Sr. Manager, Paid Search (SEM)

About the Role 

Digital Marketing is a critical part of every consumer journey, but many companies only measure its impact on their digital outcomes. Our approach to paid search optimization at Ovative Group can’t be found anywhere else. We measure and optimize search marketing campaigns at the enterprise level, both online and offline. Our clients are household names that span multiple industries, including retail, healthcare, education, CPG, and hospitality. 

In this role, you will lead a portfolio of paid search programs and the people who run them. The Ovative Group Sr. Manager, Paid Search (SEM) position is an opportunity for a proven leader to take ownership of both client outcomes and channel capability at a fast-growing company that has the highest standards for talent, fun, and client success. The ideal candidate demonstrates senior-level client leadership, a track record of developing managers and analysts, great critical thinking, and a sophisticated understanding of the digital media and AI-driven search landscape. This role will play a pivotal part in shaping how Ovative measures and optimizes paid media to true enterprise impact, not solely eCommerce outcomes. 

Responsibilities 

Senior client leadership: 

• Own the health, growth, and profitability of a portfolio of Ovative Group’s largest paid search relationships 

• Serve as a senior point of contact for client leadership, setting program vision, objectives, and KPIs across the portfolio 

• Influence senior client stakeholders to evolve their strategy and measurement approach to drive enterprise impact through the paid search channel 

• Identify and pursue organic growth opportunities, partnering with account and growth teams on scoping, staffing, and proposals 

• Step in as the escalation point on complex or at-risk programs, and coach your team through difficult client conversations 

Team leadership and employee development: 

• Lead and develop a team that includes managers and individual contributors, holding accountability for their performance, growth, and retention 

• Own staffing strategy for your portfolio — forecast capacity, shape team structure, and partner on recruiting and onboarding of new Ovative team members 

• Coach your managers to set clear expectations, share actionable feedback, develop talent, and maintain consistent leadership practices across the team 

Cross-functional strategy & thought leadership: 

• Own key SEM solution-area accountabilities for the practice — evolving Ovative’s approach to best practices, vetting and partnering with new technology companies, managing planning and execution tools, and staying ahead of emerging trends 

• Partner with SEO, retail media, and upper-funnel teams to prioritize and drive holistic search strategy and results 

• Develop and drive forward multi-channel digital media strategies and roadmaps aligned with client program growth goals 

• Support higher-level, cross-functional marketing strategy projects by providing deep media expertise 

• Represent Ovative’s paid search point of view externally through client-facing thought leadership, partner forums, and industry conversations 

Performance media management & oversight: 

• Set the standard for how paid search programs are planned, executed, and QA’d across your portfolio to ensure executional excellence, including: 

• Strategy and campaign planning, integrated with all Ovative services 

• Forecasting, budget recommendations, and strategic pivots across your clients and team to maximize client results 

• Continued focus on process improvement, automation, and consistent team output and performance 

• Campaign tactics and segmentation strategy, with a customer-first mindset 

• Bid strategy, goal alignment, and platform structure that drive enterprise business results 

• Strategic partner management (Google, Microsoft, SA360, etc.) 

• Test-and-learn roadmaps that drive results for our clients and move the programs forward 

• Lead the evolution of SEM measurement toward enterprise impact by improving analysis, reporting, and insights that scale across the channel 

Lead AI-enabled search experimentation and holistic search strategies that improve business outcomes: 

• Partner with internal and external SEO partners to drive holistic program growth across platforms 

• Define and scale internal best practices that best align to client goals 

• Test and adopt AI-driven search capabilities and emerging platforms that improve business outcomes for our clients 

Experience Needed 

Requirements 

• 8+ years of experience directly responsible for enterprise-level paid search marketing (SEM) programs 

• 3+ years of experience managing direct reports, including experience developing early-career talent 

• Proven track record of success driving strong positive results through paid search marketing programs 

• Extensive client management experience, including working with senior stakeholders 

• Deep expertise in the following: 

• Enterprise paid search leadership and strategy connected to business outcomes and impact 

• Execution with paid search technologies and tools (Google Ads, Microsoft Ads, Search Ads 360, etc.) 

• External partner management (Google, Microsoft, technology partners, etc.) 

• Coaching and developing a team of high-performing talent 

• Sound conceptual and analytical problem-solving skills 

Preferred 

• Strong digital agency experience or digital lead on the client side 

• Previous experience in performance marketing, retail, eCommerce, etc. 

• Experience managing other managers or leading a multi-client portfolio 

• Hands-on experience testing and scaling AI-driven search capabilities