Assistant Director, Paid Search

Carnegie; United States; On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Carnegie is seeking an Assistant Director of Paid Search to lead a small team and own paid search strategy for key clients. You’ll work with Directors to maintain best practices, training, and performance standards while growing Carnegie's paid search practice with AI-driven enhancements.

You will mentor 1–2 team members, conduct evaluations, and help shape hiring and workflow planning. A strong background in Google Ads and analytics is required for success.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; Marketing/Advertising major preferred.
• 3–5 years of experience in paid search on the Google Ads platform; lead generation experience is a plus.
• Currently certified in Google Ads Paid Search, or willing to get certified.
• Experience analyzing digital campaign metrics to measure success.

Responsibilities

• Manage and coach 1–2 paid search team members on campaign strategy, setup, and optimization.
• Lead training, onboarding, and professional development for direct reports.
• Run performance evaluations and give clear, constructive feedback.
• Support hiring and workflow planning for the team.
• Own paid search strategy and execution end to end for medium-priority accounts.
• Guide campaign strategy through AI-driven landscape, using automation and new AI features to drive performance.
• Partner with Digital Strategists on proposals, RFPs, and strategic pivots.
• Use tools like Clarity, GA4, and dashboards to track performance toward goals.
• Join client calls as needed.
• Work with cross-functional teams to share best practices and push new ideas forward.
• Stay current on paid search trends and bring process improvements, tests, and training opportunities.

Skills

Team leadership

Communication

Time management

Problem-solving

Detail-oriented

Adaptability

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Google Ads

GA4

Clarity

Asana

Google Docs/Sheets/Slides

Job description

Carnegie | A Career That Helps Higher Education Thrive

We partner with colleges and universities to create lasting impact—for institutions, students, and the world they’ll shape. At Carnegie, your work contributes to something bigger: advancing opportunity through higher education. We invest in people, not just positions, and build careers that grow with you.

About the Role

The Assistant Director of Paid Search runs paid search strategy for a smaller group of key Carnegie clients and manages 1–2 team members. This role works closely with the Directors and Senior Director to keep best practices, training, and performance standards consistent, and plays a part in growing Carnegie's paid search practice over time.

What You'll Own

• Manage and coach 1–2 paid search team members on campaign strategy, setup, and optimization
• Lead training, onboarding, and professional development for direct reports
• Run performance evaluations and give clear, constructive feedback
• Support hiring and workflow planning for the team

Campaign Management & Reporting

• Own paid search strategy and execution end to end for medium-priority accounts
• Guide campaign strategy through the shifting AI-driven search landscape, using automation and new AI features to drive performance
• Partner with Digital Strategists on proposals, RFPs, and strategic pivots
• Use tools like Clarity, GA4, and dashboards to keep campaigns on track toward performance goals
• Join client calls as needed

Internal Team & Thought Leadership

• Work with cross-functional teams to share best practices and push new ideas forward
• Stay current on paid search trends and bring forward process improvements, tests, and training opportunities for the company

What You Bring

• Bachelor's degree required; a Marketing/Advertising major or concentration is preferred
• 3–5 years of experience in paid search on the Google Ads platform; lead generation experience is a plus
• Currently certified in Google Ads Paid Search, or willing to get certified
• Experience analyzing digital campaign metrics to measure success
• Experience managing employees is preferred
• Experience with Asana or similar project management tools, and Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides, is a plus
• Sharp attention to detail and the ability to juggle multiple priorities on tight deadlines
• Strong problem-solving skills — you troubleshoot issues on your own before escalating
• Quick to learn and comfortable adapting to new tools and technology
• Clear written communicator, both internally and with clients
• Genuine enthusiasm for digital marketing and client success
• Strong communication and time management skills for a remote environment, with the ability to move between multiple platforms regularly
• Must be able to work at a computer for extended periods

Why This Role

This role gives you ownership over a meaningful book of client business while building your management chops with a small, growing team. You'll shape how paid search evolves at Carnegie as AI reshapes the channel, working alongside Directors and a Senior Director who'll back your growth every step of the way.