Associate Director, Paid Search

Allen & Gerritsen•Boston, MA

About The Position

The Associate Director, Paid Search Media drives the strategic vision, performance excellence, and growth of A&G’s paid search practice across client accounts. The role oversees the strategy, governance, optimization, and scaling of paid search programs on Google Ads, Microsoft Ads, and emerging search channels. It serves as the primary paid search strategic authority, working with senior leadership and media, analytics, and strategy teams to deliver measurable business outcomes while leading and mentoring a team and partnering with operations and media specialists on program execution. This position combines strategic leadership with practice innovation. The Associate Director develops and oversees holistic search strategies, keyword and competitor research, campaign portfolios, ad-copy standards, testing plans, measurement frameworks, and performance oversight. The role also explores platform developments, new tools, automation, AI capabilities, and emerging search opportunities; connects search strategy with creative messaging and broader media plans; and supports client pitches and senior presentations. The Associate Director is a senior internal and client-facing subject matter expert, collaborates with SEO leads on integrated paid and organic search strategies, mentors media talent, and advances the agency’s paid search practice through thought leadership and team development. A&G describes itself as an independent agency in Boston and Philadelphia and states that it is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace and is an equal opportunity employer. Immigration sponsorship is not offered for this position at this time.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Advertising, Marketing, Communications, Media, Analytics, or equivalent experience.
6–8+ years of full-time paid search marketing experience managing and strategizing large-scale campaigns across Google Ads and Microsoft Ads.
Ability to independently plan, architect, execute, and optimize multi-million-dollar paid search programs.
Experience in team mentorship, talent development, or direct line management.
Deep understanding of how search marketing integrates into and enhances broader multichannel media strategies.
Advanced analytical skills, including interpreting complex performance data and attribution models and making strategic optimization decisions.
Strong written, verbal, and executive client-presentation skills.
Exceptional attention to detail and strong organizational, leadership, and project management skills.
Positive, collaborative attitude with a proactive leadership and problem-solving mindset.

Responsibilities

Develop and oversee holistic paid search strategies across Google Ads, Microsoft Ads, and emerging search environments.
Guide keyword research, competitor analysis, and search opportunity assessments.
Build, optimize, and manage keyword, audience, and ad portfolios to meet client business objectives.
Establish standards for search ad copy aligned with user intent, brand identity, and integrated channel strategies.
Architect and oversee testing strategies for bidding, creative, and landing pages to improve efficiency and ROI.
Monitor campaign performance, pacing, and portfolio health against business KPIs.
Maintain oversight of campaign documentation, including authorizations, insertion orders, budget allocations, and flowcharts.
Collaborate with analytics teams on measurement frameworks and custom reporting, and help troubleshoot tagging or performance issues.
Stay current on search platform updates, beta features, industry developments, and privacy policy changes.
Identify and champion emerging campaign types, ad formats, AI capabilities, targeting innovations, tools, and automation that can improve outcomes.
Monitor marketplace and competitive activity to identify strategic opportunities for clients.
Align search strategy with campaign messaging, brand creative, audience insights, and broader media plans.
Lead paid search strategy development for client pitches, media plans, and senior client presentations.
Identify cross-channel opportunities for search intent data to inform creative strategy and amplify marketing moments.
Serve as the senior paid search point of contact and subject matter expert for internal teams and executive client conversations.
Partner with SEO leads on holistic paid and organic search strategies.
Mentor team members, provide career guidance, and share knowledge across the media team.
Drive the evolution and innovation of A&G’s paid search practice through thought leadership and team development.