Director, Paid Search

The Search Team

Our thriving paid search team culture is characterized by a blend of collaboration, innovation and shared passion for data-driven marketing. Our individuals feel inspired, supported and empowered to excel in their roles while contributing to the team's overall success. Our search practitioners tap into the Omnicom Search Center of Excellence group to gain access and benefit from the specialized knowledge and resources like: training, development, sharing best practices, access to tools and collaboration.

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. Finally, the ideal candidate will ensure proper implementation of paid search campaigns and programs to meet and exceed client expectations.

A successful candidate will have great attention to detail and be able to take complete ownership of educating team members and getting tasks completed to bring value to our clients.

The ideal candidate will be process oriented by reviewing any gaps in the day-to-day management of the account and implementing new, stronger processes. They ensure team members fully understand the client's business and how market factors impact the business and make recommendations around expanding or adjusting the search program. The Director, Paid Search will foster strong cross-team collaboration with other Paid Search leads to enhance overall culture and team performance. Additionally, the Director, Paid Search should regularly identify and bring opportunities to the client, such as beta tests and industry insights.

Responsibilities:

• Paid Search Strategic Planning: Develop long-term execution plans that align with client business objectives. Implement these plans and track key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure success.
• Paid Search Data Analysis: Demonstrate analytical skills to extract meaningful insights from data. Relate these insights back to client business goals and identify actionable recommendations.
• Team Management: Lead and manage a team of search professionals, assigning tasks, tracking progress, and ensuring consistent campaign execution. Provide regular training and mentorship to develop junior team members.
• Client Communication: Effectively present strategic and tactical plans to clients, staff, and internal teams. Build strong relationships with clients and maintain open communication.
• Paid Search Financial Management: Oversee forecasting, budgeting, and pacing for paid search campaigns. Ensure efficient allocation of resources and optimize campaign 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 all paid search account management deliverables.
• Cross Team Collaboration: Working with broader investment / strategic leadership.
• Thought Leadership: Drives best practices in managing platform execution and produces 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 within the team.
• Escalation Point: Serve as the point of contact for day-to-day issues and challenges.
• Growing existing business: Presenting new ideas and approaches to the client team, including upsell opportunities with 3rd party technology vendors or internal technologies.
• Upcoming industry changes: Director is expected to you stay on top of the latest changes in the industry and provide POVs on how future changes are expected to impact your team’s existing approach.
• Leadership & strategic direction: As a Director, you will interface with the client’s senior leadership, uncovering the root of their business challenges, and working with the internal team to make sure the client’s priorities are kept in the forefront.
• Merchandising team success: A large component of the Director role is packaging up the great results the team has generated, then putting it in language the client’s team can understand. By continually pushing the Paid Search program to the next level, Directors can help grow client’s trust and appreciation
• Comfortable with complexity: Directors are highly familiar with complex Paid Search structures that span multiple accounts and thousands of keywords. They can quickly cut through the clutter and make sense of what needs to be prioritized

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/understanding of social, search in social environments, Generative AI, programmatic and other online advertising channels
• Hands on keyboard experience with: Google Ads, MSFT Ads
• Hands on keyboard experience with bid management tools like SA360, SKAI or Marin
• Hands on keyboard experience with Adobe or Google Analytics
• Experience in multiple AI buying agents such as Google, Bing Performance Max
• Advance usage of Scripts
• Experience troubleshooting site tags
• Strong analytical skills and ability to leverage data to drive decision-making.
• Be a proactive self-starter who enjoys a fast-paced, results-oriented agency and work environment
• Be a team player and committed to training, and cross-functional collaboration and communication
• Have strong program management and organizational skills, being able to manage multiple projects, deadline and priorities with ease
• 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