campaigns.
Before the call
What to prepare before the call
Bring these to the call so we can scope the work in one conversation.
What to prepare before the call
- List of ad accounts and platforms
- Your naming and UTM rules, if any
- Reports sent to clients or leadership
- Recent errors that cost money
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Straight answers on scope, timing and fit. Pricing is always scoped to your project.
What does an Ad ops specialist do?
As your Ad ops specialist, I set up and QA campaigns against a launch checklist, check tags, UTM parameters and conversion events, monitor budgets, disapprovals and account health daily and produce client or leadership reporting on a fixed schedule. I do the work myself and show you the output every week.
How much does it cost to hire an Ad ops specialist?
Cost depends on the number of accounts and platforms, the reporting frequency and monitoring hours, the number of channels or platforms, team size, engagement length and how quickly you need results. I scope each project individually instead of quoting a standard rate. Book a Call for a scoped quote and I will tell you exactly what your situation involves.
Freelance Ad ops specialist vs agency: which is better?
A PPC specialist optimises performance; an ad ops specialist protects accuracy, process and delivery around the campaigns. A freelancer gives you direct access and flexible commitment; an agency adds a larger bench. Tell me what you need on a call and I will say honestly which suits you.
When should I hire an Ad ops specialist?
Hire an Ad ops specialist when ads launch late, tracking tags break unnoticed and nobody checks accounts before invoices go out. If that sounds familiar, a short call is enough to confirm whether the role fits or whether something simpler would do. Book a Call and I will answer this for your specific situation.
What should I ask before hiring an Ad ops specialist?
Ask for the QA checklist they use before launching a campaign. Ask how they spot a tracking break within a day. Their answers matter less than whether they answer plainly, with specifics you can check. Book a Call and I will answer this for your specific situation.
How long until I see results from an Ad ops specialist?
Timing depends on your starting point and the channel. In the first 30 days I review accounts, naming and tracking standards. By day 60 I write the launch and QA checklists and start daily checks. By day 90 I run the first reporting cycle and fix recurring errors. We agree these checkpoints before work starts.
Do I need an Ad ops specialist or can I use the platform's built-in tools?
The platform's own tools cover the basics, and for a small account they can be enough. An Ad ops specialist adds value when you want to avoid common mistakes. Typical problems I fix: launching without a second person checking the settings. using different UTM rules for each channel.
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