Associate Director, Paid Search

dentsu•New York, NY

2d•$115,000 - $125,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Dentsu is seeking an Associate Director, Paid Search to serve as a senior leader for a client’s paid search programs. The role is accountable for departmental performance, including financial indicators and client and employee satisfaction, retention, and growth. It manages large, complex strategic accounts, supports business development and contract renewals, and ensures programs align with client goals, contractual requirements, service scope, and profitability models. The Associate Director builds and develops senior client and industry-partner relationships, understands clients’ businesses and changing needs, and uses insights to shape effective solutions. The position also refines methodologies and work practices to improve agency and client performance and profitability. The role leads and mentors junior team members, partners with Display and Social counterparts, and may act as an integrated media lead depending on account scope. It contributes to team performance management, onboarding, operating procedures, continuous improvement, and training. The position is hybrid for employees within commuting distance of specified offices, with regular in-person collaboration; those farther away may be designated remote depending on role and business needs.

Requirements

6+ years of experience managing large-scale paid search campaigns.
BA/BS degree.
2+ years of demonstrated experience with senior executive client relationships.
Excellent analytical and critical-thinking skills, with proven problem-solving capabilities and the ability to assess disparate data, draw conclusions, and take appropriate action.
Experience managing and mentoring teams of 10+ team members, preferably in an agency, consulting, or marketing environment.
Ability to manage client expectations concerning service scope and delivery.
Experience successfully managing large-scale, multifaceted projects with dynamic timelines in a fast-paced environment.
Articulate and effective communication skills, with the ability to tailor messages to the audience.
Experience developing and delivering presentations with actionable insights and the ability to influence decision-making.
Confidence and an action-oriented approach, with the ability to create, lead, and develop business programs across multiple functions and stakeholders.

Nice To Haves

Experience managing and mentoring teams in an agency, consulting, or marketing environment.

Responsibilities

Achieve departmental metrics, including financial indicators and client and employee satisfaction, retention, and growth; monitor key indicators and take appropriate action.
Manage and grow large, complex strategic accounts while maintaining strong client relationships and quality service.
Identify opportunities to expand services and engage in sales discussions across Merkle digital offerings.
Maintain understanding of contractual guidelines and business requirements, and monitor adherence to services and profitability models.
Support sales activities for new business opportunities, including defining project-specific services and scoping hours.
Manage contract documentation and negotiations for renewals and upsell opportunities.
Ensure program activities contribute to client goals, setting levels and priorities when needed.
Build and maintain strong executive client and industry-partner relationships.
Develop methodologies and work practices that improve agency and client performance and profitability.
Understand clients’ business issues, industries, competitors, and brands, and use insights to address evolving client needs.
Communicate effectively, demonstrate digital marketing credibility, and resolve conflicts quickly.
Lead and mentor junior team members and partner with Display and Social teams; serve as integrated media lead where appropriate.
Work with Directors to support team-member growth in Search capabilities, client management, problem solving, and business communications, including performance management.
Manage internal and external expectations through proactive communication and problem resolution.
Support new-hire onboarding with the Search management team.
Oversee departmental operating processes, identify continuous-improvement opportunities, and contribute to departmental SOPs.
Participate in departmental training efforts, identifying needs and helping develop training and professional-development plans.