Senior Manager, Retail Search

Publicis Commerce; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 97,000 - 156,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid family care

Adoption support

Pet adoption support

Employee assistance programs

Tuition assistance

Paid time off

Matching gifts

Flexible working arrangements

Work from anywhere program

Job summary

Publicis Commerce is hiring a Senior Manager, Retail Search to lead strategic retail search initiatives. You will manage a team of Search Managers and Specialists, optimize campaigns, and align with client objectives across multiple platforms.

Hybrid work proximity to Chicago or New York is required. The role demands hands-on media buying expertise on major platforms (Amazon, Walmart, Citrus Ads, etc.), strong communication skills, and proven leadership.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in retail search space.
• Confident presenter and clear, persuasive communicator (verbal and written).
• Hands-on media buying experience with keyword/audience/targeting strategies.

Responsibilities

• Own and develop retail search activation strategy and oversee Search Manager to build campaigns.
• Direct and train managers and specialists on setup, management, optimization and reporting.
• Lead keyword, ad group, audience and targeting strategy aligned to client objectives.
• Develop processes to improve daily/weekly optimizations across platforms.
• Present campaign strategy and final plans to search teams and clients.
• Guide holistic retail strategy, media mix, and budget allocations.
• Lead the team in activation, performance, optimization, and reporting.

Skills

Retail search

Presentation

Hands-on media buying

Excel

Google Suite

In-platform optimization

Team leadership

Client communication

Strategic thinking

Tools

Google SEM

Job description

Company Description

About Publicis Commerce: Informed by data, our passionate team strives to deliver Hero Moments for our clients’ brands in the final mile of the retail customer journey. We pride ourselves on being able to provide winning client solutions delivered across 7 core capability areas: Data & Consumer Insights; Shopper Marketing & Integrated RTM; Field Marketing; Events & Activations; Promotional, Risk, Reward & Loyalty and Retail POS Strategy.

Company Description

About Publicis Commerce: Informed by data, our passionate team strives to deliver Hero Moments for our clients’ brands in the final mile of the retail customer journey. We pride ourselves on being able to provide winning client solutions delivered across 7 core capability areas: Data & Consumer Insights; Shopper Marketing & Integrated RTM; Field Marketing; Events & Activations; Promotional, Risk, Reward & Loyalty and Retail POS Strategy.

Overview

We’re looking for a Senior Manager, Retail Search. Amazon Ads experience is required.

Candidates must reside in a commutable distance to our Chicago or New York office for a hybrid work schedule.

Primary Responsibilities

• Own and develop retail search activation strategy and oversee Search Manager to build and flawlessly execute best-in-class retail media campaigns across search
• Direct and train Managers and Specialists on best practices for hands-to-keyboard set-up, management, optimization and reporting of retail search
• Lead strategy on keyword, ad group, audience and targeting strategy, and refine overall activation plan based on client objectives and vendor/platform capabilities
• Work with Director to develop and refine processes to improve the daily and weekly optimizations and performance across a variety of platforms and clients
• Create and share presentations recommending campaign strategy and collaborate with senior internal leaders on search strategy and convey final plan to the search teams and clients
• Support developing holistic retail strategy, client media mix, and budget allocations, while leading Search Managers and Search Specialists in executing tactics that support the strategy
• Maintain oversight as the leader of the team that activates against campaign set-up, performance, optimization, and reporting
• Clearly set and communicate performance expectations with Search Managers, and Search Specialists, along with key internal commerce media partners
• Lead, manage, mentor, and scale the skillsets of the team of Search Managers and Specialist in workflow, training, and development and adherence to best practices
• Lead the search team on providing high-quality insights and strategic recommendations based on client objectives, media strategy and results
• Reports to Director Retail Search, immediate direct reports with Search Manager

Skills Needed

• 5+ years of experience in retail search space
• Confident presenter and clear, persuasive communicator (verbal and written) of complicated information.
• Owner and leader mentality, with willingness to “roll up your sleeves.”
• Exceptional Excel skills are necessary (Pivot Tables, Vlookups, etc)
• Google Suite Experience (Google Sheets, Docs, Slides)
• Must have hands-on-keyboard media buying experience, including actively building and implementing keyword, ad group, audience & targeting strategies in-platform; real-time bidding expertise; proactive campaign monitoring; optimization; and results-based reporting.
• Retail media buying experience on one or more of the following platforms is required – Amazon, Walmart, Criteo, Citrus Ads, Kroger/Promote IQ, Instacart
• Google SEM or similar experience is a plus, but not required.
• Strong attention to detail and talented multi-tasker with an ability to organize and prioritize workload to manage timelines, budgets and deliverables for self, client, vendor and internal team
• Ambitious self-starter who takes ownership of and great pride in his/her work.
• Passion for and strong knowledge of all elements of the retail and omnichannel media landscape.
• Creative and strategic thinker who gets excited about taking on and solving complex challenges.
• Curious and dissatisfied with the status quo, always thinking of ways to improve and grow.
• Collaborative team player and great listener, but unafraid to challenge peers or clients when necessary, in order to achieve the best results for the project.
• Experience managing & mentoring direct reports, of whom the manager empowers to take on more strategic work than their current knowledge to grow and evolve skills.
• Very strong soft skills with presenting to clients, including a high degree of storytelling. Expressed by creating, and presenting strategically oriented decks, with a focus on business strategy & catering to the clients organizational and personal motivations, vs. a focus on campaign performance.
• Ability to operate independently, where client deliverables are consistently polished, complete, and done to convey a sense of expertise, confidence, and professionalism.
• High degree of skill in understanding, responding to, challenging, and mitigating client objections to strategic and tactical recommendations.

Additional Information

The Power of One starts with our people! To do powerful things, we offer powerful resources. Our best-in-class wellness and benefits offerings include:

Paid Family Care for parents and caregivers for 12 weeks or more

Monetary assistance and support for Adoption, Surrogacy and Fertility

Monetary assistance and support for pet adoption

Employee Assistance Programs and Health/Wellness/Comfort reimbursements to help you invest in your future and work/life balance

Tuition Assistance

Paid time off that includes Flexible Time off Vacation, Annual Sick Days, Volunteer Days, Holiday and Identity days, and more

Matching Gifts programs

Flexible working arrangements

‘Work Your World’ Program encouraging employees to work from anywhere Publicis Groupe has an office for up to 6 weeks a year (based upon eligibility)

Business Resource Groups that support multiple affinities and alliances

The benefits offerings listed are available to eligible U.S. Based employees, are reviewed on an annual basis, and are governed by the terms of the applicable plan documents.

We also offer medical and voluntary benefits to our freelancers and temporary employees. Voluntary benefit options include supplemental medical insurance, transportation, and parking benefits, legal benefits, pet insurance, and auto and home insurance. You must be actively employed for 90 consecutive calendar days in order to be eligible for Publicis medical and voluntary benefits.

Publicis Commerce is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our employment decisions are made without regard to actual or perceived race, color, ethnicity, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, disability, medical condition as defined by applicable state law, genetic information, marital status, military service and veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws and ordinances.

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.

Compensation Range: USD $97,375.00 - USD $155,961.00/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 11/15/2026.