Manager, Paid Search (SEM)

Ovative Group; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 132,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Office access to MSP NYC CHI

Travel to Minneapolis HQ

401k match

Health insurance

Fertility & parenting benefits

Phone/data stipend

Sabbatical program

Charitable giving program

Shenanigan’s Day

Job summary

Ovative Group, a leading independent, full-funnel media and measurement firm, is seeking a Paid Search Manager to lead enterprise SEM programs. The role focuses on client leadership, strategy, and cross-team collaboration to drive enterprise impact beyond ecommerce.

The ideal candidate brings 5+ years of paid search experience, strong communication, and proven success managing teams and partners in a fast-growing environment.

Qualifications

• 5-6+ years in enterprise-level paid search (SEM) programs.
• Proven track record driving results in paid search programs.
• Experience managing direct reports and external partners.

Responsibilities

• Manage and grow key client relationships and performance.
• Lead day-to-day management of paid search programs across campaigns and tactics.
• Partner with SEO, retail media, and upper-funnel teams to drive holistic search strategies.
• Guide optimization, bidding strategies, and analytics to deliver enterprise impact.

Skills

Paid Search Leadership

Client Management

Team Leadership

Strategic Thinking

Tools

Google Ads

Microsoft Ads

SA360

Job description

About Ovative Group

Ovative Group is an independent, full-funnel media, measurement, and creative firm. Leveraging our deep industry expertise, we help brands like Best Buy, Domino's, American Eagle, The Home Depot, Post, Disney, Tumi, Michael Kors, Boost Mobile, and UnitedHealth Group transform their media and measurement programs. The result? Profitable growth that speaks for itself.

At Ovative, we don't just track data, we redefine success. How do we do it? Our proprietary MarTech platform, EMRge helps businesses transform marketing into a driver of sustainable growth. Powered by Enterprise Marketing Return (EMR), our differentiated approach to holistic media buying, planning, and measurement, EMRge is the first MarTech platform to measure businesses holistically. We're all about raising the bar every day, and it shows. Our work has been recognized by organizations like Digiday, Google, Inc. 5000, USA Today, and Search Engine Land.

About Ovative Group

Ovative Group is an independent, full-funnel media, measurement, and creative firm. Leveraging our deep industry expertise, we help brands like Best Buy, Domino's, American Eagle, The Home Depot, Post, Disney, Tumi, Michael Kors, Boost Mobile, and UnitedHealth Group transform their media and measurement programs. The result? Profitable growth that speaks for itself.

About The Role

Digital Marketing is a critical part of every consumer journey, but many companies only measure its impact on their digital outcomes. Our approach to paid search optimization at Ovative Group can’t be found anywhere else. We measure and optimize search marketing campaigns at the enterprise level, both online and offline. Our clients are household names that span multiple industries, including retail, healthcare, education, CPG, and hospitality.

The Ovative Group Manager, Paid Search (SEM) position is an opportunity for an experienced candidate to take the next step in a leadership role at a fast-growing company that has the highest standards for talent, fun, and client success. The ideal candidate demonstrates, phenomenal client management, inspiring team leadership, great critical thinking, and sophisticated understanding of the digital media landscape. Their role will play a pivotal role in helping Ovative build and drive new capabilities toward measuring and optimizing paid media to the true enterprise impact, not solely ecommerce impacts.

