Associate Director, Paid Search

Publicis Groupe; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 97,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Family Care

Adoption Support

Pet Adoption Support

Wellness offerings and benefits

Job summary

Starcom in the United States is seeking an Associate Director, Paid Search to lead paid search programs across key client accounts. You will mentor Managers and Analysts, shape strategic direction, and drive data-driven decisions in a fast-paced, matrix environment.

You will collaborate with cross-channel teams to deliver scalable search programs that balance innovation, performance, and operational rigor.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of paid media experience, with a strong focus on paid search/SEM.
• 2–4+ years of digital marketing experience across search, social, and/or display.
• 2+ years of people management experience with a proven ability to lead and develop teams.
• Deep understanding of paid search platforms, bid management and analytics platforms, performance metrics, and optimization strategies.

Responsibilities

• Own paid search strategy and performance for assigned accounts, aligned to client business objectives.
• Act as a senior client partner, leading performance discussions, planning conversations, and strategic presentations.
• Develop cross-platform paid search roadmaps, including testing, optimization, and growth initiatives.
• Partner with analytics, programmatic, paid social, and broader media teams to deliver integrated recommendations.
• Oversee campaign structure, budgeting, forecasting, and pacing to ensure performance and financial accountability.

Skills

Paid media

Paid search/SEM

Digital marketing

People management

Analytics

Stakeholder communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree preferred

Job description

Company description

Starcom is the world's first standalone media agency, a storied innovator that continues to lead the way for many of the world's best brands.

Starcom has long been the professional birthplace and proving ground for marketing leaders – CEOs, CMOs, sales leaders, and technology pioneers – and we continue to drive the industry with peerless talent and relentless innovation.

From the start, we've known that achieving growth for our clients requires understanding and connecting with real people where they live and work, in ways they value.

In an AI era, we remain \"\"Guided By Humanity,\"\" a phrase that describes our foundational belief that human expertise must remain in the driver's seat, supported by the best processes and technology.

With our proprietary capabilities and Publicis Media's industry-leading resources and clout, we create ideas that move people and drive transformative business outcomes for brands.

Overview

The Associate Director, Paid Search is a senior performance marketing leader responsible for driving paid search strategy, executional excellence, and team development across key client accounts. This role partners closely with clients and internal cross-channel teams to deliver scalable, data‑-driven search programs aligned to broader business objectives‑.

You will lead and mentor Managers, Senior Analysts, and Analysts while owning the strategic direction of paid search programs, balancing innovation, performance, and operational rigor. This role is ideal for a paid search expert who thrives in fast-paced environments and matrix organizations, values collaboration, and enjoys translating complex data into clear, actionable insights.

Responsibilities

• Own paid search strategy and performance for assigned accounts, aligned to client business objectives


• Act as a senior client partner, leading performance discussions, planning conversations, and strategic presentations


• Develop cross-platform paid search roadmaps, including testing, optimization, and growth initiatives


• Partner with analytics, programmatic, paid social, and broader media teams to deliver integrated recommendations


• Oversee campaign structure, budgeting, forecasting, and pacing to ensure performance and financial accountability


• Utilize platform automation and AI-enabled bidding and optimization tools to drive efficiency and insight, with thoughtful human oversight


• Evaluate emerging platform features, betas, and best practices to keep programs competitive and forward-looking


• Promote a test-and-learn approach focused on continuous performance improvement


• Lead, mentor, and develop paid search teams through coaching, feedback, and clear career pathing


• Set expectations for performance excellence, operational rigor, and strategic thinking


• Conduct performance reviews and support hiring, onboarding, and ongoing talent development


• Foster a collaborative, inclusive team culture rooted in curiosity and accountability


• Ensure quality control across paid search planning, execution, and reporting


• Drive consistency in processes, documentation, and best practices to support scale and efficiency


• Support staffing plans, financial planning, and resourcing discussions for assigned accounts


• Identify opportunities to improve workflows, tools, and team capabilities through continuous improvement

Qualifications

• 5+ years of paid media experience, with a strong focus on paid search/SEM


• 2–4+ years of digital marketing experience across search, social, and/or display


• 2+ years of people management experience with a proven ability to lead and develop teams


• Deep understanding of paid search platforms, bid management and analytics platforms, performance metrics, and optimization strategies


• Strong analytical skills with the ability to turn data into clear insights and recommendations


• Comfortable presenting to senior level stakeholders and influencing client decision-making


• Highly organized, proactive, and collaborative with a passion for performance marketing excellence


• Bachelor’s degree preferred

Additional information

Starcom is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our employment decisions are made without regard to actual or perceived race, color, ethnicity, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, disability, medical condition as defined by applicable state law, genetic information, marital status, military service and veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws and ordinances.

The Power of One starts with our people! To do powerful things, we offer powerful resources. Our best-in-class wellness and benefits offerings include:

• Paid Family Care for parents and caregivers for 12 weeks or more


• Monetary assistance and support for Adoption, Surrogacy and Fertility


• Monetary assistance and support for pet adoption


• Employee Assistance Programs and Health/Wellness/Comfort reimbursements to help you invest in your future and work/life balance


• Tuition Assistance


• Paid time off that includes Flexible Time off Vacation, Annual Sick Days, Volunteer Days, Holiday and Identity days, and more


• Matching Gifts programs


• Flexible working arrangements


• 'Work Your World’ Program encouraging employees to work from anywhere Publicis Groupe has an office for up to 6 weeks a year (based upon eligibility)


• Business Resource Groups that support multiple affinities and alliances

The benefits offerings listed are available to U.S. based employees, are reviewed on an annual basis, and are governed by the terms of the applicable plan documents.

If you require accommodation or assistance with the application or onboarding process specifically, please contact [e-mail].

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Compensation Range: USD $97,375.00 - USD $139,965.00/Annually. This is the pay range the Company believes it will pay for this position at the time of this posting. Consistent with applicable law, compensation will be determined based on the skills, qualifications, and experience of the applicant along with the requirements of the position, and the Company reserves the right to modify this pay range at any time. Temporary roles may be eligible to participate in our freelancer/temporary employee medical plan through a third‑party benefits administration system once certain criteria have been met. For regular roles, the Company will offer medical coverage, dental, vision, disability, 401k, and paid time off. The Company anticipates the application deadline for this job posting will be 12/8/2026.