Leads paid search and paid/organic social strategy, performance, budgets, and client outcomes across an agency portfolio. Manages and develops search and social teams, oversees campaign setup and optimization, presents strategy and reporting to senior clients, and serves as the escalation point for channel issues. Builds platform and industry partnerships, tracks emerging trends, supports new business and product rollouts, and provides internal and external thought leadership.
The Director, Paid Media & Social leads strategy, team development, and client performance across paid search and social for an Eastport Holdings agency's client portfolio. This role sits between hands-on channel management and senior agency leadership — owning budget and performance accountability while building and developing a team, shaping strategy, and representing the agency at the client and industry level.
Responsibilities- Own strategy and performance across paid search and paid/organic social for a portfolio of clients, translating channel expertise into agency-wide direction
- Lead, develop, and manage a team of search/social managers and associates, including 1:1s, training, and oversight of deliverables
- Maintain accountability for budget planning, ROI, and ad spend across all managed accounts, meeting client KPIs and goals
- Oversee in-platform campaign setup, bid strategy, and keyword/audience development, ensuring the team follows platform best practices
- Lead client-facing strategy, including kickoff calls, senior-level presentations, and insights-driven reporting on performance and social work
- Serve as the senior escalation point for CS Managers, Leads, and Sellers on paid search and social issues
- Stay ahead of platform updates, industry trends, and bid management/keyword tools; train the team to master each
- Build and maintain relationships with platform reps and industry partners; identify opportunities on emerging platforms
- Champion teamwork and collaboration across the agency, ensuring paid media and social initiatives are integrated with broader client work
- Provide thought leadership internally and externally, and support senior team members with product rollouts and new business presentations
- Bachelor's degree in Advertising, Marketing, Business, Statistics, Finance, or Economics preferred
- 7–10 years of experience in paid search/social digital marketing, agency and/or client side
- Hands-on experience buying media through Google and Bing, with a proven track record of exceeding client performance goals
- 2+ years of experience leading, developing, and managing a team
- Strong analytical and project management skills; advanced Excel skills (pivot tables, chart building, etc.)
- Senior-level client presentation and relationship-management experience
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to multitask and prioritize, with the fortitude to stay calm under pressure
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What you need to know about the Chicago Tech Scene
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