Paid Search Associate Director

Publicis Groupe; Greater London; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension

Life Assurance

Private Medical cover

Reflection Days

Shared Parental Leave

Job summary

Zenith International is hiring a Paid Search Associate Director to shape high-performing search strategies and help clients turn ambition into measurable growth. You’ll lead day-to-day account delivery, working closely with clients, specialists and agency partners to deliver effective, scalable results.

The role emphasizes coaching and developing others, driving performance data, and using automation to unlock opportunities. This is a leadership position within Publicis Groupe’s Zenith unit.

Qualifications

• Strong experience planning, managing and improving paid search campaigns with revenue-focused objectives.
• Looker Studio or YouTube experience welcomed.
• Confidence using Excel and performance data to find insights, guide decisions and improve results.
• The ability to translate complex campaign information into clear, relevant recommendations for clients and colleagues.
• Experience building positive client relationships and managing multiple priorities with care and accuracy.
• A collaborative approach to leading and developing others, with a commitment to curiosity, learning and shared success.
• Commercial awareness and the judgement to balance client outcomes, quality of delivery and sustainable account growth.

Responsibilities

• Lead the paid search strategy for key clients, connecting campaign activity with their wider business goals.
• Take ownership of day-to-day account delivery, ensuring consistently high standards and effective ways of working.
• Use performance data, automation and testing to identify opportunities and remove barriers to growth.
• Build trusted relationships with senior clients through clear advice, proactive communication and dependable delivery.
• Develop long‑term account plans alongside wider agency teams and specialist partners.
• Support the commercial health of client accounts by understanding commitments and identifying mutually valuable growth opportunities.
• Coach and develop team members through clear expectations, constructive support and meaningful progression plans.

Skills

Paid search

Google Ads

Microsoft Advertising

Looker Studio

YouTube advertising

Excel

Data-driven insights

Client relationships

People leadership

Tools

Google Ads

Microsoft Advertising

Looker Studio

Job description

Company description

We are Zenith, the ROI agency, but we’re about so much more than numbers. Since 2005, we’ve been helping some of the world’s biggest and most exciting brands turn ambitious ideas into meaningful business growth. As part of Publicis Groupe, our global community of 6,000+ specialists across 95 markets brings together media, data, technology, commerce and content to solve complex challenges and create work that makes a difference.

We believe the best work happens when great people come together. We’re curious, collaborative and always looking for new ways to think, challenge convention and push what’s possible. From strategy and planning to performance, data, content and trading, our teams work across disciplines to create smarter, more personal experiences for the brands we partner with.

And we’re serious about our people too. We want Zenith to be a place where everyone feels seen, heard and represented, with opportunities to learn, grow and make your mark. From our regular social events, mentoring, learning opportunities, recognition and community initiatives, we’re building a culture where people can bring their whole selves to work, share ideas and have a lot of fun along the way.

So, if you’re ambitious, curious and excited by the pace of change in our industry, you’ll fit right in. Whether you’re a media expert, creative thinker, data enthusiast, tech lover or simply someone who wants to make an impact, there’s a place for you at Zenith. Come and help us create a more meaningful kind of ROI – for our clients, our people and our culture.

Overview

We are hiring a Paid Search Associate Director to shape high-performing search strategies and help clients turn ambition into measurable growth.

You’ll lead the day-to-day direction of key accounts, combining strategic thinking, analytical insight and smart automation to improve performance at scale. Working closely with clients, specialists and agency partners, you’ll create work that is effective, innovative and built to last. This is an opportunity to develop talented people while influencing the future of our paid search offering.

Responsibilities

• Lead the paid search strategy for key clients, connecting campaign activity with their wider business goals.
• Take ownership of day-to-day account delivery, ensuring consistently high standards and effective ways of working.
• Use performance data, automation and testing to identify opportunities and remove barriers to growth.
• Build trusted relationships with senior clients through clear advice, proactive communication and dependable delivery.
• Develop long‑term account plans alongside wider agency teams and specialist partners.
• Support the commercial health of client accounts by understanding commitments and identifying mutually valuable growth opportunities.
• Coach and develop team members through clear expectations, constructive support and meaningful progression plans.

Qualifications

• Strong experience planning, managing and improving paid search campaigns with revenue‑focused objectives.
• Practical knowledge of platforms such as Google Ads and Microsoft Advertising, with Looker Studio or YouTube experience welcomed.
• Confidence using Excel and performance data to find insights, guide decisions and improve results.
• The ability to translate complex campaign information into clear, relevant recommendations for clients and colleagues.
• Experience building positive client relationships and managing multiple priorities with care and accuracy.
• A collaborative approach to leading and developing others, with a commitment to curiosity, learning and shared success.
• Commercial awareness and the judgement to balance client outcomes, quality of delivery and sustainable account growth.

Additional information

Zenith International offers a wide range of benefits to support our employees. Full details are shared when you join, but highlights include core benefits such as Pension, Life Assurance, and Private Medical cover, alongside enhanced policies like Reflection Days and Shared Parental Leave. You’ll also have access to a range of additional initiatives, including:

• Pension
• Life Assurance
• Private Medical cover
• Reflection Days
• Shared Parental Leave

Please check out the Publicis Career Page which showcases our Inclusive Benefits and our EAG’s (Employee Action Groups).

Publicis Groupe works primarily from the office or our clients' office four days per week.

At Zenith International, we are proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, and do not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, nationality, religion or belief, disability, age, citizenship, relationship status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other protected characteristic.

We are committed to providing a fair, accessible, and inclusive recruitment process. If you have any access needs – for example, related to disability, neurodivergence, or a health condition - please let us know. We’ll work with you to ensure the process works for you. Sharing this information will never impact your application.

Guided by our values, we listen with empathy, uplift each other, take responsibility, and embrace change - building a culture where everyone feels seen, respected, and genuinely included.

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