Director, Paid Search

Company Description

Starcom is the world's first standalone media agency, a storied innovator that continues to lead the way for many of the world's best brands.

Starcom has long been the professional birthplace and proving ground for marketing leaders – CEOs, CMOs, sales leaders, and technology pioneers – and we continue to drive the industry with peerless talent and relentless innovation.

From the start, we've known that achieving growth for our clients requires understanding and connecting with real people where they live and work, in ways they value.

In an AI era, we remain "Guided By Humanity," a phrase that describes our foundational belief that human expertise must remain in the driver's seat, supported by the best processes and technology.

With our proprietary capabilities and Publicis Media's industry-leading resources and clout, we create ideas that move people and drive transformative business outcomes for brands.

Overview

The Director, Paid Search is responsible for leading the success of clients’ paid search campaign initiatives by providing thought leadership on campaign strategies and optimization, building strong relationships and establishing clear lines of communication with clients, partners, and internal stakeholders. As Director of Paid Search you'll manage the strategy and oversee planning, optimization and reporting of client SEM campaigns.

Responsibilities

• Motivate and manage a paid search media team in the creation, development, and execution of campaigns to meet/exceed expectations within budget and time parameters
• Foster strong relationships with internal teams and client groups
• Develop action plans for achieving and measuring media success, including setting key metrics, measurement and optimization strategies
• Advocate the value of paid search media and help educate clients, partners and internal teams on the latest developments and capabilities in this quickly evolving media channel
• Provide team direction for improving campaign performance through optimization and/or implementing new features and strategies
• Lead presentations to both clients and internal teams showcasing campaign strategy and performance results
• Develop, manage, and monitor client P&L’s for assigned accounts
• Implement holistic media planning
• Introduce Process Development Input, Quality Assurance and Best Practices Input
• Interface with other department leads to share ideas, communicate service offerings, and to identify and deliver new solutions for clients
• Keep senior management apprised of key client opportunities, potential risks and other key nuances which affect the health of the business
• Prepare and present annual financial and staffing plans
• Develop a complete understanding of each client’s goals, markets, needs and expectations
• Attend client meetings on an ongoing basis, interface as needed with executive level and middle management level on client side during meetings and presentations
• Advocate across functional areas within client relationships (e.g. IT professionals, marketing/product managers, C-level executives) to develop rapport and deliver complex solutions
• Communicate and implement a Participation Planning Process for all assigned accounts
• Resolve client problems and use conflict management skills within a professional environment
• Manage strategy development and execution for complex marketing analysis disciplines such as segmentation, attitudinal/motivational analysis, concept/copy testing, sales forecasting, response prediction, advertising effectiveness, consumer profiling, customer profitability analysis (lifetime value), media mix modelling, conversion attribution analysis and ROI measurement
• Leverage syndicated digital research (e.g. ComScore, Nielsen, Hitwise) to benchmark trends and/or manage expectations of forecasted trends
• Embrace and encourage a culture based on teamwork, collaboration, and intellectual curiosity
• Motivate, lead, and manage internal teams, working collaboratively to drive programs that meet our clients’ business objectives
• Drive innovation and provide thought leadership to internal and external stakeholders
• Provide training as needed to team
• Facilitate the development and documentation of best practices to improve operational efficiencies within the team and the group

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher preferred, preferably in marketing, advertising, business, engineering, statistics, economics, sociology, or equivalent.
• 7+ years of account management experience in online advertising (paid search), direct marketing, or e-commerce with increasing levels of responsibility within an agency or media company, including client-facing responsibilities.
• 5+ years of experience in interactive marketing or business consulting using data and information to drive specific targeting and marketing recommendations.
• 4+ years of team management experience.
• Possess strong analytical skills and the ability to interpret campaign performance data and provide insights and optimization recommendations.
• Understanding of best practices for leveraging social media for brand communication.
• Knowledge of statistical methods and testing methodology preferred.
• Deep knowledge of ad serving platforms and online analytic solutions.
• Excellent relationship building, diplomacy, and decision making skills with the ability to think creatively.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite with intermediate to advanced understanding of Excel.

Additional Information

Starcom is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our employment decisions are made without regard to actual or perceived race, color, ethnicity, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, disability, medical condition as defined by applicable state law, genetic information, marital status, military service and veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws and ordinances.

Benefits

• Paid Family Care for parents and caregivers for 12 weeks or more
• Monetary assistance and support for Adoption, Surrogacy and Fertility
• Monetary assistance and support for pet adoption
• Employee Assistance Programs and Health/Wellness/Comfort reimbursements to help you invest in your future and work/life balance
• Tuition Assistance
• Paid time off that includes Flexible Time off Vacation, Annual Sick Days, Volunteer Days, Holiday and Identity days, and more
• Matching Gifts programs
• Flexible working arrangements
• 'Work Your World’ Program encouraging employees to work from anywhere; Publicis Groupe has an office for up to 6 weeks a year (based upon eligibility)
• Business Resource Groups that support multiple affinities and alliances

The benefits offerings listed are available to U.S. based employees, are reviewed on an annual basis, and are governed by the terms of the applicable plan documents.

Compensation Range: $121,315 - $194,220 annually. This is the pay range the Company believes it will pay for this position at the time of this posting. Consistent with applicable law, compensation will be determined based on the skills, qualifications, and experience of the applicant along with the requirements of the position, and the Company reserves the right to modify this pay range at any time.

Temporary roles may be eligible to participate in our freelancer/temporary employee medical plan through a third‑party benefits administration system once certain criteria have been met. Temporary roles may also qualify for participation in our 401(k) plan after eligibility criteria have been met. For regular roles, the Company will offer medical coverage, dental, vision, disability, 401(k), and paid time off.

The Company anticipates the application deadline for this job posting will be 02/16/2026.

If you require accommodation or assistance with the application or onboarding process specifically, please contact [email protected]. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

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