Associate Director, Paid Search

We’re looking for an Associate Director of Paid Search to lead strategy, execution, and client counsel across a portfolio of accounts.
This is a hands-on-keyboard role for someone with deep Paid Search expertise who can move seamlessly between platform execution and senior-level strategic thinking. You’ll personally develop strategies, build and optimize campaigns, analyze performance, and translate results into clear recommendations for clients.
You’ll be expected to think beyond platform metrics—connecting Paid Search activity to broader media strategies and meaningful business outcomes. You’ll also serve as a senior client contact, helping clients understand what is changing across the search landscape, what it means for their business, and where they should focus next.
What You’ll Do
Lead Strategy and Client Counsel
Own Paid Search strategy and serve as the senior Search lead across assigned accounts
Translate client objectives and business challenges into actionable campaign, investment, testing, and measurement strategies
Lead client discussions, presentations, performance reviews, and strategic planning sessions
Communicate complex platform and industry changes in clear terms, including their implications for client media strategies
Bring an independent agency perspective to platform recommendations, evaluating opportunities through the client’s business and brand objectives
Identify opportunities to improve performance, expand programs, and strengthen client relationships
Own Hands-On Campaign Management
Personally build, manage, optimize, and troubleshoot campaigns across Google Ads, Microsoft Advertising, and other relevant platforms
Manage Search, Performance Max, YouTube, Demand Gen, and other applicable Google ecosystem campaigns
Own campaign architecture, keyword and query strategy, bidding, budgets, audience signals, creative inputs, exclusions, and landing-page recommendations
Monitor pacing, performance, and spend allocation and make timely optimization decisions
Conduct account audits and identify structural, strategic, measurement, and performance opportunities
Maintain high standards for campaign setup, QA, documentation, and financial accuracy
Ensure campaigns are managed proactively rather than relying solely on platform automation or recommendations
Drive Strategic Analysis and Performance
In collaboration with our Data team, analyze campaign performance and translate findings into clear implications and recommended actions
Evaluate performance against business outcomes
Create structured testing roadmaps with clear hypotheses, success measures, and plans for applying learnings
Evaluate automated bidding, AI-powered campaign formats, first-party data, and audience signals based on their ability to improve client outcomes
Produce client-ready reporting and strategic narratives that explain what happened, why it matters, and what should happen next
Develop proactive POVs on changes in consumer search behavior, AI, automation, privacy, measurement, and platform capabilities
Strengthen Measurement and Integration
Partner with the Data and client teams to improve conversion tracking, offline conversion imports, enhanced conversions, lead-quality feedback, and attribution – as needed based on client goals
Assess measurement gaps and clearly communicate limitations when platform reporting does not tell the full story
Work with Media Planning, Paid Social, and Programmatic teams to connect Paid Search to the broader consumer journey
Translate search demand and query behavior into insights that can inform media, content, creative, and business decisions
Ensure Paid Search investment and optimization decisions align with the broader integrated media strategy
Contribute to Team and Agency Growth
Provide strategic and technical guidance to junior Search team members as needed
Review work for strategic strength, accuracy, and adherence to best practices
Share platform learnings, testing results, and emerging opportunities across the Performance Media team
Contribute Paid Search expertise to new-business pitches, organic-growth initiatives, POVs, and case studies
Help evolve the agency’s Search best practices, tools, and strategic product
Requirements
7+ years of progressive, hands-on Paid Search experience, preferably within an agency environment
Current, hands-on expertise in Google Ads, Microsoft Advertising, and Search Ads 360 or a comparable management platform
Demonstrated experience personally building, managing, and optimizing complex campaigns and significant media budgets
Deep knowledge of Search, Performance Max, automated bidding, audience signals, first-party data, and AI-powered formats
Ability to develop a strong Paid Search strategy and translate it into accurate platform execution
Experience leading client relationships and presenting strategies, performance findings, and recommendations to senior stakeholders
Strong understanding of conversion measurement, GA4, enhanced conversions, offline conversion imports, attribution, and lead quality
Ability to develop forecasts, budget recommendations, testing roadmaps, and actionable performance analyses
Experience connecting platform performance to client business outcomes
Strong financial stewardship across budgets, pacing, forecasting, and billing
Excellent analytical, presentation, communication, and strategic storytelling skills
Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple accounts and priorities
Current Google Ads Search and Measurement certifications; Microsoft Advertising certification preferred
Experience integrating Paid Search with SEO and AI-search visibility strategies
Working knowledge of Paid Social and Programmatic Media
What Will Make You Successful
You are equally comfortable in the platform and in front of a client
You understand the technology deeply but don’t allow the platform to dictate the strategy
You move beyond reporting results to explaining why they happened and what should change
You challenge assumptions, investigate anomalies, and make decisions based on evidence
You connect Search performance to the client’s business, brand, and broader media strategy
You communicate recommendations clearly, including the tradeoffs and limitations
You stay ahead of a rapidly evolving Search landscape and turn change into practical client guidance
You take direct ownership of both the strategic thinking and the quality of the execution
Laughlin Constable is an equal opportunity employer and participates in E-Verify. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status.

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