Director, Paid Search

About the role

Our thriving paid search team culture is characterized by a blend of collaboration, innovation and shared passion for data-driven marketing. Team members feel inspired, supported and empowered to excel while contributing to overall success. Search practitioners tap into the Omnicom Search Center of Excellence for specialized knowledge and resources including training, development, best-practice sharing, access to tools and collaboration.

As a Paid Search team leader, the Director, Paid Search is responsible for day-to-day management of paid search campaigns and ensuring the team executes against strategic goals. This involves monitoring performance, overseeing testing, and guiding junior team members. The role ensures proper implementation of campaigns and programs to meet and exceed client expectations, with great attention to detail and ownership of educating the team and delivering value. The ideal candidate is process-oriented, reviewing gaps in daily account management and implementing stronger processes, ensuring the team understands the client’s business and market impacts, and recommending expansions or adjustments to the search program. The Director fosters cross-team collaboration with other Paid Search leads to enhance culture and performance, and regularly identifies opportunities such as beta tests and industry insights for clients.

Responsibilities

• Paid Search Strategic Planning: Develop long-term execution plans aligned with client business objectives; implement plans and track KPIs to measure success.
• Paid Search Data Analysis: Extract meaningful insights from data, relate insights to client goals, and identify actionable recommendations.
• Team Management: Lead and manage a team of search professionals — assign tasks, track progress, ensure consistent campaign execution; provide regular training and mentorship to develop junior members.
• Client Communication: Present strategic and tactical plans to clients, staff, and internal teams; build strong client relationships and maintain open communication.
• Paid Search Financial Management: Oversee forecasting, budgeting, and pacing for campaigns; ensure efficient resource allocation and 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 QA 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 points of view (POVs).
• Testing Oversight: Ensure testing plans are implemented; work closely with the Associate Director on test development.
• Process Improvement: Identify opportunities to streamline workflows and improve team efficiency.
• Escalation Point: Serve as the 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 current on industry changes and provide POVs on how future changes will impact the team’s approach.
• Leadership & Strategic Direction: Interface with client senior leadership to uncover business challenges; work with internal team to keep client priorities at the forefront.
• Merchandising Team Success: Package team results in language the client understands; continually push the Paid Search program forward to grow client trust and appreciation.
• Comfortable with Complexity: Manage complex Paid Search structures spanning multiple accounts and thousands of keywords; quickly prioritize what matters.

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 keyboard experience with: Google Ads, Microsoft Ads
• Hands-on keyboard experience with bid management tools such as SA360, SKAI, or Marin
• Hands-on keyboard 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 who thrives in a fast-paced, results-oriented agency environment
• Team player committed to training, cross-functional collaboration and communication
• Strong program management and organizational skills — able to manage multiple projects, deadlines 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

Skills

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

Pay

$90,000 – $215,000

Schedule

Per Omnicom policy, employees are required to work in the office a minimum of three days per week, unless additional in-office days are directed by their agency or manager (subject to local law).