[Hiring] Director of Search Engine Marketing @Aquent

Role Description

The Director, Search Engine Marketing (SEM) leads paid search strategy, performance, and team development across complex client programs. This role is responsible for setting the strategic direction for SEM initiatives, translating business and revenue goals into scalable search programs, and ensuring paid search delivers measurable impact across the customer journey. The Director partners closely with clients, internal stakeholders, and cross-functional teams to drive performance, improve measurement, and develop SEM talent.

• Lead the development and evolution of SEM strategy across Google Ads, Microsoft Ads, and other search platforms
• Own overall paid search performance, ensuring strategies align with client business objectives, revenue goals, and media efficiency targets
• Oversee campaign architecture, account structure, scaling strategies, and optimization frameworks across multiple accounts or lines of business
• Manage SEM budgets, forecasts, pacing, and performance against KPIs including CPA, ROAS, revenue, pipeline, conversion volume, and efficiency metrics
• Translate business and client objectives into measurable paid search strategies, testing plans, and execution roadmaps
• Lead advanced testing agendas across bidding strategies, audience segmentation, keyword expansion, creative messaging, landing page performance, and automation
• Analyze performance trends and synthesize insights into clear strategic recommendations for clients, stakeholders, and internal leadership
• Partner with analytics, strategy, creative, CRM, and marketing automation teams to improve measurement, attribution, audience strategy, and campaign effectiveness
• Ensure tracking, attribution, tagging, and data integrity are accurate, scalable, and aligned with reporting needs
• Provide strategic guidance to internal teams and clients on SEM best practices, platform changes, market trends, and growth opportunities
• Lead, mentor, and develop SEM team members, providing coaching, quality assurance, and performance feedback
• Establish processes, standards, and operating models that improve campaign execution, reporting, optimization, and team efficiency
• Support new business, account growth, and client planning by contributing SEM strategy, audits, forecasts, and recommendations

Qualifications

• 7+ years of SEM / paid search experience, with demonstrated experience leading strategy across complex or high-budget accounts
• Proven ability to manage, scale, and optimize high-performing paid search programs tied to business outcomes
• Deep expertise in Google Ads and Microsoft Ads, including bidding strategies, automation, campaign structure, keyword strategy, audience targeting, and optimization techniques
• Strong understanding of SEM measurement, attribution, conversion tracking, and performance reporting
• Experience managing large budgets, forecasting performance, and making data-driven investment recommendations
• Advanced analytical skills with the ability to interpret performance data, identify trends, and translate findings into actionable strategy
• Strong client-facing and stakeholder communication skills, including the ability to present complex performance insights clearly and confidently
• Experience working in an agency or client-service environment
• Proven experience managing, mentoring, and developing team members
• Ability to collaborate effectively across strategy, analytics, creative, CRM, marketing automation, and account teams
• Familiarity with CRM platforms, marketing automation systems, and downstream lead or revenue measurement
• Experience supporting account planning, growth strategy, or new business efforts preferred