Paid Performance Director

Havas Media; Manchester; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Havas Market in Manchester is seeking a Paid Performance Director to lead strategy and delivery for a portfolio of major retail clients. You will manage a team of Paid Performance Managers and Executives, own search performance, and shape client engagements with senior stakeholders.

The role combines leadership, strategic vision, and hands-on optimisation, budget forecasting, and cross‑channel collaboration, with a strong emphasis on new business and industry leadership.

Qualifications

• At least 5 years’ experience within a Performance remit, ideally within an agency environment.
• Proven experience of working with enterprise level clients and large budgets (£1 million+) in paid search.
• Extensive experience and proven certification across Google Ads, Microsoft Ads, Google Analytics and SA360.

Responsibilities

• Oversee optimisation of campaigns and drive paid performance delivery.
• Lead on forecast/plan of monthly budgets in-line with client objectives and targets.
• Manage and develop the Paid Performance team and develop paid search expertise.
• Lead on strategy, reporting, and client relationships for your portfolio.

Skills

Search management

Client facing

Team leadership

Budget management

Digital marketing

Tools

Google Ads

Microsoft Ads

GA360

SA360

Job description

Agency : Havas Market Job Description : PAID PERFORMANCE DIRECTOR

Reporting To: PERFORMANCE BUSINESS DIRECTOR Office Location: Havas Market Manchester, No 3, Circle Square, Manchester M1 7FS

ABOUT HAVAS MARKET:

We are Havas Market, part of the Havas Media Network. We believe in in the fusion of commerce and performance to drive limitless performance. We break down barriers between commerce and performance to build cohesive multichannel purchase experiences, that powerfully combine tech and human flair. Havas Market expertise spans four core specialist services: paid media (PPC, paid social, shopping international), owned (SEO, CRO, content, creative, localisation), commerce (Amazon, Marketplaces, Retail Media, social commerce) and earned (digital PR, social). We help clients to: Connect with the human behind the click – we harness human‑led planning and technology to create experiences that connect more deeply and drive superior digital performance. Capture meaningful metrics that matter – we focus on meaningful results that drive business impact, not just superficial metrics, ensuring client strategy delivers real commercial success. Combine curious minds and powerful technology – we turn data into actionable insights, all powered and delivered by cutting‑edge technology, giving clients a competitive edge in market.

THE ROLE:

As a Paid Performance Director, you will be a performance specialist with extensive search management experience and client facing skills. You will drive the strategy and lead on the implementation of innovative, new solutions for your clients. In this role, you will lead an exciting portfolio of the UK’s biggest retailers. These clients are well loved, household brands, specialising in Health and Beauty with multi‑million‑pound budgets. You will be responsible for the search product, service delivery and would be a senior client contact for all client stakeholders. There will be a heavy client facing element to this role, as you’ll lead the overall client relationship for search performance and strategy for your clients. A principal element of the role will be to lead a team of paid performance specialists, including Paid Performance Managers and Paid Performance Executives, to deliver paid search performance according to client requirements and targets. You will have autonomy in this role to lead and develop your team, so it’s essential you have a proactive attitude and a real hunger for success. Additionally, as Paid Performance Director, you will be heavily involved in new business – leading research, strategy, output and ultimately representing the agency successfully and professionally in pitches.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Capability (leadership, specialism)

Oversee optimisation of campaigns through utilisation of bid management tools to deliver on‑going paid performance. Drive best practice throughout not just your team, but the wider paid search team too; specifically improving the quality of campaign delivery, innovation, and automation. Be a digital leader, not only supporting Havas Market, but engaging in knowledge sharing with your peers across the Paid Performance network. Complete and manage the forecast/ plan of monthly budgets in‑line with client objectives and targets. Assist and lead the managers with development and planning of search marketing strategy. Work closely with other Havas teams to enhance cross‑channel integration, in terms of strategy, execution and measurement while also ensuring consistent approach for clients. Continuously look for opportunities to drive commerciality for the agency through cross sell of other Havas Market and Havas Media Network services. Having an in‑depth knowledge and understanding of these services is critical. Identify opportunities to develop new solutions for clients or productise existing capabilities to new streams of agency revenues. Contribute to new business prospecting and business development meetings for Havas Market, and where relevant, the Network.

