Senior Paid Media Manager

Navigate; West of England; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Navigate is seeking a strategic, performance-driven Senior Paid Media Manager to oversee the direction and execution of paid media campaigns across our client portfolio.

You will lead strategy on key accounts, mentor the team, and present performance insights to clients, ensuring campaigns stay on time and on budget while driving growth.

This role requires staying ahead of trends, evaluating new tools, and building strong relationships with stakeholders to maximize impact.

Qualifications

• Four+ years of hands-on paid media experience across search and social.
• Strong knowledge of Google Ads, Meta Ads, LinkedIn, TikTok.
• Experience with GA4, Looker Studio, Tag Manager.

Responsibilities

• Develop and refine paid media strategies aligned with client goals.
• Lead complex campaigns across key accounts and major projects.
• Build and maintain client relationships and present performance insights.
• Monitor budgets and optimize for peak performance.

Skills

Paid media strategy

Client leadership

Team mentorship

Data analysis

Tools

GA4

Looker Studio

Tag Manager

Google Ads

Meta Ads

Job description

We're looking for a strategic thinker and performance-driven leader to oversee the direction and execution of paid media campaigns, ensuring they drive growth and client retention for some of the world's leading positive-impact brands.

For over twenty years, Navigate has been shaping success stories for tourism, heritage, nature and culture organisations worldwide.

We define positive-impact as a conscious effort to create meaningful and lasting benefits for places, people and planet. We're proud to work with some of the world's leading positive-impact brands. Our work involves crafting strategies that not only drive growth but also contribute to the well-being of the environment, local heritage, culture and people.

Through our two-decade journey in the industry, we've championed this ethos, integrating it seamlessly into our services. Positive impact means navigating the path of growth with purpose and ensuring sustainable growth that generates profits while positively impacting the communities in which they operate.

About the role

As Senior Paid Media Manager, you'll oversee the direction and execution of paid media campaigns across our client portfolio, ensuring they drive growth and client retention.

You'll lead strategy on key accounts, act as the strategic point of contact for clients, and mentor the team around you, shaping how paid media is delivered at Navigate.

Responsibilities

What you'll own.

Strategy, delivery, client leadership and team development, this is a senior role with breadth.

• Develop and refine paid media strategies that align with client and business goals.
• Stay ahead of trends, innovating and adapting strategies accordingly.
• Stay updated on industry trends and technologies, evaluating new tools for improved performance.

• Lead the planning and execution of complex campaigns, ensuring success for key accounts and major projects.
• Build and maintain strong client relationships, acting as the strategic point of contact.
• Lead client meetings, presenting performance insights and growth opportunities.
• Monitor and optimise campaign budgets, making strategic adjustments for peak performance.

Data & insight

• Provide advanced data analysis, delivering clear, actionable insights and recommendations.
• Conduct account audits for existing and prospective clients.

Team leadership

• Mentor junior account managers, fostering professional growth and ensuring support structures are in place.
• Support onboarding new team members and ensure smooth integration.
• Hold weekly 1:1s with direct reports, addressing challenges and tracking progress.
• Conduct quarterly and annual reviews, working with HR on PDPs and goal-setting.

What does great look like?

Who we're looking for.

A performance-driven leader with the strategic thinking to match and a passion for brands that actually make a difference.

Experience & platforms

• At least four years of hands-on experience crafting and delivering successful campaigns across Paid Search and Paid Social channels.
• Strong working knowledge of biddable media and key partner platforms (Google Merchant Centre, Microsoft Ads, Meta Ads, LinkedIn, TikTok and more).
• Detailed understanding and experience of relevant supporting technologies, including the Google Advertising Suite (GA4, Looker Studio, Tag Manager, Google Ads).
• An on-time, on-budget and on-target advertising campaign track record.

How you work

• Detailed understanding and experience of relevant supporting technologies, including the Google Advertising Suite (GA4, Looker Studio, Tag Manager, Google Ads).
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to build strong relationships with both internal and external stakeholders.
• A proven ability to stay up to date with the latest developments and identify new opportunities and innovations to develop our offering.
• A passion for great work that you are proud of - but not for any old brands, for brands that actually make a difference.

Equal opportunity statement

Navigate is an equal opportunities employer and committed to creating a diverse and inclusive working environment. We welcome applications from anyone suitably qualified for each role and when it comes to recruiting, hiring, developing and promoting employees, we treat everyone equally regardless of their age, sex, sexual orientation, race, nationality, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, disability, colour, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, and place an obligation upon all of our employees to respect and act in accordance with this policy.