Sr. Project Manager (Paid Search/Paid Social)

Merge • Kansas City, KS

5d • $78,000 - $94,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

At MERGE, we are Built Different . We are a marketing and technology agency purpose-built for the intersection of health and wellness—where human impact matters most. By weaving storytelling through technology, we move beyond traditional engagement to Whole Human Marketing. This approach recognizes that humans are multidimensional and complex, and uses AI to ensure every brand interaction feels natural, contextual, and relevant. This commitment to human-first innovation is what brings us together and propels us forward. We are united by our North Star: to unite people and brands to empower healthier, happier lives. Emerge to the Top of Your Career At MERGE, we strive to create a superior work experience where talented and ambitious people grow. An experience that encourages people to think higher and feel deeper. An experience where people engage their minds and hearts to do the best work of their careers. As our Sr. Project Manager, you will… Be responsible for the internal management of assigned projects from start to finish within the agency. You will serve as the central point of coordination for all projects tied to your assigned client, ensuring team members are organized, schedules are maintained, and work is delivered on time, within scope, and on budget. This role involves managing large, complex projects and campaigns across multiple channels including digital advertising, paid social media, paid search, video, print, and in-store or experiential, while collaborating with clients in the Lifestyle and Consumer industries to meet their objectives.

Requirements

• 5-7 years of project management experience in a marketing or advertising agency setting
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience
• Recent experience managing projects, specifically multi channel media campaigns, including paid social and paid search for clients in the Lifestyle and Consumer category
• Deep understanding of all production disciplines involved in integrated campaigns, including print, broadcast/video, digital, social media, and in-store or experiential marketing
• General understanding of media and analytics strategy, including planning and execution
• Experience using project management software (e.g. Trello, Smartsheet, Jira, etc.)
• Proven ability to anticipate problems and find practical solutions to ensure projects meet deadlines and stay within budget
• Highly detail-oriented and organized, with exceptional time management skills and outstanding written/verbal communication abilities
• Proficient in Google Workspace and Adobe Acrobat Professional
• Applicants for employment in the US must have work authorization that does not now or in the future require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the United States.

Nice To Haves

• Working knowledge of InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator is a plus

Responsibilities

• Serve as an independent liaison and communication hub among all agency team members
• Organize, manage, and oversee each step of the strategy, media planning, and creative development process; project setup to delivery across all mediums
• Schedule and facilitate key touchpoint meetings, including kick-offs, internal reviews, and development checkpoints
• Scope projects, estimate resource time, create detailed project plans and schedules, and manage timelines throughout each project's lifecycle
• Manage and prioritize team assignments with clear tasks for daily deliverables using agency tools and effective verbal communication
• Collaborate with Account Management, Strategy, Media & Analytics, Creative, Producers, Print Production, to coordinate schedules, budgets, deliverables, and approval processes
• Forecast future deliverables based on project scope and schedules
• Review and comprehend media plans and communicate necessary specifications to creative and studio teams
• Notify the team if a project deviates from scope or original parameters
• Lead contingency planning, problem resolution, and recommend solutions to maintain schedules, budgets, and quality deliverables
• Track actual hours against estimated project plans and generate reports as needed
• Oversee workflow capacity based on project plans, staff assignments, and capabilities, collaborating with the Department Director to manage resources
• Manage project out-of-pocket estimates and purchases within assigned budget parameters
• Develop, manage, and enforce a rigorous internal approvals process throughout the project lifecycle
• Ensure adherence to proofing processes, brand guidelines, and quality standards on all projects
• Keep the Department Director informed of project progress and raise concerns promptly
• Implement agency workflow processes and quality assurance procedures to ensure successful execution aligned with agency goals and client satisfaction
• Provide insights on process improvements and resource/tool opportunities
• Update the status of projects on the Agency status report and ensure proper organization of project naming in the Studio Server archive
• Set up, attend, and actively participate in all necessary weekly status meetings

Benefits

• At MERGE, we’re committed to fostering an environment where our team members can thrive in both their careers and personal lives, ensuring they feel supported and empowered to succeed.
• MERGE believes in transparency and equity. In accordance with state regulations, we’re proud to include salary ranges in our job postings to ensure fair compensation practices.
• The salary range for this role is $78,000.00 - $94,000.00, based on the individual’s skills, experience, qualifications, location, and other relevant factors.
• The salary pay range is subject to change and may be modified at any time.
• MERGE is proud to invest in benefits that include meaningful Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, 401K, Lifestyle Spending Account, Employer Paid Life & Disability Insurance, Flexible Time off & Holidays plus many other benefits and rewards.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level