Associate Director, Paid Search

Mindgruve•San Diego, CA

21h•$110,000 - $122,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Associate Director, Paid Search leads strategic direction for client paid search programs, serves as a primary voice of the agency to clients, and contributes actively to team development and new business efforts. This role requires independent strategic decision-making across both client accounts and departmental operations.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business, Communications, or a related field required
7+ years of paid search experience, with demonstrated leadership and independent client management
Agency experience strongly preferred
Track record of owning client relationships and delivering results with minimal oversight
Active Google, SA360, and Microsoft Ads certifications required
Strong customer service and client management skills
Highly organized and detail oriented, with the ability to handle multiple priorities simultaneously
Excellent communication skills, including verbal and written
Professional demeanor with the ability to interface with poise and confidence with leadership and clients
Ability to ensure confidentiality with business matters and employee privacy
Ability to proactively address cross-team needs and drive departmental efficiency
Strong industry POV capabilities and ability to serve as agency voice to clients
Advanced proficiency in paid search platforms, attribution tools, and tracking frameworks
Experience with new business development and pitch presentations

Nice To Haves

Bilingual in Spanish and/or Portuguese

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary agency voice on paid search for assigned client accounts, requiring no QA on external communications
Lead and present at client-facing meetings including reporting, QBRs, and strategic reviews
Develop and deliver insights and recommendations that project confidence and deep expertise
Independently identify and diagnose campaign issues across assigned and non-assigned accounts
Regularly evaluate strategic approach across the account portfolio and propose updates proactively
Manage and mentor Supervisors, Strategists, and Analysts on the Paid Search team
Contribute to departmental best practices and the team learning agenda
Participate in hiring processes for roles below this level, providing relevant feedback
Balance client responsibilities with departmental and company-wide initiatives
Provide QA and constructive feedback on team deliverables across all levels
Demonstrate in-depth understanding of conversion goal management in Google, Microsoft Ads, and SA360, including VBB setup
Confidently manage search administrative tasks including billing, advertiser verifications, and Google Partner requirements
Oversee account architecture, bid strategy, and testing roadmaps across client portfolios
Evaluate and implement tools, automation, and platform innovations
Participate in new business pitches including account audits, analyses, and presentation creation
Identify process inefficiencies and propose improvements to increase team productivity
Establish positive rapport with direct reports and agency stakeholders as a trusted team leader
Perform other related duties and projects as assigned