Manager, Paid Media & Performance Marketing

Job Description Summary

The Manager, Paid Media & Performance Marketing plays a critical role within the Sporting Kansas City Marketing department, driving revenue growth through the strategic planning, execution, and optimization of paid media campaigns. This role owns the club’s paid media efforts across channels including paid search, paid social, display, CTV, OLV, and streaming audio in support of Ticketing, Retail, Special Events, and other revenue‑impacting departments.

The position blends strategic leadership with hands‑on execution and includes managing an external paid media agency while also directly executing campaigns in platforms such as Google Ads and Meta Ads Manager.

• Develop and manage Sporting KC’s paid media strategy aligned with business objectives and revenue goals.
• Plan, launch, and optimize campaigns across paid search, paid social, display, connected TV (CTV), online video (OLV), and streaming audio channels.
• Execute hands‑on campaign management in platforms such as Google Ads and Meta Ads Manager.
• Manage keyword strategy, audience targeting, ad testing, creative rotation, and landing page alignment.
• Own paid media budgets, pacing, and performance optimization to maximize return on investment.

• Serve as the primary point of contact for the club’s external paid media agency.
• Provide strategic direction, campaign briefs, and performance expectations.
• Review media plans, creative recommendations, and optimization strategies.
• Ensure campaigns align with Sporting KC business goals, timelines, and brand standards.
• Hold agency partners accountable for performance benchmarks, reporting quality, and actionable insights.

• Partner with stakeholders across Ticketing, Retail, Special Events, and Marketing to develop integrated marketing campaigns.
• Collaborate with internal creative teams to develop performance-focused messaging and campaign assets.
• Align paid media campaigns with broader marketing initiatives, promotional calendars, and organizational priorities.

• Monitor and analyze campaign performance across all paid media channels.
• Utilize analytics and platform reporting tools to evaluate campaign effectiveness.
• Translate campaign data into actionable insights and optimization strategies.
• Maintain regular reporting on spend, performance, and return on investment for leadership and internal stakeholders.

• Ensure all paid media campaigns align with Sporting Kansas City’s brand voice and visual identity.
• Balance short‑term performance goals with long‑term brand growth and fan engagement.

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Communications, or a related field.
• 3–5 years of experience in digital marketing with a strong focus on paid media and performance marketing.
• Direct experience managing and optimizing campaigns in platforms such as Google Ads and Meta Business Manager.
• Experience managing or collaborating with external media agencies.
• Strong understanding of paid media channels including paid search, paid social, and display advertising.
• Familiarity with marketing analytics tools such as Google Analytics, Tag Manager, or similar platforms.
• Ability to interpret marketing data and translate insights into actionable performance improvements.
• Strong project management, organizational, and communication skills.
• Collaborative mindset with the ability to work effectively across departments and with external partners.
• Ability to thrive in a fast‑paced environment while managing multiple campaigns simultaneously.
• Strong attention to detail, accountability, and ownership of results.