Associate Director

DEPT® is a Growth Invention company built to help the world’s most ambitious brands grow faster. Operating at the intersection of technology and marketing, our 4,000+ specialists deliver growth invention services across Brand & Media, Experience, Commerce, CRM, and Technology & Data. We’re 50|50 tech and marketing, partner‑led, and first to move. Clients include Google, Lufthansa, Meta, eBay, and OpenAI. We have been certified B Corp and Climate Neutral since 2021.

This position sits in our Marketing & Technology service based in Manchester and London. We combine data, technology, creative content, and paid media to crack brands’ business problems & drive revenue through a variety of digital marketing solutions like ad campaigns, augmented reality, and chatbots. Our clients include ASOS, Just Eat Takeaway, Twitch, Tik Tok, and The White Company.

Are you a visionary Paid Search leader with a proven track record of driving tangible revenue and market share growth? Do you thrive on the thrill of the pitch and the satisfaction of expanding client portfolios? We’re seeking a dynamic Paid Search leader to ignite our presence in the UKI, transforming our Paid Search discipline into a powerhouse of growth, innovation, people happiness, and client success.

You will suppoert the charge in evolving our Search discipline in a rapidly evolving and disrupting ecosystem. You won’t just keep up with Google’s AI shifts; you will proactively integrate generative AI across platforms into our daily operations to redefine what ‘performance’ looks like in an AI‑first world.

• Take a strategic lead in the overall performance, profitability, and long‑term business growth of our Paid Search discipline
• Accelerate and drive the transition from traditional Paid Search management to AI‑driven accounts.
• Be a key player in new business efforts, actively engaging in pitches, refining our sales narratives, and collaborating closely with our new business department to secure and expand our client base.
• Drive adoption of the right tech and tooling, alongside ensuring we have a data‑led approach across all accounts
• Oversee top Paid Search clients and drive innovation, project growth, and excellence in delivery.
• Spend at least 60% of time on projects or sales initiatives
• Enable and boost x-craft collaboration, bringing our Paid Search activities and offerings closer together with adjacent crafts, such as Content, Data, AI, Organic Search and Social.
• Ensure an agile development of our Paid Search proposition, aligning product‑market fit and traction with the right target clients.

• Have at least 10 years of experience in Paid Search.
• Are highly autonomous and proactive, demonstrating the ability to own complex projects and make significant decisions with minimal oversight.
• You have a deep curiosity for AI and machine learning. You don’t just follow trends; you understand how to apply tools.
• Have a significant focus on business development, a successful track record with pitching, and client relationship management. You genuinely love the sales process.
• Are analytical, flexible, and able to work independently.
• Have great communication skills (verbal and written) and the ability to persuade.
• Are ambitious, results‑oriented, and know how to plan and organise.
• Are located and directly available to start working from our London or Manchester offices;

• A flexible, hybrid working policy (2 days from the office, depending on location)
• An excellent salary based on experience and equal pay policies
• Pension, free private healthcare, mental health support, and company sick pay scheme
• Refreshments are provided in the office all week, as well as drinks at 4 pm on a Thursday
• Help getting you to work with a season ticket loan and cycle to work scheme
• Enhanced family friendly policies to support new parents
• Social and Cultural Events, plenty of opportunities to connect with colleagues through organised activities and celebrations
• Inspirational Talks, bringing the outside in with regular guest speakers and events
• Learning and Development, supporting your growth with continuous opportunities to learn and advance
• Buddy Programme:
  You…