Associate Director, Search Marketing

Publicis Groupe; New York (NY); On-site; USD 97,000 - 156,000; Full time

Job summary

Digitas, a Publicis Groupe agency in New York, seeks an Associate Director of Search Marketing to lead SEM strategy, planning, optimization and reporting for client campaigns. You will integrate SEM with other capabilities and serve as a day-to-day contact for clients, shaping media strategy and scheduling across channels.

You will supervise junior staff, collaborate with account, creative and measurement teams, and translate insights into actionable recommendations that drive performance and

Qualifications

• A four-year degree and 7 to 9 years of digital media experience, 6+ years of SEM experience.
• Deep familiarity with the digital environment and media planning/buying processes.
• Strong attention to detail, data interpretation and storytelling from data.

Responsibilities

• Manage the strategy and oversee planning, optimization and reporting of SEM campaigns.
• Serve as escalation point of contact for day-to-day clients and drive cross-team collaboration.
• Oversee development of program strategies, testing schedules and learning agendas.
• Translate insights into strategic implications and opportunities for clients.

Skills

SEM expertise

Digital media strategy

Data interpretation

Microsoft Office

Presentation skills

Client management

Travel willingness

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

DoubleClick Search

Tag Management Solutions

DMP

MTA

Site Analytics tools

Job description

Company description

Digitas is the Networked Experience Agency, built on the vision that we create magnetic experiences that earn the right for brands to exist in human networks. Today, and tomorrow. We deliver Networked Experiences by leveraging comprehensive data, technology, creative, media and strategy capabilities. Digitas delivers ambitious outcomes via unique solutions that include Creative Experiences, Integrated Media, Addressable Relationships, Social Marketing and Total Commerce. Celebrated by AdAge as Data and Insights Agency of the Year, U.S Campaign’s Brand Experience Agency of the Year, Media Network of the Year and celebrated by Forrester and Gartner, Digitas serves the world’s leading brands through a global network comprised of more than 5,500 employees across over 65 offices in 43 countries.

The Digitas culture is made up of fearless, inventive and generous Unicorns of all kinds.

Responsibilities

As Associate Director of Search Marketing, you’ll manage the strategy and oversee planning, optimization and reporting of Digitas client SEM campaigns. You will also help integrate SEM with other capabilities.

• Serving as escalation point of contact for day-to-day clients
• Shaping and articulating the department and agency’s view on customer segmentation, media strategy tactics and execution

• Managing the strategic components of an integrated SEM campaign, with other digital and offline media.
• Overseeing development of program strategies and analyses for clients (e.g., target audience recommendations, timing/scheduling strategy, etc.)
• Accountable for testing schedule, learning agenda, performance forecasts
• Drawing insights from program results, keeping clients and internal teams looped in on strategic implications
• Identifying and addressing client issues, as well as new opportunities within existing client business
• Owning and clearly responding to client questions and issues related to media, serving as day-to-day contact
• Managing assigned accounts within the media department with minimal oversight, including media planning, media negotiations and implementation, performance tracking and analysis, and various associated projects
• Working closely with account, creative and measurement teams to ensure media plans and creative/measurement work are strategically aligned, client needs are met and quality levels are maintained
• Managing and motivating junior staff, providing them ongoing feedback, performance evaluation, career direction and training
• Prioritizing teamwork, delegating responsibilities, and implementing a task management system that is universally accepted and applied
• Providing creative solutions to client challenges; resourceful and able to troubleshoot issues with limited direction
• Fostering relationship with internal teams (Media, S&A and other capabilities) and external teams while managing multiple client stakeholders
• Understanding big picture implications and how insights can be applied in other programs and channels
• Active knowledge sharing with capability and broader agency

Qualifications

We’re looking for strong, impactful work experience, which typically includes:

• A four-year degree and 7 to 9 years of digital media experience, 6+ years of SEM experience

• Deep familiarity with the digital environment and a clear understanding of media planning and buying process (multi-channel knowledge and DoubleClick Search expertise required)
• Strong understanding of media research tools – you know their strengths/weaknesses, and when and how to effectively use them
• Keen attention to detail and an analytical approach to achieving objectives
• Solid quantitative and research skills; proven data interpretation capability, proven ability to translate data insights into a story
• Fluency with Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel). Experience working with Tag Management Solutions, DMP, MTA and Site Analytics tools
• Strong ability to understand client objectives and how they translate into search and media strategies
• Excellent client presence and ability to lead discussions with internal and external leadership
• Stellar communication and presentation skills – you’re poised, articulate and convincing
• Willingness to travel as needed – you’re open to new places, new faces and new ideas
• Familiarity with prompt-based interaction and commonly used generative AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Google Gemini, DALL·E, Midjourney) is a plus, especially for tasks like ideation, research, or content generation.

Additional information

Our Publicis Groupe motto “Viva La Différence” means we’re better together, and we believe that our differences make us stronger. It means we honor and celebrate all identities, across all facets of intersectionality, and it underpins all that we do as an organization. We are focused on fostering belonging and creating equitable & inclusive experiences for all talent.

Publicis Groupe provides robust and inclusive benefit programs and policies to support the evolving and diverse needs of our talent and enable every person to grow and thrive. Our benefits package includes medical coverage, dental, vision, disability, 401K, as well as parental and family care leave, family forming assistance, tuition reimbursement, and flexible time off.

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

Compensation Range: USD $97,375.00 - USD $155,961.00/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 1/1/2028.