Associate Director, Paid Search

Associate Director, Paid Search

• Paid Media
• Full-time
• Senior
• Dallas TX

Here at LERMA/, we are hardcore anthropologists and technophiles. We live at the forefront of culture and technology — not because we have to, but because it’s in our DNA. It is this insatiable appetite for what’s next that shapes everything we do, from traditional media to advanced digital ecosystems.

LERMA/ is seeking a solutions-oriented Associate Director, Paid Search to own a portfolio of enterprise search accounts and lead the associates and supervisors who run them day-to-day. This role sits between supervisor and Director of Integrated Investment as the senior strategic lead for a pod of accounts, and the person who develops the supervisors executing within them.

We’re especially interested in candidates with real depth in You Tube, whether that buying experience runs through Google Ads or DV360, and in candidates who are already thinking about how AI and LLM powered search is reshaping discovery beyond traditional SERP.

This role is ideal for a high performer ready to trade hands-on-keys ownership of a single account for portfolio-level strategy, people leadership, and senior client relationships.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Own portfolio-level paid search strategy across a pod of accounts, with supervisors executing day-to-day
• Manage, mentor, and develop a team of associates and supervisors — set priorities, QA their strategic decisions, and own their career pathing
• Serve as senior client contact on enterprise-scale accounts, including ownership of Q  content and presentation
• Own budget rollups across the full pod portfolio and approve incremental investment and testing proposals ahead of director sign-off
• Partner with the director of integrated investment on RFP creation, partner negotiations, and platform-partner stewardship
• Maintain oversight of managed-service and platform-vendor partnerships run day-to-day by supervisors (e.g., You Tube trafficking/optimization partners) — confirm active vendors, ensure they deliver strategic value rather than status updates, and step in for contract-level decisions
• Own You Tube’s role within the broader paid search portfolio, guiding format mix, audience and creative strategy, as well as how You Tube investment is positioned alongside search in client-facing planning
• Track the evolution of AI and LLMs on search and translate emerging behavior into portfolio insights
• Contribute to agency POV development and stay current on the paid search vendor landscape
• Support hiring, onboarding, and staffing plans for the Integrated Investment team
• Partner cross-functionally with the paid social associate director and programmatic leads on integrated account strategy

REQUIREMENTS

• 6–8+ years of experience in a digital media agency environment, including 2+ years directly managing people
• Proven ownership of enterprise search budgets and enterprise search and You Tube programs
• Strong senior-client and stakeholder presentation skills
• Advanced understanding of Google Ads (Search, You Tube, Performance Max) and Microsoft Ads
• Familiarity with Google Partner Program tiers and requirements is a strong plus
• High proficiency in Excel and Google Sheets, with comfort translating data into strategic recommendations

WHAT WE OFFER

• Competitive salary based on experience
• Paid company holidays, vacation earned per year
• Paid sick leave
• Benefits — medical, dental, and vision; life/AD&D; and short-/long-term insurance
• Annual bonuses
• 401(k) and annual profit-sharing retirement plans