At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead SEM strategy and execution to drive growth across multiple verticals.
- Company: Forbes Advisor, dedicated to empowering readers with trusted advice.
- Benefits: Remote work, competitive salary, and a culture of innovation.
- Other info: Join a diverse team committed to continuous improvement and professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a fast-paced environment while leading a high-performing team.
- Qualifications: 8-10 years in SEM, strong leadership, and data-driven decision-making skills.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 £ per year.
Forbes Advisor is seeking a Head of Paid Search (SEM) to lead strategy and execution across the Forbes Advisor business. Reporting to the VP of SEM, this role will be responsible for driving scalable growth across multiple verticals, owning performance outcomes, and building a best-in-class SEM function. This is a highly strategic leadership role requiring a proven track record of developing and scaling high-performing paid search programs, along with the ability to build, mentor, and lead a high-impact team. The ideal candidate brings a strong performance marketing mindset, thrives in fast-paced environments, and is comfortable navigating ambiguity while driving measurable business results.
Responsibilities
- Define and execute a comprehensive SEM strategy across multiple verticals, aligned to overarching business goals and revenue targets.
- Own performance outcomes, including revenue, margin, and efficiency metrics, continuously optimizing for growth and profitability.
- Be hands-on in the early stages by directly launching, managing, and optimizing SEM campaigns and ad accounts, setting the foundation for scalable performance and team processes.
- Build, lead, and scale a high-performing SEM team, fostering a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement.
- Partner cross-functionally with product, analytics, engineering, content, and commercial teams to unlock new growth opportunities.
- Establish and implement best-in-class performance marketing practices, leveraging data, automation, and emerging technologies.
- Oversee relationships with key external partners, including search engines, affiliate networks, and technology vendors.
- Drive testing and experimentation frameworks, including A/B testing and landing page optimization, to improve conversion rates and user experience.
- Collaborate with internal teams to enhance tracking, attribution, and reporting capabilities.
- Provide regular updates to senior leadership on performance, insights, and strategic roadmap.
- Stay ahead of industry trends, competitive landscape, and platform changes to identify new opportunities for growth.
Requirements
- 8–10+ years of experience in SEM / performance marketing in a data-driven environment, with increasing scope and leadership responsibility.
- Proven experience building and leading high-performing teams in a fast-paced, growth-oriented organization.
- Strong strategic thinking with the ability to translate data into actionable insights and business impact.
- Deep expertise in paid search platforms (e.g., Google Ads, Microsoft Ads) and performance optimization techniques.
- Demonstrated success managing large-scale budgets and delivering against aggressive performance targets.
- Experience working cross-functionally to influence product, analytics, and marketing roadmaps.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with experience presenting to senior leadership.
- Entrepreneurial mindset with a proactive, solutions-oriented approach.
- Bachelor’s degree required.
Additional Information
Forbes Advisor provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.
Head of SEM (Remote) in London employer: Forbes Advisor
Contact Detail:
Forbes Advisor Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of SEM (Remote) in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to industry contacts on LinkedIn or attend virtual events. We can’t stress enough how personal connections can open doors that applications alone can’t.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio or case studies showcasing your SEM successes. We want to see your impact, so make it easy for potential employers to understand what you bring to the table.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its SEM strategies. We recommend coming up with insightful questions that show you’re genuinely interested in their approach and how you can contribute.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to engage directly with us.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of SEM (Remote) in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Head of SEM role. Highlight your experience in performance marketing and how it aligns with our mission at Forbes Advisor. We want to see how you can help us drive growth!
Showcase Your Achievements: Don’t just list your responsibilities; share specific achievements that demonstrate your impact in previous roles. Use metrics to back up your claims, as we love data-driven results here at StudySmarter!
Be Authentic: Let your personality shine through in your application. We’re looking for someone who fits well with our team culture, so don’t be afraid to show us what makes you unique and how you approach challenges.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to submit your application directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it’s super easy!
How to prepare for a job interview at Forbes Advisor
✨Know Your SEM Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your SEM knowledge before the interview. Understand the latest trends, tools, and techniques in paid search marketing. Be ready to discuss your experience with platforms like Google Ads and Microsoft Ads, and how you've optimised campaigns for performance.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Head of SEM, you'll need to demonstrate your ability to build and lead high-performing teams. Prepare examples of how you've mentored team members, fostered a culture of accountability, and driven results in previous roles. Highlight any specific achievements that showcase your leadership style.
✨Be Data-Driven
Since this role is all about performance outcomes, come prepared with data to back up your claims. Discuss how you've used analytics to inform your SEM strategies and decision-making. Be ready to explain how you've managed budgets and met aggressive performance targets in the past.
✨Cross-Functional Collaboration
This position requires working closely with various teams. Think of examples where you've successfully partnered with product, analytics, or content teams to drive growth. Show that you can communicate effectively across departments and influence others to achieve common goals.