Company Description Starcom is the world's first standalone media agency, a storied innovator that continues to lead the way for many of the world's best brands. Starcom has long been the professional birthplace and proving ground for marketing leaders – CEOs, CMOs, sales leaders, and technology pioneers – and we continue to drive the industry with peerless talent and relentless innovation.
Our approach focuses on helping clients grow by connecting with people where they live and work, combining proprietary capabilities with Publicis Media's industry‑leading resources to move people and drive transformative outcomes.
Overview
The Associate Director, Paid Search is a senior performance marketing leader responsible for driving paid search strategy, executional excellence, and team development across key client accounts. This role partners closely with clients and internal cross‑channel teams to deliver scalable, data‑driven search programs aligned to broader business objectives.
You will lead and mentor Managers, Senior Analysts, and Analysts while owning the strategic direction of paid search programs, balancing innovation, performance, and operational rigor. This role is ideal for a paid search expert who thrives in fast‑paced environments and matrix organizations, values collaboration, and enjoys translating complex data into clear, actionable insights.
Responsibilities
- Own paid search strategy and performance for assigned accounts, aligned to client business objectives
- Act as a senior client partner, leading performance discussions, planning conversations, and strategic presentations
- Develop cross‑platform paid search roadmaps, including testing, optimization, and growth initiatives
- Partner with analytics, programmatic, paid social, and broader media teams to deliver integrated recommendations
- Oversee campaign structure, budgeting, forecasting, and pacing to ensure performance and financial accountability
- Utilize platform automation and AI‑enabled bidding and optimization tools to drive efficiency and insight, with thoughtful human oversight
- Evaluate emerging platform features, betas, and best practices to keep programs competitive and forward‑looking
- Promote a test‑and‑learn approach focused on continuous performance improvement
- Lead, mentor, and develop paid search teams through coaching, feedback, and clear career pathing
- Set expectations for performance excellence, operational rigor, and strategic thinking
- Conduct performance reviews and support hiring, onboarding, and ongoing talent development
- Foster a collaborative, inclusive team culture rooted in curiosity and accountability
- Ensure quality control across paid search planning, execution, and reporting
- Drive consistency in processes, documentation, and best practices to support scale and efficiency
- Support staffing plans, financial planning, and resourcing discussions for assigned accounts
- Identify opportunities to improve workflows, tools, and team capabilities through continuous improvement
Qualifications
- 5+ years of paid media experience, with a strong focus on paid search/SEM
- 2–4+ years of digital marketing experience across search, social, and/or display
- 2+ years of people management experience with a proven ability to lead and develop teams
- Deep understanding of paid search platforms, bid management and analytics platforms, performance metrics, and optimization strategies
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to turn data into clear insights and recommendations
- Comfortable presenting to senior level stakeholders and influencing client decision‑making
- Highly organized, proactive, and collaborative with a passion for performance marketing excellence
- Bachelor’s degree preferred
Benefits
- Paid Family Care for parents and caregivers for 12 weeks or more
- Monetary assistance and support for Adoption, Surrogacy and Fertility
- Monetary assistance and support for pet adoption
- Employee Assistance Programs and Health/Wellness/Comfort reimbursements to help you invest in your future and work/life balance
- Tuition Assistance
- Paid time off that includes Flexible Time off Vacation, Annual Sick Days, Volunteer Days, Holiday and Identity days, and more
- Matching Gifts programs
- Flexible working arrangements
- ‘Work Your World’ Program encouraging employees to work from anywhere Publicis Groupe has an office for up to 6 weeks a year (based upon eligibility)
- Business Resource Groups that support multiple affinities and alliances
Compensation Range: $97,375 - $139,965 annually. The pay range reflects the skills, qualifications, and experience of the applicant and may be modified at any time.
Starcom is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our employment decisions are made without regard to actual or perceived race, color, ethnicity, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, disability, medical condition as defined by applicable state law, genetic information, marital status, military service and veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws and ordinances.
All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.
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