Associate Director, Paid Search

Laughlin Constable; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 125,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Laughlin Constable seeks an Associate Director of Paid Search to lead strategy, execution, and client counsel across a portfolio of accounts in Chicago. This hands-on role blends platform execution with senior-level strategic thinking to develop campaigns, optimize performance, and translate results into client-ready recommendations.

You will own the Paid Search roadmap, manage budgets, and drive performance across Google Ads, Microsoft Advertising, and related platforms, while guiding junior

Qualifications

• 7+ years of progressive, hands-on Paid Search experience, preferably in an agency environment.
• Current, hands-on expertise in Google Ads, Microsoft Advertising, and Search Ads 360 or a comparable management platform.
• Proven ability to build, manage, and optimize complex campaigns with substantial media budgets.
• Deep knowledge of Search, Performance Max, automated bidding, audience signals, first-party data, and AI-powered formats.
• Ability to develop a strong Paid Search strategy and translate it into precise platform execution.
• Experience leading client relationships and presenting strategies, performance findings, and recommendations to senior stakeholders.
• Strong understanding of conversion measurement, GA4, enhanced conversions, offline conversion imports, and attribution.
• Ability to develop forecasts, budget recommendations, testing roadmaps, and actionable performance analyses.
• Experience connecting platform performance to client business outcomes.
• Strong financial stewardship across budgets, pacing, forecasting, and billing.
• Excellent analytical, presentation, communication, and strategic storytelling skills.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple accounts and priorities.
• Current Google Ads Search and Measurement certifications; Microsoft Advertising certification preferred.
• Experience integrating Paid Search with SEO and AI-search visibility strategies.
• Working knowledge of Paid Social and Programmatic Media.

Responsibilities

• Own Paid Search strategy and serve as the senior Search lead across assigned accounts.
• Translate client objectives and business challenges into actionable campaign, investment, testing, and measurement strategies.
• Lead client discussions, presentations, performance reviews, and strategic planning sessions.
• Communicate complex platform and industry changes in clear terms, including implications for client media strategies.
• Bring an independent agency perspective to platform recommendations aligned with client objectives.
• Identify opportunities to improve performance, expand programs, and strengthen client relationships.
• Personally build, manage, optimize, and troubleshoot campaigns across Google Ads, Microsoft Advertising, and other relevant platforms.
• Manage Search, Performance Max, YouTube, Demand Gen, and other applicable Google ecosystem campaigns.
• Own campaign architecture, keyword and query strategy, bidding, budgets, audience signals, creative inputs, exclusions, and landing-page recommendations.
• Monitor pacing, performance, and spend allocation and make timely optimization decisions.
• Conduct account audits and identify structural, strategic, measurement, and performance opportunities.
• Maintain high standards for campaign setup, QA, documentation, and financial accuracy.
• Ensure campaigns are managed proactively rather than relying on automation or recommendations.
• In collaboration with Data team, analyze campaign performance and translate findings into implications and actions.
• Evaluate performance against business outcomes and develop testing roadmaps with clear hypotheses.
• Evaluate automated bidding, AI-powered formats, first-party data, and audience signals for impact.
• Produce client-ready reporting and strategic narratives explaining outcomes and next steps.
• Develop proactive POVs on changes in consumer search behavior, AI, automation, privacy, measurement, and platform capabilities.
• Partner with Data and client teams to improve conversion tracking, offline conversions, enhanced conversions, and attribution.
• Assess measurement gaps and communicate limitations of platform reporting.
• Work with Media Planning, Paid Social, and Programmatic teams to connect Paid Search to the broader journey.
• Translate search demand and query behavior into insights informing media, content, and decisions.
• Ensure Paid Search investment aligns with the broader integrated media strategy.
• Provide strategic and technical guidance to junior team members and review work for quality.
• Share learnings and opportunities across the Performance Media team.
• Contribute Paid Search expertise to new-business pitches and case studies.

Skills

Leadership

Client relations

Strategic thinking

Analytical skills

Presentation skills

Attention to detail

Communication

Team mentorship

Education

Bachelor's degree in Marketing/Related Field

Tools

Google Ads

Microsoft Advertising

Search Ads 360

GA4

Job description

We’re looking for an Associate Director of Paid Search to lead strategy, execution, and client counsel across a portfolio of accounts.

This is a hands-on-keyboard role for someone with deep Paid Search expertise who can move seamlessly between platform execution and senior-level strategic thinking. You’ll personally develop strategies, build and optimize campaigns, analyze performance, and translate results into clear recommendations for clients.

You’ll be expected to think beyond platform metrics—connecting Paid Search activity to broader media strategies and meaningful business outcomes. You’ll also serve as a senior client contact, helping clients understand what is changing across the search landscape, what it means for their business, and where they should focus next.

