Head of Paid Media in Leeds

Location: Leeds, LS12 (Hybrid: 3 days office, 2 days home)

Company: Exceed is a specialist PPC agency based in Leeds, focused exclusively on performance marketing across Google Ads, Microsoft Ads, and Paid Social. We work with a diverse portfolio of ecommerce and lead generation clients, managing campaigns across Paid Search, Shopping, Performance Max, Display, and Meta Ads. Our approach is performance-first, commercially focused, and built around long-term client partnerships.

Role: As Head of Paid Media, you will lead the strategic direction, performance, and standards of paid media activity across the agency. This is a hands-on leadership role combining strategy, account oversight, team development, and operational improvement within a fast-paced specialist agency environment. You’ll drive strategy across existing and new client accounts, identify growth opportunities, improve performance frameworks, and ensure campaigns align with wider commercial objectives. You’ll also support the evolution of Exceed’s PPC offering across automation, attribution, first-party data, CRM integration, creative testing, CRO, and measurement. Alongside supporting audits, pitches, and proposals, you’ll work closely with the Managing Director to continue improving performance, processes, and overall account quality across the agency.

Culture: We’ve built a collaborative environment where people are trusted to take responsibility, continue developing professionally, and contribute to the wider growth of the business. Our office is based in LS12 and operates on a hybrid working structure of 3 office days and 2 remote working days per week. We believe in maintaining flexibility while still benefiting from in-person collaboration, training, and team development. We’re a relatively small team with high standards and a collaborative working environment where individuals are trusted to take ownership and continue developing professionally.

About You:

• 6+ years hands-on PPC experience, ideally agency-side
• Strong technical knowledge across Google Ads, Microsoft Ads, and Paid Social
• Commercially minded with a strong understanding of performance marketing strategy
• Confident leading strategy, improving account performance, and driving standards
• Comfortable mentoring and developing PPC team members
• Able to perform effectively under pressure within a results-focused environment
• Analytical, organised, and proactive in approach
• Collaborative, accountable, and confident communicating with clients and team members

Essential:

• Drive strategy across ecommerce and lead generation accounts
• Improve account structures, performance frameworks, and operational standards
• Identify growth opportunities through data, testing, CRO, and creative strategy
• Confident balancing automation and AI-driven functionality with strategic oversight and manual optimisation where required
• Support and develop PPC Managers, Executives, and Apprentices
• Maintain visibility of account quality, workload standards, and team performance
• Support audits, proposals, pitches, and wider business development activity
• Promote a culture of testing, learning, and continuous improvement across the PPC team
• Strong understanding of GA4, attribution, conversion tracking, CRM integration, and wider measurement strategy
• Comfortable managing accounts directly where required

Desirable:

• Experience managing or helping lead PPC teams within an agency
• Experience improving PPC processes, workflows, and QA standards
• Strong understanding of smart bidding, feeds, automation, and offline conversion tracking
• Experience using Google Tag Manager
• Experience integrating CRM and sales data into PPC strategy and optimisation
• Exposure to or experience with TikTok Ads, LinkedIn Ads, or Amazon Ads
• Interest in paid media innovation, testing, and performance improvement