Senior Search Specialist
Job title: Senior Search Specialist in Austin, TX at McGarrah Jessee
Company: McGarrah Jessee
Job description: McGarrah Jessee seeks a performance marketing manager who is both a creative thinker and passionate about the evolving media and technology landscape. This person will collaborate with all McGarrah Jessee disciplines to develop SEM solutions and be able to make recommendations with compelling logic and enthusiasm. This is a hands-on position managing the strategy, planning and execution across SEM marketing efforts. Experience managing SEM campaigns across multiple paid search channels and location-based services are a must, and retail experience is a plus. This role requires a strategic thinker with deep expertise in SEM platforms, a data-driven mindset, and a passion for delivering measurable results.Responsibilities:
- Strategic development:
- Serve as an expert and thought leader on SEM planning/buying best practices for the media department and the agency
- Oversee the planning, development, purchase and execution of all Search based strategies, including Google, Microsoft, etc
- Knowledge of how to architect effective search engine marketing (SEM)/pay-per-click (PPC) campaigns with direction from department leadership
- Experience using Google Smart Bidding with automated bid strategies like tCPA, tROAS, Maximize Conversions and Maximize Conversion Value
- Possess extensive understanding of the advertising industry’s infrastructure and systems, especially as they relate to performance marketing
- Data analytics and reporting:
- Collaborate with the analytics team to compile weekly performance reports
- Utilize analytics tools (Google Ads, Adobe, etc.) to track, measure and report on key performance indicators
- Knowledge of conversion tracking/pixels, Google Tag Manager and attribution models
- Campaign execution and optimization:
- Manage and optimize performance marketing campaigns across SEM platforms
- Conduct in-depth analysis of campaign performance, leveraging data to make informed adjustments
- Perform A/B testing and other optimization techniques to enhance campaign effectiveness
- Work in coordination with clients’ and the agency’s media planning and account management departments
- Ability to manage team efforts around paid search bid management using best-in-class match type strategies, campaign settings, demographic targeting, remarketing, custom audience lists and custom-built automation
- Research keywords, analyze their relevance and perform competitive analysis
- Recommend landing page strategies and consult on landing page planning and optimizations
- Team leadership:
- Develop strong vendor partnerships with key partners in the marketplace
- Provide written POVs
- Act as a mentor for professional growth within the media team
- Budget management:
- Manage budgets, IOs and invoice reconciliation
- Project budget levels and/or budget needs based on client goals
- 5+ years of experience in SEM and digital media planning/buying
- Large-scale paid search management experience required ($50M+ annual budget management)
- Strong experience in running Google channels and understanding best practices to deliver growth across Search, Performance Max, Shopping, UAC
- Experience with Apple Search, Retail Media Networks and Affiliates is a plus
- Strong understanding of media attribution inclusive of privacy challenges and technical initiatives
- Familiarity with web analytics tools, such as Adobe Analytics, Placer.ai and Google Analytics
- Motivated, proactive self-starter with meticulous attention to detail
- Experience with working autonomously on independent projects and proactively engaging team members to get support when needed
- A successful track record of supervising and developing direct reports
- Strong analytical and math skills
- Exceptional oral, written and presentation skills, with experience in building decks and presentations rooted in data insights to highlight key takeaways and guide optimizations