Senior SEM Manager

Intellibright • Austin, TX

20h • $102,000 - $144,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

Paid search is no longer about managing platforms. It is about owning how AI driven search investment translates into qualified revenue at scale.
As Senior SEM Manager, you will lead paid search and paid social performance across a portfolio of mid market and enterprise clients, with direct accountability for efficiency, quality, and revenue contribution.
This role offers the opportunity to lead and scale a well resourced SEM organization, supported by a rockstar analytics team and a diverse group of experienced partners managing nearly $10M annually in paid media spend. You will operate with leverage, clarity, and real authority to shape how paid media performs. As Intellibright continues to grow, this role is designed to grow with it, expanding in scope, leadership responsibility, and compensation as performance and impact increase.
This position is built for someone who has mastered execution and is ready to operate at a leadership level. You will set standards, interpret performance signals, and make confident decisions about where to invest, where to optimize, and where patience creates advantage.
This is not account management. This is ownership of revenue performance.
About Intellibright
Intellibright is a performance driven digital marketing agency built around accountability and close client partnerships. Our proprietary revenue analytics connect marketing activity directly to pipeline, sales, and revenue.
Recognized by Inc. 5000 and the Financial Times 500 as one of the fastest growing companies in the Americas five years running, Intellibright is a profitable, self funded agency headquartered in Austin, Texas.
Search at Intellibright does not operate in isolation. SEM is tightly integrated with SEO, CRO, Analytics, Web, and Digital Strategy so paid demand converts, compounds, and scales.
Why This Role Matters
This role exists to ensure Intellibright and our clients are making intentional, data informed decisions about where to invest, where to pull back, and how to evolve as paid media continues to change.
For the right person, this is not a static role. It is a leadership platform with a clear path to broader ownership as the company scales.
If you want to own SEM performance at a senior level and grow into larger leadership responsibility over time, this is where you belong.

Requirements

• 6 to 9 years of hands on paid search experience with increasing ownership and complexity
• Deep expertise in Google Ads and Microsoft Ads with paid social experience strongly preferred
• Proven ability to define, monitor, and act on KPIs tied to revenue and lead quality
• Experience managing large, complex budgets profitably
• Strong understanding of AI, automation, and auction dynamics
• Experience partnering with analytics teams to surface insights and guide optimization
• Ability to assess downstream impact beyond platform reported conversions
• Confidence presenting direction to senior and C level stakeholders
• Agency or multi client experience strongly preferred
• High bar for thinking, clarity, and ownership

Responsibilities

• Paid Search and Paid Social performance across a portfolio of mid market and enterprise clients
• Definition and ownership of KPIs across spend efficiency, lead quality, conversion performance, and revenue contribution
• Full funnel SEM strategy aligned to business goals, not platform metrics
• Authority to recommend pivots, budget reallocations, or increased investment based on performance signals
• Intent, keyword, and query strategy across branded, non branded, local, and high value demand
• Budget allocation, pacing, and optimization decisions tied directly to measured business impact
• Integration of SEM strategy with CRO, landing page performance, and website experience
• Cross channel alignment with SEO to maximize SERP visibility and total intent coverage
• Guardrails for platform automation, AI bidding, and recommendation adoption
• Partnership with Analytics to develop AI powered insights, alerts, and forecasting frameworks
• Executive ready performance narratives that move conversations from metrics to direction
• Proactive identification of risk, inefficiency, and growth opportunity
• Mentorship and elevation of SEM specialists and managers
• Contribution to client retention, expansion, and long term account health

Benefits

• 100 percent company paid healthcare premiums including medical, dental, vision, and life
• 401(k) with up to 5 percent company match
• 28 days combined PTO and holidays plus two additional remote work weeks annually
• 5 percent performance based bonus opportunity

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed
• Number of Employees: 11-50 employees