Paid Media Team Lead in Cardiff

The Paid Media Team Lead is responsible for the performance and health of the Paid Media channel, ensuring the team delivers strong client results while contributing to revenue, margin and utilisation targets. Working closely with the Head of Paid Media, they translate strategic direction into clear priorities, delivery standards and day-to-day direction for the team. They act as a key support to the Head of Paid Media, helping to run the channel and ensure consistent performance across clients. They remain billable team members, contributing to client work through strategy, performance direction and senior client communication. They stay close to delivery and may be involved in key accounts where needed, but their focus is on guiding the work, improving performance and supporting the team rather than executing campaigns day to day. They also lead Paid Media input into pitches, renewals and growth opportunities, working closely with the Head of Paid Media on overall direction.

Culture & Team Fit

We’re a performance-focused agency that values ownership, clarity, and momentum. We tell a commercial story, measure our impact, and make decisions that move clients forward. We’re Accountable for outcomes, Brave in our recommendations, and Curious about better ways to get results. We coach each other, keep promises, and raise standards through clear feedback and simple processes. We work across hybrid and remote environments, so clear communication, visibility of work, and proactive collaboration are essential to how we operate. If you thrive on practical problem-solving, collaborate well across disciplines, and enjoy turning insight into action, you’ll feel at home here.

Responsibilities

• Support the day-to-day running of the Paid Media channel, translating the Head of Paid Media’s strategy into clear priorities and direction for the team.
• Take ownership of the day-to-day delivery standards and performance across the Paid Media channel.
• Support the development of team capability through coaching, feedback, QA and knowledge sharing.
• Oversee campaign quality, strategy alignment and reporting accuracy across the channel.
• Act as the first escalation point for client or delivery issues across Tier 2 and Tier 3 clients, supporting the team to resolve issues before escalating to the Head of Paid Media where required.
• Work closely with team members to ensure client performance is on track, providing clear direction and challenge where needed.
• Support team capacity planning, project allocation and deadlines in line with channel priorities.
• Support recruitment, onboarding and training of new team members where required.
• Lead Paid Media client calls and QSRs across Tier 2 and Tier 3 clients, connecting performance back to client goals and commercial outcomes.
• Support Tier 1 client work where required, working alongside the Head of Paid Media on senior client conversations.
• Lead Paid Media input into pitches, proposals and prospecting opportunities, working closely with the Head of Paid Media on approach and narrative.
• Ensure all work meets Liberty’s quality standards and demonstrates clear commercial value.
• Drive renewal, upsell and cross-sell opportunities within existing accounts in collaboration with Client Services.
• Collaborate with other channel leads to support integrated planning and delivery.
• Identify opportunities for innovation, automation and improved ways of working within the channel.
• Step into delivery work when needed to support the team or protect deadlines during capacity gaps, while maintaining a primary focus on strategic oversight and team direction.

The ideal person

• A minimum of six years in a paid media role, with experience in working with and mentoring junior team members (if not direct line management responsibility).
• Experience of both Paid Search and Paid Social (at minimum, Google Ads and Meta Ads).
• E-commerce experience highly beneficial.
• Expert understanding of Paid Media strategy and delivery across platforms.
• (Preferred but not essential) experience in team operations such as team time and resource management, QAing work and creating SOPs.
• Confident leader who sets clear expectations and supports the development of others.
• Commercially aware, with a strong understanding of forecasting, profitability and return on investment.
• Strong client management skills, able to handle escalation, objection handling and live client conversations.
• Clear communicator with strong written and verbal standards.
• Organised and proactive, able to manage multiple priorities across accounts and deadlines.
• Collaborative across disciplines, supporting integrated planning and delivery.
• Demonstrates Liberty’s values: Accountable, Brave and Curious.