Responsibilities Of a Paid Search Manager

• Client relationship management:
• Own, manage and grow the overall relationship and performance of some of Ovative Group’s largest clients
• Lead day-to-day management of client paid search programs including:
• Clearly defining program objectives, tactics and KPIs
• Developing and delivering client communication
• Effectively manage client relationship and establish trust and credibility
• Effectively influence client stakeholders to evolve strategies and measurement approach to drive enterprise impact through paid search channel
• Team leadership and employee development:
• Recruit, train and manage new Ovative team members
• Foster a culture of open communication and 360-degree feedback
• Inspire your team and direct reports to reach their quarterly, annual, and long-term goals with strong coaching and development aligned to their interests and goals
• Cross-functional strategy & thought leadership:
• Act as a subject matter expert for Paid Search strategies by continually evolving Ovative’s approach to best practices; vetting and partnering with new technology companies; managing planning and execution tools, and staying on top of emerging trends
• Partner with SEO, retail media, and upper- funnel teams to drive holistic search strategies and impact
• Develop and drive forward multi-channel digital media strategies and roadmaps aligned with client program growth goals
• Support higher level, cross-functional marketing strategy projects by providing deep media expertise
• Performance media management & execution:
• Guide, manage, and QA optimization and management of client paid search programs including:
• Strategy and campaign planning, integrated with all Ovative services
• Campaign tactics and segmentation strategy, with a customer first mindset
• Algorithmic bid platform and manual bidding strategy and optimization to optimize to enterprise results
• Strategic partner management (Google, Microsoft, SA360, etc.)
• Actively identify new test and learn opportunities within paid search to build on expertise and unlock new capabilities
• Custom analysis, reporting and insights that can scale across the channel
• Plan and activate as a true AI and Holistic search expert
• Partner with internal and external SEO partners to drive holistic program growth across platforms
• Adopt and scale internal best practices that best align to client goals
• Test and adoption of AI-driven search capabilities (AI Max, emerging AI platforms, etc.) that improve business outcomes for our clients

Requirements

• 5-6+ years of experience directly responsible for enterprise-level paid search marketing (SEM) programs
• Proven track record of success driving strong positive results through paid search marketing programs
• Proven mastery of the following:
• Performance-based, direct-response search marketing programs
• Execution with paid search technologies tools (Google Ads, Microsoft Ads, Search Ads 360, etc.)
• External partner management (Google, Microsoft, technology partners, etc.)
• Previous experience in performance marketing, retail, eCommerce, etc. preferred
• Experience managing direct reports

Pay Transparency

At Ovative, we offer a transparent view into three core components of your total compensation package: Base Salary, Annual Bonus, and Benefits. The salary range for this position below is inclusive of an annual bonus. Actual offers are made with consideration for relevant experience and anticipated impact. Additional benefits information is provided below.

For our Manager positions, our compensation ranges from $90,000 to $132,000, which is inclusive of a 20% bonus.

Benefits Of Working At Ovative Group

We provide strong, competitive, holistic benefits that understand the importance of your life inside and out of work.

Culture

Culture matters and we’ve been recognized as a Top Workplace for ten years running because of it. We demand trust and transparency from each other. We believe in doing the hard and complicated work others put off. We’re open in communication and floor plan. We’re flat – our interns sit next to VPs, our analysts work closely with senior leaders, and our CEO interacts with every single person daily. Put together, these elements help foster an environment where smart people can support each other in performing to their highest potential.

Ovative is committed to fostering an inclusive environment where everyone can participate and thrive. We do not tolerate discrimination of any kind, including on the basis of race, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. Our policies reflect this commitment—for example, our medical leave benefits are inclusive of same-sex partners, ensuring equitable care and support for all families.

Compensation and Insurance

We strive to hire and retain the best talent. Paying fair, competitive compensation, with a large bonus incentive, and phenomenal health insurance is an important part of this mix.

We’re rewarded fairly and when the company performs well, we all benefit.

Tangible amenities we enjoy

• Access to all office spaces in MSP, NYC, and CHI
• Frequent, paid travel to our Minneapolis headquarters for company events, team events, and in-person collaboration with teams
• Generous paid vacation policy
• 401k match program
• Top-notch health insurance options, inclusive of same sex partners
• Family formation benefits including reimbursement options for fertility, pregnancy, and parenting needs
• Monthly stipend for your mobile phone and data plan
• Sabbatical program
• Charitable giving via our time and a financial match program
• Shenanigan’s Day

Working at Ovative won’t be easy, but if you like getting your hands dirty, driving results, and being surrounded by the best talent, it’ll be the most rewarding job you’ll ever have. If you think you can make us better, we want to hear from you!