Search & Performance Lead

Sonyinteractiveentertainmentglobal; California (MO); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

401(k) matching

Paid time off

Employee discounts for Sony products

Job summary

Sony Interactive Entertainment in San Mateo, CA is seeking a Search & Performance Lead to join its Performance Media team. This hybrid role involves shaping PlayStation's global strategy across media channels and driving measurable business growth through performance initiatives.

The ideal candidate will have over 5 years of paid search experience, strong analytical skills, and expertise in search marketing. The role provides top-tier benefits and a supportive work environment.

Qualifications

• 5+ years' experience in Paid Search with exposure to other performance media channels.
• Advanced knowledge of search and biddable principles.
• Deep understanding of automated bidding strategies like tCPA and tROAS.

Responsibilities

• Manage relationships with paid media agency, ensuring delivery against business objectives.
• Develop and optimize search strategies to improve campaign performance.
• Monitor campaign performance and make data-driven recommendations.

Skills

Paid Search Experience

Automated Bidding Strategies

Analytical Skills

Collaboration Skills

SEO Knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience

Tools

Search Ads 360

Analytics Tools

Job description

Search & Performance Lead – San Mateo, CA (hybrid) – remote considered only west coast

The Search & Performance Lead will join the Performance Media team and work alongside the Search Lead to help shape and execute PlayStation's global performance media strategy across the portfolio.

This role is responsible for driving engagement, increasing purchases, and improving product discovery for current and prospective PlayStation customers. Working closely with internal stakeholders, global territories, and external agency partners, the Search & Performance Lead will help shape performance media initiatives and identify opportunities to drive measurable business growth across the PlayStation portfolio.

We are looking for an experienced performance media professional with strong analytical skills, business acumen, and a deep understanding of Search Marketing and the broader performance media landscape.

The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of performance media, with deep expertise in Search Marketing and recent hands‑on experience managing and optimizing paid media campaigns.

Note: The responsibilities outlined below are not exhaustive, and additional tasks may be assigned.

Responsibilities

• Manage the day-to-day relationship with the paid media agency, ensuring high-quality execution and delivery against business objectives.
• Partner with internal teams to execute performance media initiatives, ensuring campaign details and creative are delivered on time.
• Develop and optimize search strategies to improve campaign performance and drive measurable business outcomes.
• Monitor campaign performance, identify optimization opportunities, and make data-driven recommendations to achieve business goals and KPIs.
• Apply and optimize automated bidding strategies, including tCPA and tROAS, to maximize campaign efficiency and performance.
• Collaborate with internal and external partners to develop and maintain performance reporting and dashboards.
• Deliver ad hoc, monthly, and quarterly performance insights and recommendations to key stakeholders.
• Partner with the paid media agency to identify testing opportunities, evaluate results, and implement learnings to continuously improve performance.
• Identify opportunities across Search, Retail Search, and other performance media channels to drive innovation and business growth.
• Champion automation, AI, and measurement innovations to improve campaign performance and operational efficiency.
• Stay current on performance media and search marketing trends, platform updates, best practices, and emerging technologies.

What we’re looking for

• 5+ years' experience in Paid Search, with exposure to other performance media channels.
• Advanced level of understanding of search & biddable principles and applications.
• Excellent collaboration skills (communicating, coordinating, building consensus, influencing without authority, listening, being open to other perspectives).
• Deep understanding of automated search bidding strategies including tCPA & tROAS required.
• Exceptional analytical capabilities and the ability to turn trends into actionable insights and hypotheses.
• Experience with bid management, analytics & competitive insights tools available in the market including Search Ads 360.
• Understanding of the international or global landscape.
• Demonstrated track record of driving performance in-house or in an agency role.
• Strong understanding of SEO principles.
• Experience working across multiple product lines or business units for a brand.
• Oversight and awareness of the agency’s tasks & deliverables.

Candidate Preferred Qualities

• Bachelor's degree and/or equivalent experience preferred.
• Forward‑thinking leader with the ability to clearly define, implement, and handle scalable sustainable processes for growing team.
• Experience managing changing processes, objectives and deliverables across multiple teams.
• Experience working within EMEA, LATAM, ASIA or any other non US/CA territories.
• Experience working with or for an entertainment or gaming brand.
• Ability to balance multiple priorities and maintain strong attention to detail.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work with cross‑function teams positively.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills both verbal and written.
• Self‑starter with sense of humor, passion, energy, enthusiasm to get results and affect meaningful change.
• Strong interest in video games and entertainment.

Benefits

Eligible for SIE’s top‑tier benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, matching 401(k), paid time off, wellness program and employee discounts for Sony products. This role may also be eligible for a bonus package.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Sony is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All persons will receive consideration for employment without regard to gender (including gender identity, gender expression and gender reassignment), race (including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin), religion or belief, marital or civil partnership status, disability, age, sexual orientation, pregnancy, maternity or parental status, trade union membership or membership in any other legally protected category.

We strive to create an inclusive environment, empower employees and embrace diversity. We encourage everyone to respond.

Sony Interactive Entertainment is a Fair Chance employer and qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records will be considered for employment.

Candidate Privacy Notice

Please note, Sony Interactive Entertainment conducts background checks at the offer stage for all new employees (which may include criminal background checks for some roles) and will need to process personal information to support these checks.

Please refer to our Candidate Privacy Notice for more information about what personal information we collect, how we use it, who we share it with, and your data protection rights.