Manager, Paid Search

What You'll Do, as our Manager, Paid Search

Support MERGE's practice in creating, optimizing, and executing best-in-class client paid search campaigns. As a hands-on Paid Search Media Manager, you will provide the strategic direction for keyword research, campaign building, and testing roadmaps. We are looking for a curious, data-driven marketer who understands the evolving AI landscape and can proactively identify opportunities to improve performance and goals delivery. You will bring passion and strong interpersonal skills to drive success, ensuring every dollar spent contributes to client growth.

Campaign Creation & Launch

• Campaign Ownership: You will act as a Paid Search subject matter expert, fostering accounts growth while ensuring that output meets agency standards.
• Structure & Creation: Build and launch (or guide executional-focused team members on what is needed) comprehensive campaigns across search, Performance Max, Demand Gen and more, ensuring best-practice account structure, compelling ad copy, tailored keyword lists, and client-specific targeting strategies.
• QA & Oversight: Lead the Quality Assurance (QA) process for all trafficked plans (keywords, ad copy, extensions) and launch components (dayparting, bids, budgets, targeting).
• Collaboration: Act as the primary Paid Search liaison for the broader media strategy teams, ensuring search is integrated seamlessly into the holistic media mix.

Strategy, Execution & AI

• Strategy & Discovery: Lead the client discovery process to establish PPC objectives and develop the strategy for tactic, budget, goals, etc. Provide thoughtful leadership to ensure these goals are met.
• Campaign Architecture: Develop and recommend keyword lists, targeting strategies, and testing plans (e.g., ad copy A/B testing, landing page reviews).
• AI Landscape: Apply a working knowledge of the current AI landscape (e.g., Performance Max, Broad Match/Smart Bidding, Generative AI) to keep client accounts modernized and efficient.
• Platform Mastery: Work closely with media partners (Google, Microsoft) to implement best practices across Search, PMax, Demand Gen, Video, and Call campaigns.

Analytics, Reporting & Financials

• Budgeting: Accurately forecast and pace monthly budgets to ensure spending aligns with client targets and is the most optimal use of funds aligning with goals.
• Performance Analysis: Monitor daily and analyze program KPIs (ROAS, CTR, CPA, CVR) to drive continuous improvement.
• Optimization Roadmap & AB Testing: Develop a comprehensive, long-term optimization roadmap.