Paid Search Specialist Job Cape Town area,South Africa,IT/Tech

At 2U, we are all in on purpose. We are motivated by our mission – to eliminate the back row in education – and connected by our shared passion to deliver world-class digital education the parent company of edX, the world’s leading online learning platform, 2U powers more than 4,000 online higher education offerings – from free courses to full degrees.

Together with more than 230 colleges, universities, and corporate partners, we are helping to unlock human potential.

What We’re Looking For:

We are looking for a Paid Search Specialist to manage the strategy, execution, and performance of paid search marketing campaigns aimed at generating leads across 2U’s global portfolio of degree, boot camp, and executive education programs. This person will be accountable for delivering lead volume and revenue within cost-per-acquisition and ROI targets for an assigned portfolio of accounts with substantial budgets.

This role will also have significant involvement in creative testing, media innovation, and automation strategy. The ideal candidate has demonstrated analytical aptitude and is motivated to become an expert in digital marketing.

Responsibilities Include, But Are Not Limited To:

Manages the strategy, execution, and performance of paid search marketing campaigns aimed at generating leads for a defined portfolio of degree, boot camp, and executive education programs

Accountable for pacing to budget and delivering lead volume and revenue within cost-per-acquisition and ROI targets

Develops hypotheses and executes A/B tests to drive business decisions on creative, audience targeting, and platform capabilities

Uses critical thinking, data analysis, and platform expertise to conduct root cause analysis generate actionable plans to optimize full-funnel volume and cost efficiency

Performs ongoing keyword discovery, expansion and optimization

Builds reports to monitor KPIs and communicate performance trends

Works collaboratively with program-specific marketing stakeholders to optimize performance goals and prioritize work according to business impact

Proactively identifies opportunities for audience, geography, and channel expansion

Stays up-to-date on industry best practices and applies them as appropriate

Things That Should Be In Your Background:

1-3 years experience in paid search media management with experience managing text-based search campaigns as well as PMAX campaigns;
Demand Gen experience is a plus

Direct hands-on experience with Google Ads and Microsoft Ads, Search Ads 360

Experience in Tableau a plus

Attention to detail and excellent time management skills

Demonstrated data analysis abilities and data-driven approach to problem solving

Highly motivated to become an expert in digital marketing and directly manage a complex portfolio of campaigns

Self-motivated learner and process-based thinker

Strong business writing skills and ability to produce high quality documents

Strong interpersonal skills, particularly influencing and listening skills

Bachelor’s degree or higher

Other Attributes That Will Help You In This Role:

Benefits & Culture

Our global employee base is a diverse collection of innovators, dreamers, and doers working together to transform lives through higher education. We believe that every employee can advance our shared purpose, and that life at 2U should be fun and meaningful. If you’re excited by the opportunity to provide over 40 million learners and counting with access to world-class online higher education, then join us – and do work that makes a difference.

#No Back Row

We offer comprehensive benefits (unique per country) and excellent work/life balance.
Full-time, ZA benefits include:

2 complimentary Get smarter short courses per year

Subsidised medical aid with Discovery Health Medical Scheme

4% 2U contribution towards Discovery Life Pension Fund and Group Risk Benefit

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Generous leave policy including time off to volunteer for non-profit organization, study leave, sports leave and a company-wide festive season break

2U Diversity and Inclusion Statement

At 2U, we are committed to building and sustaining a culture of belonging, respect, and inclusion. We are proud of the steps we’ve taken to bring together an employee base that embodies diverse walks of life, ideas, genders, ages, races, cultures, sexual orientations, abilities and other unique qualities. We strive to offer a workplace where every employee feels empowered by what makes us different, as well as by how we are alike.


Increase/decrease your Search Radius (miles)



Job Posting Language