Senior Performance Marketing Manager, SMB

About the role

NerdWallet Small Business is seeking a driven, analytical performance marketer to own and scale paid acquisition efforts across our SMB verticals, including lending, credit cards, insurance, and banking.

Responsibilities

• Own and optimize day-to-day SEM operations across SMB lending, credit cards, insurance, and banking verticals, including bidding strategies, budget allocation, ad copy development, keyword management, and campaign structure optimization.
• Design, execute, and analyze structured experiments across audiences, creative, bidding strategies, and landing page experiences, synthesizing findings into scalable optimization playbooks and growth frameworks.
• Develop and maintain reporting frameworks and dashboards using Salesforce, Looker, Snowflake, and other analytics tools to measure marketing performance, identify opportunities, and surface actionable insights.
• Manage and optimize campaigns across Google Ads, SA360, and Microsoft Ads, applying best practices in campaign architecture, automation, and performance optimization.
• Build and scale emerging paid social acquisition programs across platforms such as Meta, LinkedIn, and TikTok by defining channel strategy, testing creative approaches, and establishing repeatable growth loops.
• Independently drive initiatives from concept through launch and post-performance analysis, bringing structure, momentum, and strong business judgment in a fast-paced environment.
• Partner cross-functionally with Product, Analytics, BI, Creative, and broader Marketing teams to improve acquisition performance and align channel strategy with broader SMB business goals.
• Stay informed on industry trends, platform changes, privacy developments, and emerging growth opportunities to continuously evolve acquisition strategies and maintain a competitive edge.

Requirements

• 3–6 years of hands-on SEM and performance marketing experience, ideally within financial services, fintech, or other regulated industries.
• Deep familiarity with Google Ads, Microsoft Ads, and SA360, with experience managing large, complex account structures and optimizing toward measurable business outcomes.
• Proficiency with analytics and business intelligence tools such as Salesforce, Snowflake, Looker, or similar platforms.
• Strong analytical mindset with the ability to build reports, interpret complex performance data, identify actionable insights, and influence strategy through data-driven recommendations.
• Demonstrated success designing and executing structured experiments and translating findings into scalable improvements.
• Experience with or strong interest in paid social acquisition channels including Meta, LinkedIn, TikTok, or similar growth platforms.
• Ability to operate independently, manage ambiguity effectively, and balance multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Clear and concise communication skills with the ability to translate complex marketing performance data into actionable insights for cross-functional stakeholders.
• Strong collaboration skills and experience partnering cross-functionally across Marketing, Product, Analytics, and Operations teams.

Qualifications

• Experience marketing SMB financial products, including lending, banking, credit cards, or insurance.
• Familiarity with incrementality testing, media mix modeling (MMM), multi-touch attribution methodologies, or advanced measurement frameworks.
• SQL proficiency with experience querying Snowflake or similar data warehouse environments directly.
• Prior experience in a startup or high-growth environment where you helped build and scale acquisition programs with limited support and evolving processes.
• Experience launching or scaling emerging acquisition channels or new growth initiatives from early-stage development through operational maturity.

Benefits

• Industry-leading medical, dental, and vision health care plans for employees and their dependents.
• Rejuvenation Policy – Flexible Vacation Time Off + 11 holidays + holiday company shutdown.
• New Parent Leave for employees with a newborn child or a child placed with them for adoption or foster care.
• Mental health support.
• Paid sabbatical after 5 years for Nerds to recharge, gain knowledge, and pursue their interests.
• Health and Dependent Care FSA and HSA Plan with monthly NerdWallet contribution.
• Monthly Wellness Stipend, Cell Phone Stipend, and Wifi Stipend (Only remote Nerds are eligible for the Wifi Stipend).
• Work from home equipment stipend and co-working space subsidy (Only remote Nerds are eligible for these stipends).