Associate Director, Paid Search and Social

Responsibilities

• Refines and optimizes paid advertising campaigns to maximize lead quality and conversion rates.
• Develops and implements a comprehensive paid social media strategy to enhance brand awareness and generate high-quality leads.
• Builds, manages, and executes campaigns across diverse social media platforms, including but not limited to Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok.
• Oversees an external paid search agency by establishing priorities, evaluating strategic recommendations, reviewing implementation, and ensuring accountability for campaign performance.
• Develops, monitors, and optimizes ad performance and landing pages, leveraging A/B testing, audience segmentation, and performance analytics.
• Analyzes campaign data, generates insightful reports, and provides actionable recommendations to measure effectiveness, adjust strategies, and maximize ROI.
• Collaborates closely with content, creative, and brand teams to develop compelling ad creatives and messaging to optimize ads for an enhanced user experience and improved conversions.
• Collaborates with the data analytics, brand, and admissions teams to develop targeting strategies for paid campaigns, including global targeting for paid search and audience-based targeting, such as LinkedIn, and retargeting for paid social.
• Collaborates with web development teams to optimize website conversion paths and user experience.
• Develops annual paid-media plans, forecasts, budget allocations, and pacing recommendations to ensure investments remain aligned with program and fiscal-year objectives.

Requirements

• Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.
• Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.
• This position is not eligible for employer-sponsored employment authorization.

Preferred

• Proven experience in digital advertising and PPC campaign management.
• Strong analytical skills with proficiency in Google Analytics, Search Ads 360, and other reporting tools. Proficient in Adobe Analytics.
• Understanding of A/B testing, audience segmentation, and conversion rate optimization.
• Familiar with CRM platforms, Slate.
• Demonstrated success in managing social media advertising platforms and executing effective campaigns.
• Develop, execute, and manage multi-channel marketing campaigns.
• In-depth understanding of bid strategies, quality score, ad copywriting best practices, and landing page optimization.
• Outstanding verbal, written, and presentation skills, as well as organizational skills.
• Work independently with little supervision; possess a self-motivated disposition; identify opportunities for improvement and recommend effective changes, all while achieving key objectives resulting in desired outcomes.
• Excellent strategic planning, critical thinking, analytical, and persuasion skills.

Benefits

• The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.