Manager, Performance Marketing

Manager, Performance Marketing

Searchlight Pictures is a global specialty film and television company that develops, produces, finances and acquires motion pictures and series for both worldwide theatrical and streaming releases. It is part of The Walt Disney Studios, a division of The Walt Disney Company.

The Manager, Performance Marketing leads Searchlight Pictures’ performance marketing across key digital channels, optimizing campaigns through strong measurement, budget guidance, and data‑driven audience and bidding strategies in close partnership with media strategy, analytics, and agency teams.

• Work in partnership with the SVP Media Strategy, Analytics and Marketing Planning to execute and optimize performance marketing efforts of Searchlight Pictures paid media across assigned digital channels and campaigns.
• Implement and optimize established performance measurement frameworks, and KPIs.
• Provide recommendations and analysis to inform digital media budget allocation decisions.
• Manage and lead daily communication with media agency performance marketing activation team to ensure proper implementation of performance marketing campaigns.
• Apply approved audience strategies using Disney, platform, and vendor data to improve performance.
• Work closely with media agency, oversee, manage, and lead the implementation of bid and optimization strategies to drive media performance across digital platforms.
• Oversee and manage ad tagging and data collection with media agency ad ops teams and ensure proper data governance and legal compliance.
• Collaborate with multiple Disney LOBs and within the Disney marketing technology stack to identify opportunities to scale 1P and 2P data use for the purpose of incrementing on performance marketing campaign performance.
• Leverage cross‑Disney business unit best practices, partnership deal opportunities, and technology offerings.
• Manage the deployment of audiences including Disney, platform, and vendor data including ticketing and exhibition partners.
• Execute test‑and‑learn initiatives and analyze results to inform optimization recommendations across digital channels.
• Prepare compelling performance reporting and insights for Searchlight leadership and other internal stakeholders’ review and decision‑making.
• Lead social listening efforts to monitor brand sentiment, competitive activity, and emerging trends; translate insights into actionable performance marketing strategies and reporting frameworks.
• Partner with creative teams to inform asset development and deployment through performance insights, testing frameworks, and audience‑level learning.
• Partner with the media agency ad operations and analytics teams to implement title‑over‑title data collection and accurate data flow into our databases.
• Support key platform and publisher relationships.
• Maintain organizational knowledge of media technology, buying platforms, and analytical tools.
• Support internal Searchlight marketing teams as necessary with adhoc projects.

• Experience building and delivering digital plans that carry research and planning through to execution.
• 6+ years experience in digital media platforms (Meta, Tik Tok, X/Twitter, Reddit, Snapchat, Pinterest, Innovid, Live Ramp, Google Ads, Programmatic DSPs).
• 4+ years experience in theatrical and/or streaming on client, agency and/or vendor side.
• Deep understanding of marketing and media concepts, principles, and strategies.
• Skilled in Microsoft Suite, particularly Excel.
• Experience with tagging, trafficking, and verification.
• Outstanding business acumen.
• Strong analytical skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong ability to work independently as well as across teams in a diverse, cross‑departmental…