Upgrow is hiring: Paid Media Director in San Diego

We’re looking for a Paid Media Director to lead our Paid Media team — someone who’s both a strategic thinker and a hands‑on performance marketer. You’ll own client outcomes, coach a growing team, and partner directly with me (the founder) to shape the future of our agency.

If you’re the type who thrives on accountability, loves solving complex marketing problems, and wants to build something meaningful — this role might be your next big step.

The Role

You’ll be the leader of our Paid Media team, overseeing 10+ B2B clients across Google Ads, LinkedIn Ads, and other channels.

This role blends leadership, strategy, and client management— not just campaign oversight. You’ll manage a team of four (senior manager, manager, and two specialists), set high standards for performance, and ensure clients view Upgrow as an indispensable growth partner.

You’ll also work directly with the founders on growth strategy, including client audits, pitch presentations, and refining our paid media frameworks.

What You’ll Do

• Lead, coach, and hold accountable a team of paid media professionals
• Oversee paid media strategy for top‑tier clients (Google Ads, LinkedIn Ads, Programmatic, etc.)
• Review campaigns to ensure best practices and performance optimization
• Manage key client relationships — be the trusted advisor for CMOs and marketing leaders
• Support new business efforts through audits, pitch decks, and sales presentations
• Own team organization and project flow through ClickUp — ensuring deliverables, deadlines, and priorities are clear and on track
• Establish standards and processes for scaling the department
• Leverage AI tools and automation to improve productivity, campaign insights, and reporting efficiency
• Drive results that lead to high client retention, NPS, and revenue growth

What Success Looks Like

In the first 30 days

• You’ve built trust and rapport with the team and top clients.
• You’ve audited current paid media accounts and identified key quick wins and structural gaps.
• You’ve learned our systems (ClickUp, reporting, QA) and streamlined how the team tracks deliverables.
• You understand what “excellence” looks like at Upgrow — and how to drive it.
• You’re asking a lot of questions, curious and seeking to establish yourself quickly vs. waiting to be told what to do

By 60 days

• You’re confidently leading client strategy calls and owning the roadmap for key accounts.
• You’ve taken ownership of weekly Paid Media team meetings and account performance reviews.
• Projects are running smoothly — with improved clarity around priorities and deadlines.
• You’ve implemented process improvements that help the team work smarter, not harder.

By 90 days

• You’re the go‑to leader for Paid Media — clients and the team both see you as the trusted authority.
• Campaign performance, communication quality, and client satisfaction are trending upward.
• You handle challenges independently — whether it’s client escalations, team bottlenecks, or underperformance campaigns.
• You’ve introduced new ways to improve efficiency (possibly through AI, automation, or process refinement) and are contributing to new client wins.
• You’ve earned full autonomy to run your department with confidence and impact.

Long‑term success looks like

• The Paid Media team consistently delivers strong performance and measurable growth for clients. We’re producing impressive case studies, clients sing songs about us and companies are reaching out to work with us.
• The department runs efficiently through great organization, accountability, and communication.
• You’re building a high‑performing culture of excellence — not mediocrity.
• You’re helping shape Upgrow’s next stage of growth through leadership, innovation, and reliability.

What You Bring

• 7–10 years of hands‑on B2B lead generation paid media experience (Google Ads + LinkedIn Ads required). Agency experience strongly preferred.
• Proven experience managing small teams and client relationships
• Strong organizational and project management skills; you use tools like ClickUp (or equivalent) to keep everything on track
• Ability to manage multiple clients, priorities, and deadlines without letting details slip
• Deep analytical thinking — you make data‑driven decisions and can talk metrics with confidence
• Strong presentation and communication skills; you can simplify the complex and build trust/confidence with clients
• Proven leadership in a small or growing agency environment
• Curiosity and openness to leveraging AI tools to enhance performance and efficiency
• Ideally background in a quantitative field (science, math, engineering)
• Bonus:
• Experience with B2B tech/SaaS – you understand Product‑Led‑Growth, Sales‑Led‑Growth and driving revenue pipeline
• Experience with Programmatic, Reddit Ads

Who Thrives Here

• You take ownership— when problems arise, you lean in and solve them
• You’re strategic and data‑driven, but not afraid to get your hands dirty
• You care deeply about performance, not just activity
• You value efficiency, process, and continuous improvement
• You give clear feedback, set high standards, and lead by example
• You communicate directly, honestly, and collaboratively

Who This Role Is Not For

• You want to “manage people” but not be close to the work
• You prefer a big‑corporate setup with layers, perks, and structure
• You avoid tough client conversations or accountability when results dip
• You need hand‑holding or struggle with direct feedback
• You want a slow‑paced, low‑accountability environment — this isn’t that

Why Join Upgrow

• Work directly with the founders and have a real voice in company direction
• Lead a talented team ready for strong leadership and vision
• Shape the future of the Paid Media department — your ideas won’t get stuck in red tape
• Grow professionally faster than you would in a large corporation
• Hybrid setup in San Diego: 3–4 days in‑office, 1–2 days WFH

Compensation & Benefits

• Base salary: $100,000–$105,000 per year
• Bonus incentives: client retention, account growth, NPS
• Benefits:
  • 401(k) with company matching
  • Unlimited PTO
  • Life insurance
  • Subsidized health, vision, and dental
  • Subsidized on‑site parking
  • On‑site office gym facilities

Ready to build something exceptional?

You’ve made it this far? Great! If you’re a strategic paid media leader ready to make a real impact — not just maintain accounts — we’d love to talk.

Seniority level

Director

Employment type

Full‑time

Job function

Marketing and Sales

Industries

Advertising Services