Director of Search Engine Marketing

Aquent is partnering with a dynamic and innovative company that is at the forefront of digital marketing, driving measurable results and strategic growth for its diverse client portfolio. This organization is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of performance marketing, leveraging cutting-edge strategies to achieve ambitious business objectives.

Are you a visionary leader in paid search, ready to make a significant impact by shaping the future of digital advertising for complex programs? We are seeking an exceptional individual to spearhead paid search strategy, performance, and team development, transforming business and revenue goals into highly effective, scalable search initiatives. In this pivotal role, you will not only drive measurable success across the customer journey but also mentor a talented team, fostering innovation and excellence in a collaborative environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and evolution of SEM strategy across Google Ads, Microsoft Ads, and other search platforms.
• Own overall paid search performance, ensuring strategies align with client business objectives, revenue goals, and media efficiency targets.
• Oversee campaign architecture, account structure, scaling strategies, and optimization frameworks across multiple accounts or lines of business.
• Manage SEM budgets, forecasts, pacing, and performance against KPIs including CPA, ROAS, revenue, pipeline, conversion volume, and efficiency metrics.
• Translate business and client objectives into measurable paid search strategies, testing plans, and execution roadmaps.
• Lead advanced testing agendas across bidding strategies, audience segmentation, keyword expansion, creative messaging, landing page performance, and automation.
• Analyze performance trends and synthesize insights into clear strategic recommendations for clients, stakeholders, and internal leadership.
• Partner with analytics, strategy, creative, CRM, and marketing automation teams to improve measurement, attribution, audience strategy, and campaign effectiveness.
• Ensure tracking, attribution, tagging, and data integrity are accurate, scalable, and aligned with reporting needs.
• Provide strategic guidance to internal teams and clients on SEM best practices, platform changes, market trends, and growth opportunities.
• Lead, mentor, and develop SEM team members, providing coaching, quality assurance, and performance feedback.
• Establish processes, standards, and operating models that improve campaign execution, reporting, optimization, and team efficiency.
• Support new business, account growth, and client planning by contributing SEM strategy, audits, forecasts, and recommendations.

Must-Have Qualifications

• 7+ years of SEM / paid search experience, with demonstrated experience leading strategy across complex or high-budget accounts.
• Proven ability to manage, scale, and optimize high-performing paid search programs tied to business outcomes.
• Deep expertise in Google Ads and Microsoft Ads, including bidding strategies, automation, campaign structure, keyword strategy, audience targeting, and optimization techniques.
• Strong understanding of SEM measurement, attribution, conversion tracking, and performance reporting.
• Experience managing large budgets, forecasting performance, and making data-driven investment recommendations.
• Advanced analytical skills with the ability to interpret performance data, identify trends, and translate findings into actionable strategy.
• Strong client-facing and stakeholder communication skills, including the ability to present complex performance insights clearly and confidently.
• Experience working in an agency or client-service environment.
• Proven experience managing, mentoring, and developing team members.
• Ability to collaborate effectively across strategy, analytics, creative, CRM, marketing automation, and account teams.
• Familiarity with CRM platforms, marketing automation systems, and downstream lead or revenue measurement.

Nice-to-Have Qualifications

• Experience supporting account planning, growth strategy, or new business efforts.

About Skill:

Skill connects the best professional, IT, engineering, financial and administrative talent with the world's biggest brands. Our eligible talent get access to benefits such as health benefit contributions, retirement plans with match and flexible spending accounts.

Skill is an equal-opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics. We're about creating an inclusive environment-one where different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives are valued, and everyone can contribute, grow their careers, and thrive.