Principal Analyst, Paid Search Analytics

Geico; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 147,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Hybrid work arrangement

Career development

Job summary

GEICO is a leading U.S. auto insurer known for its data-driven marketing.

As Principal Analyst, Paid Search Analytics, you will own measurement for paid search across Google, Microsoft, and emerging platforms, turning data into weekly optimization decisions for the Marketing Analytics team. You will design incrementality studies, build a standard scorecard, forecast spend, reconcile platform data with first-party data, and present insights to senior leadership.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a quantitative field (Statistics, Mathematics, Economics, Data Analytics, Data Science, CS or similar).
• 7+ years in marketing analytics with hands-on paid search measurement experience.
• Expert SQL and ability to automate analyses with Python or R.

Responsibilities

• Own measurement strategy for paid search, including KPI definitions and incremental impact.
• Design and run incrementality and test-and-control studies with holdouts and geo experiments.
• Monitor performance daily/weekly; build anomaly alerts and quick action plans.
• Analyze keywords, queries, audiences, bids, and budgets across major search platforms.
• Forecast spend and volume; integrate findings into monthly reforecasts.

Skills

SQL

Python or R

Power BI

Forecasting & Attribution

Senior stakeholder influence

Education

Bachelor's degree in a quantitative field

Tools

Google Ads

Search Ads 360

Microsoft Advertising

BigQuery / Snowflake

Job description

## Principal Analyst, Paid Search AnalyticsApply: Hybrid: New York City, NY: Bethesda, MD: Full time: Posted Yesterday: R0066595**Why Join GEICO?**At GEICO, we offer a rewarding career where your ambitions are met with endless possibilities.Every day we honor our iconic brand by offering quality coverage to millions of customers and being there when they need us most. We thrive on relentless innovation to exceed our customers' expectations while making a real impact on local communities nationwide.Founded in 1936, GEICO is a member of the Berkshire Hathaway family of companies and one of the largest auto insurers in the United States. When you join our company, we want you to feel valued, supported, and proud to work here. That's why we offer the GEICO Pledge: Great Company, Great Culture, Great Rewards, and Great Careers.**Principal Analyst, Paid Search Analytics****Team:** Marketing Analytics**Reports To:** Director, Performance Analytics**Role Summary**GEICO is one of the most recognized brands in American insurance, and search is where customers who are ready to shop find us. As Principal Analyst, Paid Search Analytics, you will be the analytics expert behind GEICO’s paid search investment across Google, Microsoft, and emerging search platforms. You will measure what search truly drives and turn the results into weekly optimization decisions for the Search and Performance Marketing teams. You will report to the Director, Performance Analytics, and partner closely with Performance Marketing, SEO/AEO analytics, vertical search and aggregator analytics, Finance, and our agency partners.This is a hands-on role. The analyst spends most of their time in the data: building and reading tests, monitoring performance, modeling bids and budgets, and turning the results into recommendations. They also advise senior leaders and set the standard for how search is measured. You will thrive here if you like building as much as leading. Search analytics is at the start of its build, so you will shape the scorecard, the testing approach, and the standard the team holds itself to.**The Problems You’ll Solve*** Incrementality in search. Separating demand GEICO created from demand it would have captured anyway, especially on branded terms, with holdouts, geo tests, and experimental methods.* Attribution that holds up. A consistent view of search performance that reconciles platform data, first-party data, and marketing mix models.* Anomaly detection. Spotting a broken campaign, a shifting auction, or a tracking problem in real-time.* Bidding and budget efficiency. Evaluating bid strategies, target settings, and budget pacing against cost per acquisition and ROI.* Local and competitive response. Understanding how search performs by market and how competitor moves change the auction.**What Success Looks Like in Your First Year*** A standard paid search scorecard in use, covering spend, pacing, efficiency, and quality of volume* Anomaly alerts that surface issues in real-time, and a weekly optimization rhythm Performance Marketing relies on* A tested view of branded and non-branded incrementality that informs budget decisions* One agreed attribution approach for search, shared by Marketing, Finance, and agency partners* Recurring search reporting automated with Business Intelligence**Key Responsibilities*** Serve as the analytics thought partner to Search and Performance Marketing leaders. Anticipate what they need and bring insight before being asked.* Own the measurement strategy for paid search, including the performance scorecard, KPI definitions, and standards for how incremental impact on inquiries, new business, and cost per acquisition is measured.