Director, Paid Search

The Opportunity - Director, Paid Search

As a Paid Search team leader, the Director, Paid Search is responsible for the day-to-day management of paid search campaigns and ensuring the team is effectively executing against strategic goals. This role involves monitoring performance, overseeing testing, and providing guidance to junior team members. The ideal candidate will ensure proper implementation of paid search campaigns and programs to meet and exceed client expectations.

Responsibilities

• Paid Search Strategic Planning: Develop long-term execution plans that align with client business objectives; implement plans and track KPIs to measure success.
• Paid Search Data Analysis: Extract meaningful insights from data and relate them back to client business goals with actionable recommendations.
• Team Management: Lead and manage a team of search professionals, assign tasks, track progress, and ensure consistent campaign execution; provide training and mentorship to junior team members.
• Client Communication: Present strategic and tactical plans to clients, staff, and internal teams; build strong client relationships.
• Paid Search Financial Management: Oversee forecasting, budgeting, and pacing for paid search campaigns; optimize performance within budget constraints.
• Business Acumen: Understand business concepts and client objectives to identify opportunities for campaign expansion and growth.
• Quality Assurance: Act as a quality assurance check on all paid search account management deliverables.
• Cross Team Collaboration: Work with broader investment and strategic leadership.
• Thought Leadership: Drive best practices in platform execution and produce POVs.
• Testing Oversight: Ensure testing plans are implemented and work closely with the Associate Director on test development.
• Process Improvement: Identify opportunities to streamline workflows and improve efficiency.
• Escalation Point: Serve as point of contact for day-to-day issues and challenges.
• Growing existing business: Present new ideas and approaches to the client team, including upsell opportunities with third-party technology vendors or internal technologies.
• Upcoming industry changes: Stay on top of the latest industry changes and provide POVs on expected impacts.
• Leadership & strategic direction: Interface with client senior leadership, uncover root business challenges, and keep client priorities at the forefront.
• Merchandising team success: Package team results in language the client's team can understand to grow trust and appreciation.
• Comfortable with complexity: Manage complex Paid Search structures spanning multiple accounts and thousands of keywords, prioritizing effectively.

Qualifications

• Relevant post-secondary education, training, or equivalent experience
• 8+ years of relevant Paid Search experience and 5+ years managing junior team members
• In-depth understanding of Paid Search campaign management and optimization best practices
• Strong knowledge of social, search in social environments, Generative AI, programmatic, and other online advertising channels
• Hands-on experience with Google Ads and MSFT Ads
• Hands-on experience with bid management tools like SA360, SKAI, or Marin
• Hands-on experience with Adobe or Google Analytics
• Experience with multiple AI buying agents such as Google and Bing Performance Max
• Advanced usage of Scripts
• Experience troubleshooting site tags
• Strong analytical skills and ability to leverage data to drive decision-making
• Proactive self-starter comfortable in a fast-paced, results-oriented agency environment
• Team player committed to training, cross-functional collaboration, and communication
• Strong program management and organizational skills with ability to manage multiple projects, deadlines, and priorities
• Excellent storyteller, both written and verbal
• Experience leading and managing teams with a proven ability to develop and mentor talent
• Test, Learn and Scale mindset

Preferred Certifications

• Google Ads Search Certification
• Microsoft Ads Certification
• Google Search Ads 360 Certification
• AI Powered Shopping Ads Certification
• Google Analytics Certification
• AI Powered Performance Ads