Responsibilities

• Support MERGE's practice in creating, optimizing, and executing best-in-class client paid search campaigns.
• As a hands-on Paid Search Media Manager, you will provide the strategic direction for keyword research, campaign building, and testing roadmaps.
• We are looking for a curious, data-driven marketer who understands the evolving AI landscape and can proactively identify opportunities to improve performance and goals delivery.
• You will bring passion and strong interpersonal skills to drive success, ensuring every dollar spent contributes to client growth.
• You will act as a Paid Search subject matter expert, fostering accounts growth while ensuring that output meets agency standards.
• Structure & Creation: Build and launch (or guide executional-focused team members on what is needed) comprehensive campaigns across search, Performance Max, Demand Gen and more, ensuring best-practice account structure, compelling ad copy, tailored keyword lists, and client-specific targeting strategies.
• QA & Oversight: Lead the Quality Assurance (QA) process for all trafficked plans (keywords, ad copy, extensions) and launch components (dayparting, bids, budgets, targeting).
• Collaboration: Act as the primary Paid Search liaison for the broader media strategy teams, ensuring search is integrated seamlessly into the holistic media mix.
• Strategy & Discovery: Lead the client discovery process to establish PPC objectives and develop the strategy for tactic, budget, goals, etc. Provide thoughtful leadership to ensure these goals are met.
• Campaign Architecture: Develop and recommend keyword lists, targeting strategies, and testing plans (e.g., ad copy A/B testing, landing page reviews).
• AI Landscape: Apply a working knowledge of the current AI landscape (e.g., Performance Max, Broad Match/Smart Bidding, Generative AI) to keep client accounts modernized and efficient.
• Platform Mastery: Work closely with media partners (Google, Microsoft) to implement best practices across Search, PMax, Demand Gen, Video, and Call campaigns.
• Budgeting: Accurately forecast and pace monthly budgets to ensure spending aligns with client targets and is the most optimal use of funds aligning with goals.
• Performance Analysis: Monitor daily and analyze program KPIs (ROAS, CTR, CPA, CVR) to drive continuous improvement.
• Optimization Roadmap & AB Testing: Develop a comprehensive, long-term optimization roadmap for the account, utilizing a data driven, test-and-learn approach.
• Client Reporting: Provide in-depth reporting on program performance. You will lead client status calls, presenting insights and strategic recommendations.
• Tracking & Tech: Ensure analytics tracking implementation is accurate, robust, and easy to manage.
• Auditing: Conduct deep-dive PPC audits to identify structural weaknesses in legacy accounts and uncover new opportunities.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Communications, Advertising, and/or equivalent work experience.
• Experience: 3 to 5 years of professional paid search campaign management experience.