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- Tasks: Lead the Paid Search team, driving revenue growth and client satisfaction.
- Company: Join Zenith International, a leading ROI agency with a global presence.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, wellness support, and generous family policies.
- Why this job: Make an impact in a dynamic environment with top brands and innovative strategies.
- Qualifications: Strong leadership skills and deep knowledge of paid search required.
- Other info: Opportunity for career growth and to work anywhere with a Publicis office.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
Company Description: We are the ROI agency, a position we have proudly held true to since 2005. Our more than 6,000 specialists across 95 markets offer unparalleled capabilities in Media, Data, Technology, Commerce and Content. We put effectiveness at the heart of our work to solve complex challenges, drive successful business outcomes, and grow our clients’ businesses.
Overview: About the role.... Paid Search is one of four disciplines sitting under the digital activation umbrella, alongside SEO, Paid Social and Programmatic. The team is currently c. 80 FTEs, split between the UK, India and Colombia. Our client roster includes household name brands in FMCG, technology, fashion, pharmaceuticals, entertainment, hospitality and consumer electronics. The Head of Paid Search reports into the Head of Digital Activation. You will lead the day to day running of the Zenith International Paid Search Department, ensuring consistent delivery of excellent work, exceptional client service, best in class product and achievement of revenue and profitability targets.
Responsibilities: About the work....
- Commercial Leadership & Revenue Growth
- Revenue ownership: Ensure channel revenue targets are met and forecasted accurately.
- Cost management: Track, manage, and report on team structure, resourcing, and costs.
- Commercial growth: Identify and develop opportunities for incremental revenue through expanded services, increased scope, and additional investment.
- New business: Support agency new business efforts by shaping the programmatic offering, contributing to pitches, and developing innovative solutions beyond existing scopes of work.
- Revenue diversification: Champion profitability through the adoption and growth of bespoke in-house tools and products.
- Forecasting: Own regular revenue and FTE forecasting for the channel, maintaining an accurate and up-to-date view of performance.
- Brilliant basics: Ensure robust QA processes, accurate planning, and ongoing optimisation are embedded across all campaigns and regularly updated in line with platform and industry changes.
- Error prevention: Proactively prevent errors by enforcing QA standards across the team, with a zero-tolerance approach to avoidable mistakes.
- Finance excellence: Maintain absolute financial accuracy and adherence to agency processes, including PO management, query resolution, SLA compliance, bookings, audits, and invoice clearance within required timelines.
- Governance & access: Own access administration, Publicis ID compliance, and governance processes, including forecasting tools and internal platforms.
- Best-in-class output: Develop, maintain, and evolve best-practice guidelines and training materials covering planning through to optimisation.
- Innovation & product development: Partner with senior performance leadership to test, adopt, and scale new products, tools, and approaches that drive efficiency and quality.
- Client satisfaction: Oversee the development and delivery of client performance roadmaps, ensuring clear goals, accountability, and outcomes.
- Strategic leadership: Act as the senior paid search lead across the client portfolio, influencing strategy and decision-making at a senior level.
- Innovation & testing: Develop and deliver quarterly channel roadmaps and test-and-learn plans to drive innovation, performance, and growth.
- Relationship management: Build strong, trusted relationships with senior client stakeholders and internal planning teams.
- Growth delivery: Ensure paid search strategy, activation, and tactics consistently drive performance, growth, and client satisfaction across all accounts.
- Opportunity identification: Support teams in identifying growth opportunities, improving strategy, and expanding use of platforms, first-party data and proprietary tools.
- Visible leadership: Deliver consistent, responsive, and proactive leadership across the team, providing timely support to clients, planning teams, and internal stakeholders.
- Resource management: Allocate resources efficiently to maximise output and ensure workloads are balanced and sustainable.
- Hiring & retention: Build and maintain a high-performing, well-staffed team aligned to business priorities, with oversight from senior leadership.
- Development & progression: Set clear objectives and career pathways by level, supported by structured development plans and performance management.