* Design, run, and read incrementality and test-and-control studies, including holdouts, geo experiments, and quasi-experimental methods on observational data. Be clear about each method’s limits.* Monitor performance daily and weekly. Build anomaly detection and alerting, investigate changes in volume or cost, and recommend action quickly.* Analyze keywords, queries, audiences, bid strategies, and budget allocation across Google, Microsoft, and other search platforms. Recommend changes and measure the results.* Lead forecasting and pacing for search spend and volume, and feed the results into the monthly reforecast with Marketing Investment Analytics.* Reconcile search performance across platform reporting, first-party data, and marketing mix model outputs, and align on one attribution approach with partners.* Work with SEO/AEO, vertical search and aggregator, and Mid/Low Non-Search analytics so that Marketing sees a consistent view across all demand-capture channels.* Work with agency and measurement partners on data needs, reporting standards, and day-to-day performance questions.* Partner with Business Intelligence to automate recurring reporting. Evaluate new tools, including automation and AI, to improve speed and quality.* Present to senior marketing leadership, and defend the approach. Share unwelcome findings with clarity and diplomacy.* Understand the drivers of change over time across outcomes and communicate narrative to stakeholders**Required Qualifications*** Bachelor’s degree in a quantitative field (Statistics, Mathematics, Economics, Data Analytics, Data Science, Computer Science, or similar).* 7+ years of experience in marketing analytics, with deep experience in paid search or performance marketing measurement.* Recent, hands-on delivery of analysis (not oversight only), including designing and reading incrementality or test-and-control measurement.* Expert SQL skills, plus working proficiency in Python or R for analysis and workflow automation.* Hands-on knowledge of search platforms and tools such as Google Ads, Search Ads 360, and Microsoft Advertising, and of bidding and budget optimization.* Working proficiency in BI tools (Power BI strongly preferred) and the ability to adapt quickly to new tools and platforms.* Experience with forecasting, attribution, and marketing mix model outputs, and with reconciling different measurement sources.* Proven track record of presenting to senior leadership and influencing decisions with analytical insight.**Preferred Qualifications*** Experience in Property & Casualty (P&C) insurance or another high-consideration, direct-response category such as financial services.* Advanced degree (MS, MBA, or similar) in a quantitative or analytical field.* Experience with causal inference methods (e.g., matched comparisons, difference-in-differences, synthetic control).* Experience with cloud-based data platforms (BigQuery and/or Snowflake preferred).* Experience using AI tools to improve workflow productivity and analytical quality.* Experience coaching and developing other analysts.**Annual Salary**$146,575.00 - $229,600.00The above annual salary range is a general guideline. Multiple factors are taken into consideration to arrive at the final hourly rate/ annual salary to be offered to the selected candidate. Factors include, but are not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the role, the selected candidate’s work experience, education and training, the work location as well as market and business considerations.At this time, GEICO will not sponsor a new applicant for employment authorization for this position. **The GEICO Pledge:****Great Company:** Protecting customers through life’s twists and turns with innovation and integrity.**Great Careers:**Personalized development programs, mentorship, and certification assistance.**Great Culture:**Inclusive and collaborative culture rooted in shared success.**Great Rewards:**Competitive pay, benefits, and flexibility to support your well-being and future.The equal employment opportunity policy of the GEICO Companies provides for a fair and equal employment opportunity for all associates and job applicants regardless of race, color, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, age, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, familial status, disability or genetic information, in compliance with applicable federal, state and local law. GEICO hires and promotes individuals solely on the basis of their qualifications for the job to be filled.GEICO reasonably accommodates qualified individuals with disabilities to enable them to receive equal employment opportunity and/or perform the essential functions of the job, unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship to the Company. This applies to all applicants and associates. GEICO also provides a work environment in which each associate is able to be productive and work to the best of their ability. We do not condone or tolerate an atmosphere of intimidation or harassment. We expect and require the cooperation of all associates in maintaining an atmosphere free from discrimination and harassment with mutual respect by and for all associates and applicants.