Director, Commerce SEM

Adelphi Group•Chicago, IL

6d•$160,000 - $190,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Flywheel’s suite of digital commerce solutions accelerate growth across all major digital marketplaces for the world’s leading brands. We give clients access to near real-time performance measurement and improve sales, share, and profit. With teams across the Americas, Europe and APAC, we offer a career with real impact, endless growth opportunities and the support you need to be the best you can be. We're looking for a leader to join our Directors team with a focus on retail media search. This person will drive team development, client retention and growth, and the continued expansion of Flywheel as the leading Digital Commerce solution. The role requires deep, hands-on experience running sponsored search across major retail media networks, especially Amazon Ads, Walmart Connect and Instacart. It also requires strong people leadership skills and a passion for partnering with clients at the executive level, from new business acquisition through ongoing growth. This role will work alongside the Commerce Leadership team to connect search strategy with retail operations, content and the broader media mix. We need someone self-motivated, collaborative and results-oriented, working against expectations set by executive management. The goal is to grow our clients' businesses through retail search and integrated commerce media, retain and expand client relationships, and build a high-performing team.

Requirements

8+ years of eCommerce or digital marketing experience, with at least 5 years leading retail media search at an agency, brand or retailer, managing significant budgets across multiple clients or brands.
An expert in Amazon Ads (Sponsored Products, Sponsored Brands, Sponsored Display) with hands-on experience on other retail media networks such as Walmart Connect, Instacart, Target Roundel, Kroger Precision Marketing or Criteo.
A strong understanding of retail and marketplace fundamentals: the digital shelf, content, pricing, promotions, inventory, and how they drive search performance.
Comfortable with retail media measurement and analytics, including AMC or other clean rooms, incrementality testing, TACoS and new-to-brand metrics, and bid management or automation tools.
Experience with Google Shopping or Microsoft Advertising is an asset.
Proven track record of prioritizing in a fast-paced environment with competing internal and external demands.
Team management experience with demonstrated leadership, mentoring and coaching skills.
Strong business acumen, problem-solving and analytical skills, and comfort turning data into a clear story for executives.
Experience presenting to and influencing executive audiences.
Excellent communication and organizational skills.
Results-driven with a strong client focus.
Able to adapt quickly as retailers, platforms and the market change.
A bias for action, with the optimism and tenacity to push through barriers.
Proactive, independently motivated, intellectually curious and a quick learner.

Responsibilities

Own the strategic direction of retail search programs across your client portfolio. That covers campaign architecture, keyword and ASIN/item targeting, bidding and budget strategy, share-of-shelf and share-of-voice goals, and full-funnel measurement.
Connect search performance to retail fundamentals such as content, ratings and reviews, pricing, promotions and availability. Make sure media spend is backed by a retail-ready digital shelf.
Build and maintain strong executive client relationships that create long-term partnerships and referrals. Find ways to drive incremental value through retail media, and create an environment where clients give candid feedback.
Oversee multiple client teams, guiding them to strong performance against client KPIs (ROAS, TACoS, incremental sales, new-to-brand, share of search) and identifying and resolving client issues.
Identify opportunities to grow revenue with existing clients, including expanding to new retailers and networks, adding onsite display and offsite or DSP media, and integrating search with retail strategy, in line with client objectives.
Help shape and scale Flywheel's retail search practice, including methodology, tooling and automation, testing and incrementality frameworks, and best practices.
Stay ahead of retail media changes (new networks and ad formats, AI-driven bidding, AMC and clean-room measurement, shopping assistants) and translate them into a point of view for clients and the team.
Act as a brand ambassador for Flywheel, both internally through market insight and training, and externally through business development, conferences, webinars and industry groups.
Make sure the team has the training, resources and professional development they need to grow their retail media expertise and deliver value to clients every day.
Maintain team morale and motivation in a hybrid work environment.
Continually improve the team's operating efficiency, balancing time spent against quality of delivery while protecting work/life balance.
Contribute to hiring, team structure and account resourcing decisions.
Travel as required based on client needs.