PPC Manager

This is a great, progressive digital career opportunity within our Edinburgh client, an independent UK agency built for modern times. For over 13 years, they have partnered with ambitious brands to drive digital media effectiveness and navigate change, with smart thinking and standout creativity at the core. With 80+ staff across offices in England and Edinburgh (equal split), they are one of the UK’s fastest-growing agencies with a team of curious minds and committed collaborators. Their free-thinking approach blends strategic comms planning, digital innovation and bold brand thinking - always grounded in delivering real commercial impact. Their client list is pretty impressive including some of the biggest names in the UK and beyond, including public sector and big named brands. At the heart of their success is the people and the agency invests significantly in attracting, nurturing and retaining talent. They believe that success comes from creating a culture where their people feel they belong and their aim is to ensure that everyone is valued, respected, and has an equal opportunity to succeed. You will work from the Edinburgh office 3 days/week and WFH 2 days/week. Therefore it is essential that you can commute to central Edinburgh.

The Role

• We are looking for a Paid Search / PPC Manager to join the team in the Edinburgh office.
• You will be joining a team of Paid Search specialists as part of the broader digital team.
• As a Paid Search Manager in the team, your job will be to own the strategy and activation for your accounts, managing campaigns across Google Ads, Microsoft Ads, TikTok Search Ads, with potential to test new platforms.
• You will help to define account development plans in line with client objectives and will work with junior members of the team to ensure best practices are implemented, providing insightful reports and ongoing recommendations to drive growth.
• In this role, you will be working closely with the broader digital team and Comms to approach client strategy holistically.

Job Description

• Translate client briefs into clear rationale documents and digital media schedules to meet the objectives.
• Lead on campaign planning, set-up, optimisation and reporting.
• Forecast and manage budgets in line with client objectives.
• Help to develop account roadmaps and implement best practices.
• Build strong relationships with clients and internal stakeholders.
• Provide insightful reports based on internal and external factors.
• Coach junior team members, ensuring high-quality outputs.
• Help to create visibility of paid search within the wider business through news updates, case studies and thought leadership.
• Champion best practices and help to create collateral to support visibility of our work through Case Studies and Award Entries.

Deliverables / measures of success

• Confident use of Paid Search / PPC and reporting platforms.
• Accurate management of budgets and account changes.
• Delivery of high-quality rationales and account builds.
• Developing and executing effective roadmaps and testing plans.
• Strong client and internal relationships.
• Excellent analysis and troubleshooting skills demonstrated.
• Drawing from multiple data sources to identify key insights and optimisations for client growth.
• High standard of strategy and reporting presentations.
• A strategic and innovative approach to planning, aligned with client objectives and in close collaboration with other teams.

Key requirements, technical and person spec

• At least two years’ experience in a paid search / PPC role, but ideally 3 - preferably agency or client side if an “agency-esq” environment.
• A proven track record of working with Google Ads, Microsoft Ads and Google Analytics.
• Advanced Excel skills and highly numerate, with strong data-handling and problem-solving skills.
• Clear and confident communicator in writing and verbally; excellent attention to detail.
• A team player, able to build trust and develop strong relationships with stakeholders.
• A self-starter with an appetite to learn and achieve.
• Interest in innovating and testing new tools to streamline tasks.

The Benefits

• As well as salary (£32,500 - £36,500), you’ll be part of a profit-linked company bonus scheme that has paid out at least 5% of annual salary in each of the last few years.
• Pension (after 3 months’ service, with the company matching your contribution, resulting in 10% of your basic salary being saved into the Pension scheme).
• 36 days holiday inclusive of flexible Public Holidays & the seasonal office closure.
• Permanent early finish on a Friday.
• Enhanced parental leave.
• Holiday purchase scheme.
• Private medical insurance (opt-in).
• Fruit, snacks and great coffee based in Central Edinburgh.
• Long service awards.

Further Important Information

Gilchrist Recruitment Partnership are a specialist recruitment agency and recruiting partner within the Marketing, Digital communications/PR, Creative & Design and Advertising industry for Scotland, both agency and client side. When submitting your application, please outline your current salary, salary expectations and notice period. It is also essential that you are already legally permitted to work in the UK with the associated paperwork if you are not a UK citizen. If you are not currently living in Scotland, please explain/outline your plans and timelines for relocation to Scotland. We are a Scottish based recruiter who generally do not represent “remote” opportunities – thus you will be either living in Scotland or have solid plans to relocate. We cannot guarantee a response to each individual application, made necessary by the level of response we receive. We will contact only those candidates we wish to shortlist. Apologies in advance for any inconvenience this may cause. We aim to be an equal opportunities employer and are committed to ensuring that no applicant receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of gender, age, disability, religion, belief, sexual orientation, marital status or race. Unless clearly stated otherwise, the advertised position is a permanent contract.