Management (people and development)

Independently manage personal development plans for all direct reports, using SMART objectives. Ensure direct reports have timely appraisals, logged into the TalentSpace HR portal. Develop paid search expertise, tech knowledge, and all‑round skill set of all your direct reports. Ensure all direct reports in your team maintain all basic technical requirements for Havas Performance, including qualifications and training. Help drive the strategic development of Havas Paid Performance team capabilities including qualifications, training, and building expertise by leading training. Provide regular support and advice to help progress direct reports. Provide clear and defined roles and responsibilities for each position in your team. Ultimately responsible for all team operations.

Financial (admin, commercials, and financial admin)

Overseeing accurate and timely finance administration and budgeting. Own the profitability of your client portfolio and team. Have a clear understanding of profitability for your client portfolio.

Relationships (client, internal)

Being the most senior point of contact for clients, leading on strategy and managing client expectations when required. Lead, maintain, and grow strong relationships with relevant client stakeholders. Provide a point of escalation for account challenges/issues. Manage client relationships to build respect and trust in your judgement. Client facing presentations on strategy, campaign recommendations, and subsequent results. Develop and maintain development plans, roadmaps, media plans, and lead on strategy and reporting across your client portfolio. Develop a clear understanding of client business and marketing objectives. Bridge relationships across the paid team, ensuring close working collaboration across all pods within Paid Performance. Proactively identify opportunities for organic growth across your client portfolio.

Behavioural (proactivity, agency culture)

Work on, and contribute to, new business efforts both within Havas Market, but also within the Network as required. Provide strategic leadership and clarity and drive the new business process from start to finish, ensuring that we deliver first class strategy and work. Be a ‘thought leader,’ both within the team, the agency and across the industry. Taking a vocal point of view on industry issues and driving our positioning. This includes regularly presenting in team monthly meetings on Knowledge Shares for examples of great work or discussing IndustryNews. Taking the business forward (innovation and growth) Have extensive ‘deep digital, data and tech’ expertise within the team and agency. Develop and lead innovative, data‑driven strategies for your Performance clients. Design innovative test‑and‑learn programs that deliver on the over‑arching client strategy, driving the client marketing activity forward. Champion digital innovation amongst the agency and clients. Thought leadership in performance marketing for key clients across the agency. Lead on relevant recruitment for your team, and the wider Paid Search team (as required). Create high quality case studies to represent your clients’ best activation work, as well as entering (and winning!) industry awards. Ensure media firsts and beta participation for clients. Reflect the agency ambition and vision in all work, leading and inspiring the team to meet the highest standards. Help to deliver improvements in Paid Performance operations, client delivery, and the paid search product. Help to drive forward the Paid Performance product and proactively contribute to how we run and talk about the department.

DESIRABLE SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

At least 5 years’ experience within a Performance remit, ideally within an agency environment. Proven experience of working with enterprise level clients and large budgets (£1 million+) in paid search. Proven experience of leading client relationships and being responsible for delivering against large budgets. Extensive experience and proven certification across GoogleAds, MicrosoftAds, GoogleAnalytics and SA360 (alongside any other relevant bid tech, i.e. Pacvue, Skaii). Experience and up to date knowledge competitor tools (SimilarWeb, Adthena, SEM Rush etc.). Excellent knowledge of industry tools and latest technologies. Must be able to communicate well, interpret Performance marketing to clients, and manage client expectations. Passion for, and a wide understanding of, all aspects of digital media. Line management experience is essential. Management experience of multiple direct reports is preferred. Strong time management skills and ability to prioritise workload across your team. Excellent communicator – written and verbal, with the ability to present confidently. Ability to work under pressure. Thorough attention to detail. Commercial experience, responsibility/exposure for clients or team.

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Contract Type : Permanent

Here at Havas across the group we pride ourselves on being committed to offering equal opportunities to all potential employees and have zero tolerance for discrimination. We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome applicants irrespective of age, sex, race, ethnicity, disability and other factors that have no bearing on an individual’s ability to perform their job.

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