Senior SEM Specialist

Brkthru; Raleigh (NC); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/Dental/Vision

HSA & FSA

401(k) with company match

Remote-friendly environment

Home office stipend

Generous holidays & PTO

Job summary

Brkthru is seeking a Senior SEM Specialist to own the performance of complex paid search and YouTube campaigns, reporting to the Account Director. You will lead strategy and execution, coordinate across extended teams, and drive AI-powered optimization to improve efficiency and margins.

Ideal candidates will have deep platform expertise (Google Ads, YouTube, SA360), strong analytical and communication skills, and a track record of delivering high-value outcomes in a client-facing or agency

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in paid search with ownership of campaign performance.
• Experience using AI-powered tools to improve management and efficiency.
• Experience managing complex campaigns with pacing, efficiency, and performance outcomes.
• Experience in a performance-driven, client-facing or agency environment.
• Experience coordinating across extended execution resources or distributed teams.

Responsibilities

• Own SEM campaign performance and portfolio outcomes.
• Maintain performance visibility and analytical discipline.
• Act as SEM subject matter expert and operator.
• Lead and coordinate extended execution resources.
• Own escalation and problem resolution for SEM.
• Drive testing, innovation, and active adoption of AI tooling.
• Contribute to platform and practice development.
• Maintain clear communication and upward visibility.

Skills

SEM platforms

AI workflows

Campaign performance

Analytical skills

Risk management

Clear communication

Attention to detail

Tools

Google Ads

YouTube

SA360

Job description

Brkthru was founded with a client-centric philosophy in an industry where service is often overlooked. Our mission is to be the preferred partner of local advertisers and agencies, creating and managing successful paid digital media campaigns for local, state, regional and national brands in nearly every B2C and B2B vertical and industry. Our campaigns reach customers on digital devices such as smartphones, tablets, computers and digital TV.

We are guided by our core values and we center them in the hiring process and our workday to build teams that exemplify Positive Attitude, Caring, Contribution, Communication, and Trust.

Why Brkthru?

Brkthru is the leading digital media solutions provider to mid-market agencies and brands. Our trading works in 20+ different digital media platforms, but our client-first philosophy sets us apart, consistently earning us a 90% client satisfaction rating, and equally impressive client retention is proof. We are growing quickly, ranking for the fifth year in-a-row to the Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Private Companies in America.

The Opportunity:

The Senior SEM Specialist owns the performance of complex, high-impact paid search and YouTube campaigns and sets the standard for how SEM is executed at Brkthru. Reporting to the Account Director, this role operates as a senior individual contributor with deep platform expertise and strong ownership over campaign outcomes, and the ability to coordinate execution across AI-powered workflows and extended delivery teams.

This role is responsible for driving performance through strong strategy, disciplined execution, and clear decision-making. You are expected to stay ahead of your campaigns, identify risks early, and make adjustments that improve efficiency, performance, and margin.

You will also play a key role in shaping how the team approaches search. This includes evaluating new features, forming clear points of view on platform changes, testing emerging AI capabilities, and helping translate what works into repeatable practices across the team.

Responsibilities:

• Own SEM campaign performance and portfolio outcomes. Accountable for the performance of complex, high-investment paid search and YouTube campaigns across the portfolio. Ensure campaigns pace correctly, maintain efficiency, and deliver on performance and margin goals. This may involve executing hands‑on, directing AI agent tooling, or coordinating execution across extended team resources.
• Maintain performance visibility and analytical discipline. Stay ahead of campaign performance through a consistent review cadence. Leverage AI-powered tooling and platform data to surface pacing risks, efficiency gaps, and margin opportunities early. Translate those signals into clear decisions and action.
• Act as SEM subject matter expert and operator. Serve as the strategic and executional SEM lead for the portfolio. Translate business goals into search strategy, and make sharp judgment calls about when to execute directly, when to deploy AI agent tooling, and when to coordinate execution across extended team resources. Deep platform expertise is non‑negotiable. This position needs to be hands‑on capable at all times.
• Lead and coordinate extended execution resources. Oversee the work of execution partners and extended team members contributing to the portfolio. Set clear standards for quality, turnaround, and adherence to Brkthru best practices. Serve as the connective layer ensuring all work meets client expectations before it reaches the account.
• Own escalation and problem resolution for SEM. Serve as the primary escalation point for complex performance issues, tracking challenges, and platform changes. Resolve issues independently. That sometimes means jumping in yourself, redirecting an AI agent workflow, or course‑correcting execution resources. Escalate only when there is meaningful business risk, with clear context and a recommended path forward.
• Drive testing, innovation, and active adoption of AI tooling. Evaluate and actively use AI agents connected to Google Ads to manage campaigns, surface insights, and accelerate optimization. Stress‑test these tools, identify what works, and help shape how the operator role looks at Brkthru going forward. Your POV will influence how the broader team evolves.
• Contribute to platform and practice development. Stay ahead of platform changes across search and YouTube. Form clear points of view on new features, automation strategies, and emerging capabilities. Help translate what’s working into repeatable practices the wider team can adopt.
• Maintain clear communication and upward visibility. Keep leadership informed of performance, risks, and opportunities without prompting. Provide clear updates with context and recommended actions. Flag budget constraints or resourcing gaps that stand in the way of results.

