Principal Product Manager - Ads Auction and Measurements (Remote - Canada)

Yelp connects people with great local businesses and monetizes primarily through advertising. The Principal Product Manager will own the strategy and execution for Yelp's ads auction, bidding, pricing, budget pacing, and measurement systems, partnering with engineering and applied science teams to optimize real-time advertising decisions and business impact.

Responsibilities:

• Define and drive the product roadmap for Yelp's ads auction, bidding algorithms, pricing mechanisms, and budget pacing systems, ensuring alignment with business objectives and competitive dynamics. Identify key levers for optimization and innovation
• Partner deeply with Engineering and Data Science to design, develop, and refine the auction-based ad selection system. Translate advertiser goals (ROI, leads, conversions), user experience, and monetization considerations into algorithmic requirements, and prioritize initiatives based on concrete data and expected impact
• Define and own the key metrics framework for evaluating auction health, efficiency, and the business impact. Drive the development of robust measurement for complex trade-offs (e.g., relevance vs. monetization, short-term vs. long-term effects). Design and interpret large-scale A/B tests
• Conduct hands-on analysis of large-scale auction and advertising datasets using tools like SQL and Python to uncover optimization opportunities, validate hypotheses, understand performance drivers, and inform product decisions
• Lead the end-to-end product lifecycle for auction-related features and improvements, from ideation and requirements definition through launch and iteration
• Serve as the product leader for the auction domain, collaborating effectively with Engineering, Data Science, Sales, Finance, and other Product teams. Communicate complex technical concepts and trade-offs clearly to diverse audiences
• Directly influence Yelp's revenue and advertiser success by improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the core ad marketplace

Requirements:

• • Experience: 8+ years of technical product management experience, preferably focused on auctions, bidding systems, search ranking, or monetization platforms within the online advertising (AdTech) industry
• • Auction & Optimization Expertise: Strong theoretical understanding and practical experience with auction theory (e.g., VCG, GSP), optimization algorithms, statistical modeling, and machine learning concepts relevant to ad targeting and ranking
• • Advanced Analytical & Data Skills: Proven ability to independently query, manipulate, and analyze large, complex datasets. Proficiency with SQL and data analysis tools/languages (e.g., Python, R) is required
• • Statistical Rigor: Deep understanding of applied statistics, experimental design (A/B testing), causal inference, and methods for measuring statistical significance and inferring long-term impact
• • Technical Fluency: Ability to engage deeply with engineers and data scientists on technical details of algorithms, system design, and data infrastructure
• • Communication & Collaboration: Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to influence technical and non-technical stakeholders across various functions
• • Problem Solving: Strong structured thinking and problem-solving abilities, capable of breaking down complex problems into actionable components
• • Educational Background: Strong quantitative background; Master's or PhD in Computer Science, Statistics, Economics, Operations Research, Mathematics, or a related field is highly preferred