- Training & certification: Build and deploy annual training and certification plans across platforms and vendors, ensuring full compliance across the team.
- Onboarding: Own and oversee onboarding processes to ensure a consistent, high-quality experience for all new starters.
- Succession planning: Maintain clear succession and promotion roadmaps to support long‑term team stability and growth.
- Team engagement: Host regular team meetings to onboard new members, share knowledge, strengthen culture, and improve engagement.
- Media owner partnerships: Develop strong relationships with key partners and media owners, including joint business planning, training, and access to support and innovation.
- Profile building: Surface and celebrate great work from the team by developing case studies and sharing success internally and externally.
- Awards & recognition: Lead the submission of industry award entries to showcase excellence within the paid search discipline.
Qualifications: What you need to succeed....
- Strong line management capabilities.
- Proactive mindset and excellent problem‑solving skills.
- Exceptional knowledge of the paid search landscape, platform evolution and user behaviours.
- Operational excellence, evidence of driving efficiency through improved operations.
- Gravitas required to build relationships with senior clients and colleagues.
- Experience managing a P&A for a department or business unit.
- Strong organisational skills.
- Diplomacy, particularly in terms of managing conflict.
- A keen eye for detail.
- A solid understanding of emerging technologies, in particular LLMs and AI.
Additional Information: Zenith International has fantastic benefits on offer to all of our employees. In addition to the classics, Pension, Life Assurance, Private Medical and Income Protection Plans we also offer:
- WORK YOUR WORLD opportunity to work anywhere in the world, where there is a Publicis office, for up to 6 weeks a year.
- REFLECTION DAYS - Two additional days of paid leave to step away from your usual day‑to‑day work and create time to focus on your well‑being and self‑care.
- BENEFITS - 24/7 helpline to support you on a personal and professional level. Access to remote GPs, mental health support and CBT. Well‑being content and lifestyle coaching.
- FAMILY FRIENDLY POLICIES - We provide 26 weeks of full pay for the following family milestones: Maternity, Adoption, Surrogacy and Shared Parental Leave.
- FLEXIBLE WORKING.
Head of Paid Search in London employer: Publicis Groupe UK
Contact Detail:
Publicis Groupe UK Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Paid Search in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, attend events, and engage on social media. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Understand their approach to paid search and think about how your skills can contribute to their goals. Tailor your responses to show you're the perfect fit!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Conduct mock interviews with friends or use online resources to refine your answers. Focus on articulating your experience and how it aligns with the role of Head of Paid Search.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive and engaged with our brand.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Paid Search in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Head of Paid Search role. Highlight your relevant experience in paid search, client management, and team leadership. We want to see how you can bring value to our team!
Showcase Your Achievements: Don’t just list your responsibilities; share specific achievements that demonstrate your impact in previous roles. Use metrics where possible to show how you’ve driven revenue growth or improved client satisfaction. We love numbers!
Be Authentic: Let your personality shine through in your application. We’re looking for someone who fits our culture and values, so don’t be afraid to show us who you are and what makes you passionate about paid search.
Apply Through Our Website: For the best chance of success, make sure to apply directly through our website. This helps us keep track of your application and ensures it gets to the right people. We can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Publicis Groupe UK
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you have a solid understanding of the paid search landscape. Brush up on the latest trends, platform updates, and user behaviours. This will not only help you answer questions confidently but also show that you're genuinely interested in the role.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Head of Paid Search, you'll need to demonstrate strong line management capabilities. Prepare examples of how you've successfully led teams, managed conflicts, and driven operational excellence in previous roles. This will highlight your ability to lead and inspire others.
✨Be Ready for Problem-Solving
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving skills. Think of specific challenges you've faced in past roles and how you overcame them. This will showcase your proactive mindset and ability to handle complex situations effectively.
✨Build Relationships
Since relationship management is key in this role, be prepared to discuss how you've built strong connections with clients and colleagues. Share examples of how you've influenced strategy and decision-making at a senior level, as this will demonstrate your gravitas and interpersonal skills.