Experience:

• 7+ years of experience in paid search, with ownership of campaign performance across multiple accounts
• Experience using AI-powered tools to improve campaign management, analysis, or operational efficiency, with the ability to evaluate outputs and maintain accountability for results
• Experience managing complex campaigns with accountability for pacing, efficiency, and performance outcomes
• Experience working in a performance‑driven, client‑facing or agency environment
• Experience coordinating work across extended execution resources or distributed teams while maintaining quality and performance standards

Skills:

• Strong proficiency in SEM platforms (e.g., Google Ads, YouTube, SA360), including bidding strategies, campaign structure, and optimization
• Ability to coordinate work across AI‑enabled workflows and extended execution resources while maintaining quality, accountability, and performance standards.
• Ability to manage campaign performance across pacing, efficiency, and margin, and take action to improve results
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to translate data into clear insights and decisions
• Ability to identify risks early and resolve issues with minimal oversight
• Clear and direct communication skills, with the ability to share insights and recommendations with both peers and leadership
• Strong attention to detail and execution accuracy across campaign setup and optimization

Preferred Experience:

• Experience with automation strategies (e.g., smart bidding, PMAX, scripts, AI‑driven optimization)
• Experience evaluating or implementing AI‑powered marketing tools, agents, or workflow automation
• Experience evaluating new platform features or contributing to testing frameworks
• Experience mentoring or supporting junior team members
• Experience contributing to process improvements or best practice development

Travel/Onsite Requirements:

• In‑person attendance is required for all company‑wide offsite meetings (typically two annually), in alignment with company policy.
• Additional travel may be required for team or department‑specific offsites to support collaboration, knowledge sharing, and performance alignment. All travel will be covered in accordance with company expense guidelines.
• Location: Our hiring strategy prioritizes proximity to key markets and business hubs to foster collaboration and better serve our clients. Candidates must reside within select locations and metro areas to ensure accessibility for travel, alignment with team operations, and for in‑person collaboration. This approach allows us to maintain a strong local presence while supporting a remote‑first work environment. Candidates based in the following hubs will be prioritized: Richmond, VA; Norfolk, VA; Virginia Beach, VA; Newport News, VA; Dulles, VA; Fairfax, VA; Raleigh, NC; Charlotte, NC; Atlanta, GA; Tampa, FL; Orlando, FL; Miami, FL; Detroit, MI; Cincinnati, OH; Columbus, OH; Toledo, OH; Chicago, IL; New Haven/Hartford, CT; Massachusetts near PVD airport or Boston, MA; Philadelphia, PA; Albany, NY; New York City, NY (proximity to EWR, JFK, LGA airports); New Jersey; Wilmington, DE; Austin, TX; Dallas, TX
• This is a full‑time, exempt position.
• We are a remote and flexible workplace (yay no commuting).
• Medical/ Dental/ Vision/ HSA and FSA/ Long Term Disability/ Life and AD&D/ and more….
• Company paid Short Term Disability.
• 401k Retirement plan with company match.
• Reimbursement of Home Office Expenses.
• A generous number of Holidays, PTO, and summer Fridays.

Brkthru Hiring and AI Usage

Brkthru welcomes candidates to use AI tools for proofreading or strengthening their resume, but submitting AI-generated cover letters, resumes, or work samples that do not accurately represent a candidate’s skills will be considered a red flag. The use of AI-powered 'whispering bots' or real‑time answer‑generation apps during live interviews is strictly prohibited.

Brkthru may use artificial intelligence (AI) and automated tools to assist in the hiring process, however, all hiring decisions are made by people.

We’re proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, pregnancy (including childbirth, lactation, and related conditions), national origin or ancestry, ethnicity, age, family status, marital status, veteran or military status, the presence of a medical condition or physical or mental disability, height, weight, misdemeanor arrest record, genetic information, citizenship, hair (including texture or protective hairstyle), or any other characteristic protected by applicable law, and encourage all applicants to apply.