Paid Search Business Director (3M FTC)

At Assembly, our mission is to find the change that fuels growth. We apply this principle to the work we do with our clients and to how we engage with our people. We’re a modern global agency bringing together media, data, technology and talent to make brands perform.

Our business is purpose driven. In March 2022, we were named Ad Age’s first ever Purpose‑Led Agency of the Year, recognised for our mission to leave the world better than we found it. This year we became B Corp certified, the result of a two‑year journey. We’re proud to have created a culture where diversity of thought, experience, and background are valued, within an environment that fosters continuous learning, adaptability, and a shared passion for meaningful impact.

Assembly is poised for its next chapter of growth. We’re a meritocratic, high‑performance business with a progressive outlook and a growth mindset in all that we do. To realise our potential we need some new skills and thinking.

The core DNA of Assembly lies in digital performance marketing. New and existing clients are asking us to extend this expertise across all media, connecting traditional channels with digital methods of execution, measurement and automation.

At Assembly we ask our people to embody three core values:

• Show Up: actively contribute to a space of personal and collective growth
• Make Change: embrace obstacles as opportunities, taking intentional steps to drive positive change
• Win Well: approach success with integrity, responsibility, and a commitment to collaboration, understanding that the journey is as important as the destination

We look forward to meeting you and to discussing how we can grow together.

As a Paid Search Business Director, you will be directing your team to deliver best‑in‑class performance for your acquisition of clients. You will be a specialist in AI‑powered search practices and operations. With your extensive platform knowledge, you’ll navigate your team through the latest best practices, standardisation, and our product proposition enforcement. You provide strategic insight, instruct and develop your team of specialists, and are responsible for the quality of work we deliver.

This is a senior role within the search department, meaning you will be an escalation point of contact for clients and media/tech partners, as well as for our wider department. You will report to the Search Partner and work with them on delivering department projects for future‑proof search. But you won’t stop there. You will live & breathe innovation, fostering a culture of continuous and responsible experimentation for your team.

You’ll be the guiding force for a team of Account Directors, Managers and (Senior) Executives, nurturing their careers within the agency.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the search team as a thought leader, bringing the latest industry news and updates to clients in line with their ambitions.
• Enforce agreed service level agreements and general client agreements, ensuring no over‑promise and under‑delivery. Take full ownership of your and your team’s output.
• Work in partnership with senior client stakeholders, media owners, and tech partners to achieve performance gains.
• Provide strong input into strategic client roadmaps, prioritised for impact.
• Bring energy, insight and award‑winning solutions to new business pitches.

Team Leadership and Processes

• Maintain impeccable activation standards and enforce the highest quality for paid search success.
• Provide constructive feedback for your team’s development.
• Implement inclusive and agile ways of working that ensure team members remain connected even when working in different locations.
• Ensure all agency processes are adhered to, from finance workflows to timesheet completion.
• Monitor day‑to‑day diagnostics and enforce non‑negotiable checks to achieve zero errors, governing systems to identify issues and provide pre‑emptive solutions.
• Train your team to uncover insights that fuel growth and continually challenge the status quo.
• Act as a senior leader of the search community, leading team meetings, selected events and department projects.
• Support department resource planning and recruitment.
• Collaborate with other departments/specialisms to deliver projects for clients.

Core Requirements

• Evidence of working with large multi‑market clients, budgets, and leading search strategy.
• Recognised leader in paid search knowledge and thought leadership.
• Proven experience leading high‑performing teams across multiple levels.
• Skilled in effective workflow management, maintaining the highest standard and delivering on time with clear prioritisation.
• Successful communicator, engaging and concise with clients and stakeholders, simplifying complex concepts.
• Proactive solution‑oriented, preventing issues before they arise.
• Experience with successful new business pitches (full process).
• Expertise with bid management platforms and related technologies (Google Marketing Platform suite, Adthena, Lunio, etc.).

Assembly is an advocate for equal opportunity in the workplace. We are committed to ensuring equal opportunities regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability and gender identity. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know.

Seniority Level: Executive

Employment Type: Full‑time

Job Function: Advertising and Marketing

Industries: Marketing Services, Technology, Information and Media, and Advertising Services