Paid Media Manager

Candidate Ltd; Greater Manchester; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 44,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company laptop

Free parking

Pension scheme

Overseas travel opportunities

Annual leave

Canalside office

Training & development support

Job summary

Candidate Ltd in Stockport is seeking a commercially minded Paid Media Manager to strengthen its performance marketing offering. You will lead paid search campaigns across Google Ads and Microsoft Ads, optimise budgets and deliver against commercial targets.

Join a close-knit team with opportunities to travel overseas and access ongoing training. The role includes a pension, company laptop, free parking, and a canalside office, with a focus on data-led campaigns and client success.

Qualifications

• 3+ years' experience managing paid search campaigns, agency or in-house.
• Strong hands-on expertise in Google Ads and performance marketing.
• Experience with GA4, Google Tag Manager and conversion measurement.
• Ability to interpret data, manage budgets and improve KPI performance.
• Strong analytical, organisational and communication skills.
• Self-motivated with ability to manage competing priorities.

Responsibilities

• Lead delivery and optimisation of paid search campaigns across Google Ads and Microsoft Ads.
• Develop campaign strategies, research keywords and manage budgets to maximise performance against targets.
• Oversee Google's wider formats including Performance Max, Demand Gen, Shopping and YouTube.
• Monitor results, identify trends and refine bidding, targeting, creative and landing pages.
• Maintain reliable conversion tracking and analytics via GA4 and GTM.
• Produce performance reports and present insights to clients.
• Contribute to paid social and programmatic campaigns with Meta, TikTok and StackAdapt.
• Collaborate with media planning and buying teams to deliver integrated campaigns.
• Identify opportunities and keep pace with industry developments to grow digital services.

Skills

Paid search management

Google Ads

Performance marketing

Data interpretation

Budgeting

Analytics

Client relationships

Communication

Self-motivation

Tools

Google Ads

Microsoft Ads

GA4

Google Tag Manager

Meta

TikTok

StackAdapt

Job description

Location: Stockport

Salary: Up to £40,000 (DOE)

The Opportunity

Our client is an independent marketing agency helping businesses connect with their audiences through data-led media strategies and effective advertising campaigns. With an established client portfolio and ambitions to expand its digital capabilities, the business is looking for a commercially minded Paid Media Manager to strengthen its performance marketing offering.

This is an opportunity to join a close-knit team where initiative is encouraged and individual contributions make a difference. The package includes annual leave, pension, a company laptop, free parking, a canalside office, overseas travel opportunities and support for ongoing training and professional development.

Role Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery and optimisation of paid search campaigns across Google Ads and Microsoft Ads
• Develop campaign strategies, research keywords and manage budgets to maximise performance against agreed commercial targets.
• Oversee activity across Google's wider advertising formats, including Performance Max, Demand Gen, Shopping and YouTube.
• Monitor campaign results, identify trends and implement improvements to bidding, targeting, creative and landing pages.
• Maintain reliable conversion tracking and analytics using GA4, Google Tag Manager and relevant advertising platforms.
• Produce performance reports and communicate insights and recommendations to clients.
• Contribute to paid social and programmatic campaigns, working with platforms such as Meta, TikTok and StackAdapt.
• Collaborate with colleagues across media planning and buying to deliver joined-up campaigns.
• Identify new opportunities, keep pace with industry developments and support the continued growth of the agency's digital services.

Skills and Experience

• At least 3+ years' experience managing paid search campaigns, either agency-side or in-house.
• Strong hands-on expertise in Google Ads and a sound understanding of performance marketing principles.
• Practical experience with GA4, Google Tag Manager and conversion measurement.
• Confident interpreting data, managing budgets and improving campaign efficiency against KPIs.
• Strong analytical, organisational and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to build trusted client relationships.
• A self-motivated approach, with the ability to manage competing priorities and take ownership of results.

Please note due to high volumes of applications unfortunately we are not always able to respond to all unsuccessful applicants. However we wish everyone who applies the very best with their job search.