Search Marketing Manager

Carnival; Southampton; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading cruise company is seeking a Search Marketing Manager in Southampton. The role involves leading paid search activities, managing a substantial budget, and driving customer acquisition. Candidates should have experience with large-scale campaigns, strong analytical skills, and the ability to lead a team. The position offers hybrid work with various benefits including employee discounts and an extensive learning package.

Benefits

Employee Discounted Cruising

Annual bonus

Extensive learning and development opportunities

Minimum 25 days leave

Private medical insurance

Qualifications

• Proven experience in managing high-volume budgets.
• Strong analytical skills for performance improvements.
• Experience with cross-channel marketing coordination.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic planning of paid search campaigns.
• Manage multi-million-pound paid search budget.
• Collaborate with internal teams and external partners.

Skills

Managing large-scale paid search campaigns

Knowledge of Google Ads and Microsoft Ads

Analytical skills to interpret data

Strategic media planning

Job description

Carnival UK is in search of a Search Marketing Manager, who is crucial in supporting our digital marketing ambitions within the P&O Cruises Marketing team.

Role Overview

The Search Marketing Manager is responsible for leading the strategic and tactical development of our paid search (PPC) activity, managing a multi-million-pound budget to drive significant revenue and customer acquisition growth. This role acts as the strategic lead for paid search, ensuring campaigns are optimised, data-driven, and aligned with broader marketing and digital strategies.

Key accountabilities include:

• Leading the strategic planning and tactical optimisation of paid search campaigns to drive high-quality traffic and revenue
• Managing a multi-million-pound paid search budget, ensuring efficient spend and strong ROI
• Line management and development of the Senior Search Marketing Executive
• Collaborating with internal teams and external partners (e.g., Google, Microsoft) to identify opportunities and implement best practices

Positioned within our internal structure from CUK15 (entry level) to CUK1 (Brand President), this role is classified as a CUK08 and offered as a full-time position on a permanent basis. We offer hybrid work including up to two days a week from home.

Requirements: Your Expertise and Leadership

To thrive as a Search Marketing Manager, we're looking for:

• Proven experience managing large-scale paid search campaigns and high-volume budgets
• Advanced knowledge of Google Ads, Microsoft Ads, and associated tools and editors
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data and drive performance improvements
• Experience in strategic media planning and cross-channel marketing coordination

About You: A Catalyst for Change

We believe that diversity enriches our team. We're interested in candidates who:

• Are proactive and confident in sharing ideas, raising concerns, and leading by example
• Build inclusive, collaborative relationships and foster team development
• Embrace continuous improvement and stay current with industry trends
• Empower others through coaching, mentoring, and creating a high-performance environment

Why Join Us?

Working with us is about more than a job. It's about creating unforgettable holiday happiness for our guests and a fulfilling career for you. Our benefits package reflects our commitment to your wellbeing:

• Employee Discounted Cruising plus Friends and Family offers
• Annual bonus
• A friendly welcome with help settling in
• Regular office events including live entertainment, lifestyle events and charity partner fundraisers
• Extensive learning and development opportunities
• Minimum 25 days leave, bank holiday allowance and holiday trading scheme
• Employee-led networks
• Employee Assistance and Wellbeing programmes
• Recognition scheme with prizes and awards
• Contributory Defined Contribution Pension scheme
• Company paid private medical and dental insurance and health assessment
• In-house Occupational Health help and access to digital GP
• Life Assurance
• Parental and adoption leave
• Employee Shares Plan
• Electric Car and Cycle to Work schemes
• Onsite restaurant offering range of healthy cooked and grab and go meals
• Discounted retail and leisure via discounts portal

Ready to Lead?

If guiding a multi-million-pound search marketing function to new heights excites you, we're eager to hear from you. Apply now to start your journey with us, where your performance-led leadership will make a difference in our shared success.

Recruitment Journey

For more information on your recruitment journey, please visit https://bit.ly/CUKCandidateJourney .

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