Paid Search Director – Strategy & Client Growth

Mindgruve; San Diego (CA); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 122,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Flexible spending account (FSA)

Life and accident insurance

401(k) with matching

Job summary

Mindgruve, based in San Diego, CA, is seeking an Associate Director of Paid Search to lead client strategy, drive results, and mentor a growing team. This role requires senior-level expertise in Google, Microsoft, and SA360, along with strong client-management skills and industry leadership.

Local candidates preferred, with some remote options based on business needs. The role emphasizes independent decision-making, cross-team collaboration, and a track record of owning client relationships

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business, Communications, or a related field is required.
• 7+ years of paid search experience with leadership and independent client management.
• Agency experience strongly preferred.
• Track record of owning client relationships and delivering results with minimal oversight.
• Active Google, SA360, and Microsoft Ads certifications are required.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary agency voice on paid search for assigned client accounts, requiring no QA on external communications.
• Lead and present at client-facing meetings including reporting, QBRs, and strategic reviews.
• Develop and deliver insights and recommendations that project confidence and deep expertise.
• Independently identify and diagnose campaign issues across assigned and non-assigned accounts.
• Regularly evaluate strategic approach across the account portfolio and propose updates proactively.
• Manage and mentor Supervisors, Strategists, and Analysts on the Paid Search team.
• Contribute to departmental best practices and the team learning agenda.
• Participate in hiring processes for roles below this level, providing relevant feedback.
• Balance client responsibilities with departmental and company-wide initiatives.
• Provide QA and constructive feedback on team deliverables across all levels.
• Demonstrate in-depth understanding of conversion goal management in Google, Microsoft Ads, and SA360, including VBB setup.
• Confidently manage search administrative tasks including billing, advertiser verifications, and Google Partner requirements.
• Oversee account architecture, bid strategy, and testing roadmaps across client portfolios.
• Evaluate and implement tools, automation, and platform innovations.
• Participate in new business pitches including account audits, analyses, and presentation creation.
• Identify process inefficiencies and propose improvements to increase team productivity.
• Establish positive rapport with direct reports and agency stakeholders as a trusted team leader.

Skills

Leadership

Client management

Communication

Organization

Agency experience

Paid search proficiency

Bilingual (Spanish/Portuguese)

Education

Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business, Communications, or related field

Tools

Google Ads

Microsoft Ads

SA360

Bid management

Job description

Mindgruve, based in San Diego, CA, is seeking an Associate Director of Paid Search to lead client strategy, drive results, and mentor a growing team. This role requires senior-level expertise in Google, Microsoft, and SA360, along with strong client-management skills and industry leadership.

Local candidates preferred, with some remote options based on business needs. The role emphasizes independent decision-making, cross-team collaboration, and a track record of owning client relationships