Associate Director, Paid Search

Doner; Michigan; On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Doner is seeking an Associate Director, Paid Search to lead strategy and stay hands-on in-platform. You will own performance end-to-end—from execution to client conversations—in a fast-paced environment with high expectations.

This role requires client-facing experience, the ability to manage multiple budgets for several clients, and a track record of growing ROAS and reducing CPA across Google Ads, Microsoft Ads, and Shopping.

Qualifications

• 6–9 years of hands‑on paid search experience across Google Ads and Microsoft Ads.
• Strong in‑platform execution across Search, Shopping, and Performance Max (structure, build, optimize).
• Proven ability to manage and scale large budgets while hitting ROAS/CPA targets.
• Deep understanding of bidding strategies, query mining, and account structure for scale.

Responsibilities

• Own performance across multiple paid search accounts (Google Ads, Microsoft Ads).
• Stay hands‑on: build, optimize, and troubleshoot campaigns across Search, Shopping, and PMax.
• Manage budgets, pacing, and performance against KPIs (ROAS, CPA, revenue).
• Identify growth opportunities across brand and non‑brand (keywords, structure, bidding, feeds).
• Create and present clear performance updates and strategic recommendations to clients.
• Build and maintain forecasting models for budget and revenue planning.
• Lead testing (bidding, creatives, audiences, landing pages) with clear hypotheses and learnings.
• Partner with SEO, Paid Social, and Analytics teams on full-funnel strategy.
• Mentor junior team members and review work for quality and accuracy.
• Work with engine reps to unlock betas and performance insights.

Skills

Paid search

Google Ads

Microsoft Ads

Budget management

Forecasting

Performance Max

Bidding strategies

Tools

GA4

GTM

Merchant Center

Job description

We’re looking for an Associate Director, Paid Search who can lead strategy and stay hands-on in-platform. This role is ideal for someone who can own performance end-to-end - from execution to client conversations. Fast-paced environment, high expectations, and strong growth opportunity. Client facing experience is critical for this role along with the ability to manage numerous budgets for multiple clients.

What You’ll Do

• Own performance across multiple paid search accounts (Google Ads, Microsoft Ads)
• Stay hands‑on: build, optimize, and troubleshoot campaigns across Search, Shopping, and PMax
• Manage budgets, pacing, and performance against KPIs (ROAS, CPA, revenue)
• Identify growth opportunities across brand and non‑brand (keywords, structure, bidding, feeds)
• Create and present clear performance updates and strategic recommendations to clients
• Build and maintain forecasting models for budget and revenue planning
• Lead testing (bidding, creatives, audiences, landing pages) with clear hypotheses and learnings
• Partner with SEO, Paid Social, and Analytics teams on full-funnel strategy
• Mentor junior team members and review work for quality and accuracy
• Work with engine reps to unlock betas and performance insights

What You Need

• 6–9 years of hands‑on paid search experience across Google Ads and Microsoft Ads
• Strong in‑platform execution across Search, Shopping, and Performance Max (structure, build, optimize)
• Proven ability to manage and scale large budgets while hitting ROAS/CPA targets
• Deep understanding of bidding strategies, query mining, and account structure for scale
• Experience driving incremental growth (especially non‑brand), not just maintaining performance
• Comfortable with forecasting, pacing, and budget allocation decisions
• Strong grasp of feed optimization and Merchant Center fundamentals
• Ability to turn data into clear, actionable recommendations for clients
• Confident presenting to clients and pushing POVs, not just reporting results
• Experience reviewing work and mentoring junior team members
• Solid understanding of tracking, attribution, and conversion quality (GA4, GTM, etc.)
• Highly detail-oriented, organized, and able to manage multiple priorities without dropping execution quality