Senior Analyst, Search - SEM

Publicis Groupe; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 61,000 - 84,000; Full time

Job summary

Spark Foundry in Chicago is seeking a Senior Search Analyst to steward search media for assigned brands, developing and maintaining campaigns and applying client objectives through data-driven optimization.

The role involves keyword research, plan development, ad copy optimization, and active bidding, with strong collaboration across teams and direct client interaction. The position requires 1–2 years of paid search experience and proficiency in Excel and industry tools.

Qualifications

• 1–2 years of experience in paid search campaign development/management/optimization across major platforms (Google, Bing, Oath, etc.).
• Strong analytical thinking and mathematical skills with data management ability.
• Experience with PPC and digital display advertising and traditional media elements.
• Resourceful, curious, and able to work independently and in a team.
• Strong organizational and communication skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office with advanced Excel understanding.

Responsibilities

• Gather and analyze keyword research to build new campaigns.
• Gather data for plan development and implement campaigns in Prisma.
• Group keywords into ad groups and develop relevant ad copy with minimal direction.
• Present recommendations and incorporate client feedback prior to signoff.
• Build flowcharts and load approved buys in Prisma after campaign approval.
• Monitor budgets, pacing, and bid adjustments; optimize based on performance.

Skills

Paid search management

Analytical thinking

PPC & digital display

Independent + team work

Tools

Search Ads 360 / DoubleClick for Search Experience

Google Trends

Google Auction Insights

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Company description

Spark Foundry was built during the most transformative time in the history of advertising and marketing. We deliver everything a traditional media agency has to offer and have grown into one of the world’s most successful agencies by helping brands evolve their marketing by leveraging identity, commerce, artificial intelligence, and more to connect with people. Transformation is part of our DNA. Spark Foundry’s start-up spirit delivers high-touch approaches and a never-ending desire to challenge the status quo. Combined with Publicis Media’s powerhouse soul leveraging connected data assets, advanced AI applications, and investment clout, we "Bring HEAT to Brands." No other agency possesses the expertise that we do to address today’s most pressing challenges to drive business transformation through media.

Overview

The role of the Senior Search Analyst is to be the day-to-day steward of search media for assigned brands responsible for monitoring and maintaining search campaign development, activation and innovation. The Senior Search Analyst is required to develop and maintain a strong knowledge of their clients’ business and apply their search understanding accordingly to help deliver against the clients’ needs/objectives. The Senior Search Analyst will work closely with their manager in the development and communication of all search recommendations.

Responsibilities

• Gather and analyze keyword research necessary to build a new campaign
• Responsible for gathering necessary data for plan development
• Group keywords into ad groups and develop relevant ad copy and extensions with little direction from Manager
• Responsible for presenting recommendation, soliciting and applying client feedback to keyword and copy proposal prior to client signoff
• Upon campaign approval, responsible for building flowchart and loading authorized buys in Prisma
• Generate paperwork necessary for purchase authorization and ensure vendor counter signature is received
• Primary party responsible for trafficking approved plan into search engines
• Primary party responsible for QA of all campaign components prior to launch
• Monitor and maintain campaign budgets, pacing and bid adjustments
• Proactively advocate for campaign adjustments based on performance trends
• Active monitoring and management of performance and competitive landscape
• Development and implementation of optimizations and/or testing plans (e.g. search query reports, negative keyword maintenance, keyword overlap, testing implementation)
• Pulling and analyzing data to inform campaign reporting and develop strategic insights with clear actionable items
• Build clear, concise and cohesive quantitative analyses inclusive of strong data visualization
• Active participation in client status and reporting calls, including presentation of reporting
• Responsible for granular maintenance of monthly billing cycle, including invoice tracking, buy actualization in Prisma, and compiling draft billing for manager approval
• Responsible for resolving all billing discrepancies in partnership with client strategy and billing reconciliation team
• Responsible for learning all relevant tools for reporting, analytics and competitive analysis - bid management platforms, Benchtools, Google Trends
• Mastery of all core search metric calculations and relationships (e.g. CPC, CPA, CTR, SOV, weighted averages)
• Serve as subject matter experts and be a resource for training and ad hoc questions
• Develop strong working relationship with client teams and partner agencies (where applicable) by helping to create a seamless communications process
• Establish professional, productive rapport with sales representatives/media vendors
• Demonstrate creativity and agility when problem solving
• Work closely with manager to establish priorities and manage workload
• Timely delivery of all work
• Successful completion of training programs and requisite certifications

Qualifications

• 1-2 years of experience in paid search campaign development/management/optimization with the use of leading platforms, including Google, Bing, Oath, Etc.
• Strong analytical thinking and mathematical skills and an ability to manage data
• Experience with PPC and digital display advertising and traditional media elements
• Resourceful, curious, and motivated individual with an ability to work independently, as well as in a team setting
• Strong organizational and communication skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite with intermediate-to-advanced understanding of Excel

Technology Systems Utilized:

• Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint
• Search Ads 360 / DoubleClick for Search Experience
• Google Trends, Google Auction Insights

Budget Responsibility:

• Monitor and maintain campaign budgets, pacing, and bid adjustments

Additional information

Our Publicis Groupe motto "Viva La Différence" means we’re better together, and we believe that our differences make us stronger. It means we honor and celebrate all identities, across all facets of intersectionality, and it underpins all that we do as an organization. We are focused on fostering belonging and creating equitable & inclusive experiences for all talent.

Publicis Groupe provides robust and inclusive benefit programs and policies to support the evolving and diverse needs of our talent and enable every person to grow and thrive. Our benefits package includes medical coverage, dental, vision, disability, 401K, as well as parental and family care leave, family forming assistance, tuition reimbursement, and flexible time off.

If you require accommodation or assistance with the application or onboarding process specifically, please contact [e-mail].

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

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Compensation Range:

USD $60,800.00 - USD $84,000.00/Annually. This is the pay range the Company believes it will pay for this position at the time of this posting. Consistent with applicable law, compensation will be determined based on the skills, qualifications, and experience of the applicant along with the requirements of the position, and the Company reserves the right to modify this pay range at any time. Temporary roles may be eligible to participate in our freelancer/temporary employee medical plan through a third-party benefits administration system once certain criteria have been met. For regular roles, the Company will offer medical coverage, dental, vision, disability, 401k, and paid time off. The Company anticipates the application deadline for this job posting will be 1/4/2027.