Manager, Paid Search

Company description

Starcom is the world's first standalone media agency, a storied innovator that continues to lead the way for many of the world's best brands.

Starcom has long been the professional birthplace and proving ground for marketing leaders - CEOs, CMOs, sales leaders, and technology pioneers - and we continue to drive the industry with peerless talent and relentless innovation.

From the start, we've known that achieving growth for our clients requires understanding and connecting with real people where they live and work, in ways they value.

In an AI era, we remain ""Guided By Humanity,"" a phrase that describes our foundational belief that human expertise must remain in the driver's seat, supported by the best processes and technology.

With our proprietary capabilities and Publicis Media's industry-leading resources and clout, we create ideas that move people and drive transformative business outcomes for brands.

Overview

The Paid Search Manager is responsible for building and maintaining strong, productive relationships with assigned clients while overseeing the execution and optimization of paid search campaigns. This role manages and develops a dedicated team, ensuring high-quality‑ delivery across campaign activation, performance management, and reporting.

This position requires a hands-on manager with strong attention to detail, process discipline, and the ability to translate performance data into actionable insights and recommendations. The Paid Search Manager partners closely with Associate Media Directors and Directors to support strategic direction while helping the team effectively leverage modern paid search capabilities, including AI-driven platform features and automation.

Responsibilities

* Direct and manage the daily workflow of paid search campaigns, including proposal development, campaign activation, ongoing optimization, and post-buy analysis.

* Supervise and support a team of paid search practitioners, providing guidance on execution, prioritization, and performance management.

* Collaborate cross-functionally with peers and partners across the organization to ensure integrated and effective delivery.

* Build and maintain strong client relationships, serving as a trusted partner and ensuring expectations are consistently met or exceeded.

* Apply paid search expertise to identify client needs, performance opportunities, and solutions, adapting approaches as business realities evolve.

* Lead optimization and performance recommendations based on reporting, analysis, and platform insights.

* Utilize AI-powered platform features, such as smart bidding, audience signals, and performance forecasting, to drive efficiency and improve campaign outcomes.

* Support testing strategies informed by machine-learning insights while applying human judgment to interpret results and guide next steps.

* Develop budget and performance projections for testing new search partners, tactics, or technologies.

* Provide recommendations for leveraging paid search in support of new client objectives, campaigns, or initiatives.

* Conduct and oversee monthly client billing audits to ensure accuracy and alignment with campaign delivery.

* Partner with Associate Directors to refine processes and workflows that improve efficiency within Starcom and across agency and vendor partners.

* Maintain strong relationships with platform and vendor partners to stay current on evolving AI capabilities, betas, and best practices.

* Deliver formal and informal training to team members on paid search fundamentals, optimization approaches, and platform updates.

* Stay informed on trends in paid search, AI-enabled media capabilities, automation, and client industries, sharing relevant learnings with the broader team.

Qualifications

* 3+ years of biddable media experience with a focus on paid search.

* 1+ year of hands-on experience managing and optimizing paid search campaigns across major platforms.

* Experience applying paid search across both brand-building and direct response objectives.

* Understanding of traditional and digital media planning principles.

* Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills.

* Prior…