Senior Ad Operations Specialist - SEM

MadHive; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 42,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Madhive is seeking an experienced Ad Operations Analyst focused on SEM to optimize large-scale search campaigns across Google Ads and Microsoft Ads. You will collaborate with Client Success to align campaigns with client goals and provide data-driven recommendations.

You will implement robust conversion tracking with GTM/GA4, analyze performance, and mentor junior staff while contributing to workflow improvements and automation initiatives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Business, Analytics, or a related field.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end strategy, setup, structure, and daily optimization of large-scale search campaigns across Google Ads and Microsoft Ads.

Skills

SEM management

Google Ads

Microsoft Advertising

GTM

GA4

Data analysis

Client communication

Keyword research

A/B testing

Bidding optimization

Education

Bachelor's degree in Marketing or Analytics

Tools

Editor software

Bid management tools

Job description

Madhive is the leading independent and fully customizable operating system built to help local media professionals build profitable, differentiated, and efficient businesses. Madhive empowers sales teams to extend their reach into streaming and connects local advertisers with the communities they serve. Madhive’s platform provides the unique ability to reach local audiences at national scale, with premium supply partnerships and end-to-end tools for planning, targeting, and measuring full-funnel campaign outcomes. Powering campaigns for over 30,000 small and medium businesses per day, Madhive is driving the evolution of local media.

Madhive is looking for an experienced Ad Operations Analyst specializing in Search Engine Marketing (SEM) to drive campaign performance, process innovation, and operational insight. Focused primarily on Google Ads and Microsoft Ads, this role combines hands-on execution with analytical depth. You’ll manage complex search campaigns, uncover performance trends, and help shape how data informs optimization, tracking, and workflow improvements across the Ad Ops function.

What You’ll Do

• Lead end-to-end strategy, setup, structure, and daily optimization of large-scale search campaigns across Google Ads and Microsoft Ads (including Search, Shopping, and Performance Max).

• Work closely with the Client Success team cross-functionally to support a dedicated book of business, aligning search execution directly with client goals.

• Occasionally join client calls to review campaign performance, present suggested strategic optimizations, and directly troubleshoot technical or delivery issues.

• Translate campaign performance data into actionable insights to improve pacing, Quality Score, impression share, conversion rates, and overall ROI.

• Leverage Google Tag Manager (GTM) and Google Analytics 4 (GA4) to implement robust conversion tracking, event tags, server-side tagging, and custom attribution models.

• Partner with Sales, Client Success, and Product to align search campaign execution with client KPIs and Madhive platform goals.

• Conduct detailed QA on new campaigns and troubleshoot delivery issues.

• Contribute to workflow improvements, automated bidding strategy refinement, and process automation initiatives that enhance team efficiency.

• Provide mentorship and technical guidance to junior specialists, reinforcing best practices in search trafficking, negative keyword strategies, QA, and optimization.

• Collaborate with Product and Engineering teams to surface operational feedback on search features and support new tool adoption.

Who You Are

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Business, Analytics, or a related field.

• 5–7 years of hands-on experience in digital ad operations, SEM campaign management, and performance marketing.

• Advanced expertise in Google Ads and Microsoft Advertising platform management, bid management tools, and Editor software.

• Hands-on proficiency with Google Tag Manager (GTM) and Google Analytics 4 (GA4) for custom event implementation, funnel analysis, and conversion attribution.

• Experience collaborating with Client Success teams and interacting directly with clients to communicate technical strategies, performance results, and issue resolution clearly.

• Proven track record in keyword research, search copy development, A/B testing methodologies, and Quality Score optimization.

• Detail-oriented and disciplined, with a history of auditing high-budget search accounts to improve efficiency and eliminate wasted spend.

• Excellent communication and collaboration skills; capable of influencing cross-functional partners and external client stakeholders with data-backed insights.

The approximate compensation range for this position is $42,200-$55,000 The actual offer, reflecting the total compensation package and benefits, will be determined by a number of factors including the applicant's experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity among our team.

We are Madhive

Madhive is a dynamic, diverse, innovative, and friendly place to work. We embrace our differences and believe they fuel our creativity. We come from varied backgrounds and think that’s important. Whether it’s taking ideas from previous lives and applying them in different ways or creating something completely new, we are all trail-blazing team players who think big and want to make an impact.

We are committed to cultivating a culture of inclusion and collaboration. We welcome diversity in education, culture, opinions, race, ethnicity, gender identity, veteran status, religion, disability, sexual orientation, and beliefs.