Associate Director, Paid Search

Digital Matter; New York (NY); On-site; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Digital Matter is seeking an Associate Director of Paid Search to lead strategy, execution, and growth across our client portfolio. This senior, client-facing role requires deep hands-on paid search expertise and experience on both agency and vendor sides (Google or Microsoft).

You will own the paid search performance and strategy for a book of business, accountable for revenue tied to that book, and drive growth through retention, upsell, and new business support.

Qualifications

• Tenure in hands-on, consistent paid search management experience.
• Experience on both agency and vendor side at Google or Microsoft.
• Proven track record managing multi-million-dollar search budgets across complex portfolios.
• Deep expertise across Google Ads and Microsoft Ads platforms; familiarity with GA, SA360.
• Demonstrated experience leading and developing a team.
• Proven accountability for revenue goals within a book of business, not just campaign performance.
• Strong track record of growing client relationships and revenue, not just managing performance.
• Excellent client-facing communication and presentation skills, with experience presenting to senior stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Own and evolve paid search strategy across assigned client accounts.
• Lead paid search campaign planning, budget allocation, and channel strategy.
• Direct ongoing campaign optimization including bidding and keyword strategy.
• Own performance reporting and insights, explaining the implications and next steps.
• Lead test-and-learn agendas to continuously improve performance.
• Ensure measurement infrastructure is correctly set up and audited.

Skills

Paid search management

Agency + vendor experience

Client-facing communication

Revenue accountability

Leadership

Tools

Google Ads

Microsoft Advertising

Google Analytics

Search Ads 360

Job description

Digital Matter is a next-generation growth and transformation partner built for the realities of today’s market. We combine the pace and precision of a startup with the discipline and rigor of a global advisory firm.

We help consumer brands manage media as a strategic asset class, with the same intentionality and governance applied to capital allocation. By connecting data, technology, and creative, we turn media investment into measurable enterprise value: accelerating growth, improving efficiency, and building durable capabilities.

Over the past seven years, we’ve guided organizations through IPOs, digital turnarounds, and successful exits. Our point of view is simple: when media is managed as capital, it becomes a catalyst for transformation at scale.

About the Role

We're looking for an Associate Director of Paid Search to lead search strategy, execution, and growth across our client portfolio. This is a senior, client-facing leadership role for someone who has deep, hands-on paid search expertise built over a decade of experience and who has seen the business from both sides of the table, having worked agency-side and platform/vendor-side (Google or Microsoft).

This person will own paid search performance and strategy for a book of business and be accountable for the revenue tied to that book and play an active role in growing it through client retention, upsell, and new business support.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategy & Leadership
  • Own and evolve paid search strategy across assigned client accounts, ensuring alignment with each client's broader marketing and business objectives.
  • Serve as the senior search point of contact for clients, presenting strategy, performance, and recommendations directly to client stakeholders, including senior marketing leadership.
  • Translate platform-level trends (Google Ads, Microsoft Ads, and emerging AI-driven search products) into actionable strategic recommendations for clients.
  • Partner cross-functionally with integrated, paid social, programmatic and product to ensure integrated, full-funnel media strategies.
• Planning & Activation
  • In partnership with the integrated media team, lead paid search campaign planning, budget allocation, and channel strategy across search accounts, ensuring efficient and effective use of client media investment.
  • Oversee campaign build, QA, and activation, ensuring accuracy and adherence to best practices at scale.
  • Stay ahead of platform betas, product releases, and policy changes across Google Ads and Microsoft Ads, and proactively bring relevant opportunities to clients.
• Optimization & Analytics
  • Direct ongoing campaign optimization, including bidding strategy, audience/keyword strategy, and creative/ad copy testing.
  • Own performance reporting and analysis, delivering clear, insight-driven readouts that go beyond metrics to explain the “so what” and “what's next.”
  • Lead test-and-learn agendas (incrementality testing, brand lift, channel mix testing) to continuously improve performance and prove impact.
  • Ensure measurement infrastructure (conversion tracking, attribution, tagging) is set up correctly and audited regularly for accuracy.
• Team Leadership
  • Build scalable processes, playbooks, and best practices to standardize search execution across the team and client roster.
• Business Growth & Revenue Ownership
  • Own growth of your book of business, proactively identifying opportunities to expand scope, budget, and services within existing client relationships.
  • Be accountable for revenue goals tied to your book of business, tracking performance against targets and taking ownership of the outcome.
  • Support new business efforts, including contributing search strategy and POVs to pitches and RFPs.
  • Build strong, trust-based client relationships that lead to renewals, referrals, and organic growth.
  • Track and report on book-of-business health, including revenue, retention, and growth metrics.

Qualifications

• Tenure in hands-on, consistent paid search management experience.
• Required: experience on both the agency side and the vendor/platform side at either Google (Google Ads) or Microsoft (Microsoft Advertising).
• Proven track record managing multi-million-dollar search budgets across complex, multi-brand or multi-client portfolios.
• Deep expertise across Google Ads and Microsoft Ads platforms; familiarity with Google Analytics, Search Ads 360, or similar bid management/reporting tools.
• Demonstrated experience leading and developing a team.
• Proven accountability for revenue goals within a book of business, not just campaign performance.
• Strong track record of growing client relationships and revenue, not just managing performance.
• Excellent client-facing communication and presentation skills, with experience presenting to senior stakeholders.

Strategic thinker who can also go deep into platform execution when needed

What We Value

One Team.

We’re all in. When we win, we win together. When we miss, we learn together. Collaboration isn’t optional; it’s how we operate. Everyone plays a part, everyone has a stake, and every result belongs to all of us.

Maximum Transparency.

We are transparent, both internally and externally. The value we deliver comes from leveraging those truths to drive actionable solutions that move the business forward.

Ownership Culture.

We believe in moving with purpose. We don’t wait for perfect conditions - we identify opportunities, make informed decisions, and execute with speed and accountability. Success is measured by what we accomplish, not just what we plan.

Digital Matter is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to fair and equitable hiring practices. All hiring decisions at Digital Matter are based on strategic business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications. All candidates are considered without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexuality, national origin, age, disability, genetics, or any other protected status.

$180,000 - $260,000 semi monthly

The salary range posted is reflective of base salary, which will be determined based on skills, experience, and qualifications. You will also be eligible for equity and benefits and company incentives.

What We Value

One Team.

We’re all in. When we win, we win together. When we miss, we learn together. Collaboration isn’t optional; it’s how we operate. Everyone plays a part, everyone has a stake, and every result belongs to all of us.

Maximum Transparency.

We are transparent, both internally and externally. The value we deliver comes from leveraging those truths to drive actionable solutions that move the business forward.

Ownership Culture.

We believe in moving with purpose. We don’t wait for perfect conditions - we identify opportunities, make informed decisions, and execute with speed and accountability. Success is measured by what we accomplish, not just what we plan.

Digital Matter is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to fair and equitable hiring practices. All hiring decisions at Digital Matter are based on strategic business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications. All candidates are considered without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexuality, national origin, age, disability, genetics, or any other protected status. If you would like to request an interview accommodation, please reach out to HR at [e-mail]