What You’ll Do

Lead Strategy and Client Counsel

• Own Paid Search strategy and serve as the senior Search lead across assigned accounts
• Translate client objectives and business challenges into actionable campaign, investment, testing, and measurement strategies
• Lead client discussions, presentations, performance reviews, and strategic planning sessions
• Communicate complex platform and industry changes in clear terms, including their implications for client media strategies
• Bring an independent agency perspective to platform recommendations, evaluating opportunities through the client’s business and brand objectives
• Identify opportunities to improve performance, expand programs, and strengthen client relationships

Own Hands-On Campaign Management

• Personally build, manage, optimize, and troubleshoot campaigns across Google Ads, Microsoft Advertising, and other relevant platforms
• Manage Search, Performance Max, YouTube, Demand Gen, and other applicable Google ecosystem campaigns
• Own campaign architecture, keyword and query strategy, bidding, budgets, audience signals, creative inputs, exclusions, and landing-page recommendations
• Monitor pacing, performance, and spend allocation and make timely optimization decisions
• Conduct account audits and identify structural, strategic, measurement, and performance opportunities
• Maintain high standards for campaign setup, QA, documentation, and financial accuracy
• Ensure campaigns are managed proactively rather than relying solely on platform automation or recommendations

Drive Strategic Analysis and Performance

• In collaboration with our Data team, analyze campaign performance and translate findings into clear implications and recommended actions
• Evaluate performance against business outcomes
• Create structured testing roadmaps with clear hypotheses, success measures, and plans for applying learnings
• Evaluate automated bidding, AI-powered campaign formats, first-party data, and audience signals based on their ability to improve client outcomes
• Produce client-ready reporting and strategic narratives that explain what happened, why it matters, and what should happen next
• Develop proactive POVs on changes in consumer search behavior, AI, automation, privacy, measurement, and platform capabilities

Strengthen Measurement and Integration

• Partner with the Data and client teams to improve conversion tracking, offline conversion imports, enhanced conversions, lead-quality feedback, and attribution – as needed based on client goals
• Assess measurement gaps and clearly communicate limitations when platform reporting does not tell the full story
• Work with Media Planning, Paid Social, and Programmatic teams to connect Paid Search to the broader consumer journey
• Translate search demand and query behavior into insights that can inform media, content, creative, and business decisions
• Ensure Paid Search investment and optimization decisions align with the broader integrated media strategy

Contribute to Team and Agency Growth

• Provide strategic and technical guidance to junior Search team members as needed
• Review work for strategic strength, accuracy, and adherence to best practices
• Share platform learnings, testing results, and emerging opportunities across the Performance Media team
• Contribute Paid Search expertise to new-business pitches, organic-growth initiatives, POVs, and case studies
• Help evolve the agency’s Search best practices, tools, and strategic product

Requirements

• 7+ years of progressive, hands-on Paid Search experience, preferably within an agency environment
• Current, hands-on expertise in Google Ads, Microsoft Advertising, and Search Ads 360 or a comparable management platform
• Demonstrated experience personally building, managing, and optimizing complex campaigns and significant media budgets
• Deep knowledge of Search, Performance Max, automated bidding, audience signals, first-party data, and AI-powered formats
• Ability to develop a strong Paid Search strategy and translate it into accurate platform execution
• Experience leading client relationships and presenting strategies, performance findings, and recommendations to senior stakeholders
• Strong understanding of conversion measurement, GA4, enhanced conversions, offline conversion imports, attribution, and lead quality
• Ability to develop forecasts, budget recommendations, testing roadmaps, and actionable performance analyses
• Experience connecting platform performance to client business outcomes
• Strong financial stewardship across budgets, pacing, forecasting, and billing
• Excellent analytical, presentation, communication, and strategic storytelling skills
• Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple accounts and priorities
• Current Google Ads Search and Measurement certifications; Microsoft Advertising certification preferred
• Experience integrating Paid Search with SEO and AI-search visibility strategies
• Working knowledge of Paid Social and Programmatic Media

What Will Make You Successful

• You are equally comfortable in the platform and in front of a client
• You understand the technology deeply but don’t allow the platform to dictate the strategy
• You move beyond reporting results to explaining why they happened and what should change
• You challenge assumptions, investigate anomalies, and make decisions based on evidence
• You connect Search performance to the client’s business, brand, and broader media strategy
• You communicate recommendations clearly, including the tradeoffs and limitations
• You stay ahead of a rapidly evolving Search landscape and turn change into practical client guidance
• You take direct ownership of both the strategic thinking and the quality of the execution

Laughlin Constable is an equal opportunity employer and participates in E-Verify. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status.