Senior Paid Search Manager
Location: London, UK (Hybrid, 3 days in office)
Salary: £50,000 to £55,000 per annum
Employment Type: Permanent
About the Opportunity
We're working with a leading global media agency in London seeking a Senior Paid Search Manager to join a dedicated digital media team supporting a major international automotive brand.
The team manages significant Paid Search activity across multiple European markets, with a strong focus on performance, innovation and delivering consistent results.
This is an opportunity for an experienced Paid Search specialist to take ownership of strategy and delivery across a cluster of international markets, combining technical expertise, client management and team leadership.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead Paid Search strategy, planning, activation and optimisation across multiple international markets.
- Oversee campaigns across Google Ads, Microsoft Ads, Performance Max and Demand Gen.
- Remain technically hands-on, with approximately 50% of the role involving in-platform activity, optimisation and campaign oversight.
- Develop and implement testing roadmaps, identify growth opportunities and drive continuous performance improvements.
- Own Paid Search media plans, forecasting, budget allocation and performance recommendations.
- Oversee campaign builds, technical quality assurance (QA), bidding strategies and optimisation processes.
- Analyse complex performance data to generate actionable insights and strategic recommendations.
- Act as a key point of contact for client stakeholders, leading performance discussions, reporting and strategic planning.
- Manage and develop Paid Search Managers, providing technical guidance, training and performance support.
- Work closely with offshore activation teams to ensure accurate campaign delivery, operational efficiency and consistent quality standards.
- Collaborate with wider digital and media teams to support an integrated approach to campaign planning.
- Drive best practices, process improvements and innovation across the Paid Search function.
- Oversee financial processes, including budget management, monthly bookings and reconciliation.
Skills & Experience Required
- Minimum 5 years' experience in Paid Search, ideally within a media agency environment.
- Advanced hands-on knowledge of Google Ads and Microsoft Ads.
- Strong experience across Search, Performance Max and other Google Ads campaign types.
- Confident independently planning, building, optimising, troubleshooting and quality-checking Paid Search campaigns.
- Proven experience developing Paid Search strategies, testing frameworks and performance improvement plans.
- Strong analytical skills, with the ability to interpret complex performance data and translate findings into commercial recommendations.
- Experience managing significant advertising budgets and delivering against performance KPIs.
- Strong client-facing experience, including presenting strategies, reporting and performance recommendations.
- Experience managing, mentoring or providing technical leadership to junior Paid Search specialists.
- Excellent communication, organisational and stakeholder management skills.
- Ability to balance strategic planning with hands-on campaign execution in a fast-paced environment.
Desirable Experience
- Strong experience using Search Ads 360 (SA360), including campaign management, bidding and optimisation.
- Experience with Demand Gen, automated bidding and emerging search technologies.
- Experience managing Paid Search activity across multiple international markets.
- Formal line management experience, including coaching and developing Account Managers or Executives.
- Experience working with offshore or distributed activation teams.
- Experience managing large, complex client accounts.
- Automotive sector experience is advantageous but not essential.
What Makes This Opportunity Interesting?
- Take ownership of Paid Search activity for a major international automotive brand.
- Work across multiple European markets with significant media investment.
- Combine strategic leadership with hands-on technical involvement.
- Lead and develop a team of Paid Search specialists.
- Drive innovation, testing and best practices across an evolving international digital media team.
- Collaborate with specialists across Paid Social, Programmatic, Analytics and wider media channels.
- Play a key role in improving processes, standardising campaign delivery and identifying new growth opportunities.
Interview Process: Two stages, consisting of an initial interview covering experience and technical knowledge, followed by a practical assessment.
