Paid Media Manager, Programmatic & SEM

JOB TITLE: Paid Media Manager, Programmatic & SEM LOCATION: 100% Remote DURATION: 6 Months RATE RANGE: $35 - $45/hr. POSITION SUMMARY: Lead paid media strategy and hands-on activation across programmatic display, paid search/SEM, and other assigned digital channels. This role translates business and campaign objectives into audience, channel, budget, and measurement plans; manages agency and media-partner performance; activates and optimizes campaigns in StackAdapt and paid search platforms; and helps assess and build the capabilities needed to bring more media work in-house. RESPONSIBILITIES:Develop paid media strategies, channel plans, and testing roadmaps aligned with campaign and business objectives.Translate audience insights, market opportunities, and campaign goals into targeting, retargeting, placement, and budget recommendations.Set up, traffic, monitor, and optimize programmatic campaigns in StackAdapt.Plan, manage, and optimize paid search/SEM campaigns in Google Ads or comparable platforms.Manage paid display, trade publication, and other media-partner placements as assigned.Allocate budgets, monitor spend pacing, and adjust investment based on performance and priorities.Manage media agencies and partners, including evaluating strategy, plans, execution, results, and recommendations.Establish campaign KPIs, measurement plans, testing approaches, and reporting cadences.Coordinate campaign tagging, tracking, and analytics requirements with marketing, web, and technical partners.Analyze campaign and channel performance; identify insights and implement optimization recommendations.Assess current agency-managed work and recommend which capabilities, processes, and execution should be brought in-house.Document processes, platform practices, and training to support internal capability development and continuity.Influence cross-functional stakeholders and communicate concise performance updates, risks, and recommendations.Use AI tools appropriately to improve planning, analysis, optimization, and reporting while maintaining professional judgment and review. QUALIFICATIONS:Hands-on experience developing and managing paid media strategies across programmatic display, paid search/SEM, and other digital channels.Proficiency setting up, trafficking, monitoring, and optimizing campaigns in StackAdapt.Experience managing Google Ads or comparable paid search platforms.Strong knowledge of audience targeting, retargeting, media planning, budget allocation, and spend pacing.Experience managing media agencies and evaluating agency strategy, performance, and recommendations.Proficiency with campaign measurement, analytics, reporting, and performance optimization.Ability to translate campaign goals into channel plans, KPIs, testing strategies, and actionable insights. PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:Experience with B2B demand-generation and lead-generation campaigns.Experience managing paid placements with industry publications or trade media partners.Familiarity with conversion tracking, campaign tagging, and marketing attribution.Experience using Google Analytics or comparable web analytics platforms.Experience assessing opportunities to bring agency-managed media capabilities in-house.Familiarity with marketing automation and CRM platforms, such as Eloqua and Salesforce.Experience using AI tools to improve media planning, analysis, optimization, and reporting workflows. EXPERIENCE:Five or more years of paid media strategy and execution experience across programmatic display, paid search/SEM, or related digital channels.Demonstrated experience managing media agencies, significant campaign budgets, and concurrent cross-functional initiatives.Strong analytical, project management, communication, and stakeholder-influence skills. EDUCATION:Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Business, Advertising, Analytics, or a related field, or equivalent training and experience. SUCCESS MEASURES:Delivery against campaign objectives and channel-specific KPIs.Accurate budget management and spend pacing.Growth in qualified traffic, engagement, leads, or acquisition outcomes appropriate to each campaign.Consistent testing, analysis, and optimization that improve media efficiency and effectiveness.Clear agency accountability and actionable performance recommendations.Documented progress toward transferring appropriate paid media capabilities in-house. BENEFITS SUMMARY: Individual compensation is determined by skills, qualifications, experience, and location. Compensation details listed in this posting reflect the base hourly rate or annual salary only, unless otherwise stated. In addition to base compensation, full-time roles are eligible for Medical, Dental, Vision, Commuter and 401K benefits with company matching. IND123 BENEFITS SUMMARY: Individual compensation is determined by skills, qualifications, experience, and location. Compensation details listed in this posting reflect the base hourly rate or annual salary only, unless otherwise stated. In addition to base compensation, full-time roles are eligible for Medical, Dental, Vision, Commuter and 401K benefits with company matching. FAIR CHANCE POLICY: Pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act, Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, qualified applicants will be considered for assignment with arrest and conviction records. Criminal history may have a direct, adverse, and negative relationship with some of the material job duties of this position. These include the duties and responsibilities listed above, as well as the abilities to adhere to company policies, exercise sound judgment, effectively manage stress and work safely and respectfully with others, exhibit trustworthiness, meet client expectations, standards, and accompanying requirements, and safeguard business operations and company reputation.