Demo

Director, Paid Search

OMD
Chicago, IL Full Time
POSTED ON 8/5/2025 CLOSED ON 9/3/2025

What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director, Paid Search position at OMD?

We are OMD, Cannes Lions 2024 Media Network of the Year, RECMA's Best-Performing Media Network Globally, and COMvergence's #1 Global Agency Network. As the world’s largest media network, with more than 12,000 people working in over 100 countries, we excel at making better decisions, faster. By combining innovation, creativity, empathy, and evidence, we help clients move faster, reach further, and take smarter risks in a world full of opportunities

We pride ourselves on being a people-obsessed, outcomes-focused business that applies evidence and data-based solutions, married with the practice of empathy, to drive performance and growth. When working with our clients, we put ourselves in the shoes of the consumer in order to see the world through their eyes. We focus on finding greater empathy with the consumer so as to uncover insights and opportunities that deliver more valued and valuable connections.

The Search Team

Our thriving paid search team culture is characterized by a blend of collaboration, innovation and shared passion for data-driven marketing. Our individuals feel inspired, supported and empowered to excel in their roles while contributing to the team's overall success. Our search practitioners tap into the Omnicom Search Center of Excellence group to gain access and benefit from the specialized knowledge and resources like: training, development, sharing best practices, access to tools and collaboration.

The Opportunity - Director, Paid Search

As a Paid Search team leader, the Director, Paid Search is responsible for providing strategic leadership and oversight to the search team. This role involves developing thought leadership, representing the team internally and externally and ensuring effective management of the search program to meet or exceed client goals.

A successful candidate will have great attention to detail and be able to take complete ownership of educating team members and getting tasks completed to bring value to our clients.

The ideal candidate will be process oriented by reviewing any gaps in the day-to-day management of the account and implementing new, stronger processes. They ensure team members fully understand the client's business and how market factors impact the business and make recommendations around expanding or adjusting the search program. The Director, Paid Search will foster strong cross-team collaboration with other Paid Search leads to enhance overall culture and team performance. Additionally, the Director, Paid Search should regularly identify and bring opportunities to the client, such as beta tests and industry insights.

Responsibilities

  • Paid Search Strategic Planning: Develop long-term execution plans that align with client business objectives. Implement these plans and track key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure success.
  • Paid Search Data Analysis: Demonstrate analytical skills to extract meaningful insights from data. Relate these insights back to client business goals and identify actionable recommendations.
  • Team Leadership: Lead and manage a team of search professionals, assigning tasks, tracking progress, and ensuring consistent campaign execution. Provide regular training and mentorship to develop junior team members.
  • Client Communication: Effectively present strategic and tactical plans to clients, staff, and internal teams. Build strong relationships with clients and maintain open communication.
  • Paid Search Financial Management: Oversee forecasting, budgeting, and pacing for search campaigns. Ensure efficient allocation of resources and optimize campaign performance within budget constraints.
  • Business Acumen: Understand business concepts and client objectives to identify opportunities for campaign expansion and growth.
  • Asset Creation: Support the team in the strategic vision of all paid search asset creation with a test/learn/scale mindset
  • Cross Team Collaboration: Working with broader investment / strategic leadership
  • Thought Leadership: Drives best practices in managing platform execution and produces POVs
  • Testing Oversight: Ensure testing plans are implemented and work closely with the Associate Director on test development.
  • Process Improvement: Identify opportunities to streamline workflows and improve efficiency within the team.
  • Escalation Point: Serve as the point of contact for day-to-day issues and challenges.
  • Growing existing business: Presenting new ideas and approaches to the client team, including upsell opportunities with 3rd party technology vendors or internal PHD technologies such as Omni or SEO/SEM integration
  • Leadership & strategic direction: As a Director, you will interface with the Omnicom Media Group Center of Excellence to define the most optimal pathway forward for Paid Search teams to effectively execute their buys
  • Case studies: Distributing effective approaches and new tests to the wider internal team. Submitting client work for industry awards, shining a spotlight on teams
  • Agency vendor lead: Based on discussions with Google & Bing, the Director will give direction to internal teams to help boost Optiscore and account quality score, adopt new features and betas, and continually innovate their approach to maximize results
  • Comfortable with complexity: Directors are highly familiar with complex Paid Search structures that span multiple accounts and thousands of keywords. They can quickly cut through the clutter and make sense of what needs to be prioritized

Qualifications

  • Relevant post-secondary education, training, or equivalent experience
  • 10 years of relevant Paid Search Experience and 6 years managing junior team members
  • Programmatic and Social experience a plus
  • In-depth understanding of Paid Search campaign management and optimization best practices
  • Strong knowledge/understanding of social, search in social environments, Generative AI, programmatic and other online advertising channels
  • Hands on keyboard experience with: Google Ads, MSFT Ads
  • Hands on keyboard experience with bid management tools like SA360, SKAI or Marin
  • Hands on keyboard experience with Adobe or Google Analytics
  • Experience troubleshooting site tags
  • Strong analytical skills and ability to leverage data to drive decision-making.
  • Be a proactive self-starter who enjoys a fast-paced, results-oriented agency and work environment
  • Experience in multiple AI buying agents such as Google, Bing Performance Max
  • Advance usage of Scripts
  • Be a team player and committed to training, and cross-functional collaboration and communication
  • Have strong program management and organizational skills, being able to manage multiple projects, deadline and priorities with ease
  • Excellent storyteller, both written and verbal
  • Experience leading and managing teams, with a proven ability to develop and mentor talent.
  • Test, Learn and Scale mindset

Preferred Certifications

  • Google Ads Search Certification
  • Microsoft Ads Certification
  • Google Search Ads 360 Certification
  • AI Powered Shopping Ads Certification
  • Google Analytics Certification
  • AI Powered Performance Ads

This is the pay range the Company believes it will pay for this position at the time of this posting. Consistent with applicable law, compensation will be determined based on relevant experience, other job-related qualifications/skills, and geographic location (to account for comparative cost of living). The Company reserves the right to modify this pay range at any time. For this role, benefits include: health insurance, vision insurance, dental insurance, 401(k), Healthcare Flexible Spending Account, Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account, vacation days, sick days, personal days, paid parental leave, paid medical leave, and STD/LTD insurance benefits.

Compensation Range

$90,000—$215,000 USD

This role is hybrid, requiring three (3) days per week in the office. The remaining two (2) days may be worked remotely. Specific in-office days will be discussed during the interview process, with flexibility to align with team needs. Please note that the number or required in-office days may be adjusted over time, potentially increasing the number of required in-office days based on business needs.

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Salary : $90,000 - $215,000

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