Digital Marketing Lead - Paid Search in London

Digital Marketing Lead - Paid Search in London

London Full-Time 45000 - 55000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
Sainsbury's

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead and optimise paid search campaigns across multiple platforms to drive performance.
  • Company: Join Sainsbury's, a leading UK supermarket with a dynamic digital marketing team.
  • Benefits: Enjoy discounts, flexible working, and a performance-related bonus up to 10% of salary.
  • Other info: Opportunities for continuous learning and career growth in an inclusive environment.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact in digital marketing while collaborating with talented professionals.
  • Qualifications: Experience in paid search, managing large budgets, and delivering performance-driven campaigns.

The predicted salary is between 45000 - 55000 £ per year.

Reporting directly to the Head of Search, joining Sainsbury's as a Digital Marketing Lead means being part of a dynamic and innovative team at the forefront of digital marketing excellence. With the opportunity to lead activation and optimisation across key digital channels and manage substantial budgets, you will play a pivotal role in shaping performance, innovation and best-in-class execution. Supported by a collaborative environment and a team of talented professionals, you will have the chance to drive strategic initiatives, work with cutting-edge technologies and make a tangible impact on the success of the business. With a focus on continuous learning, growth and collaboration, this role offers a platform for ambitious individuals to thrive in an ever-evolving digital landscape.

As the Digital Marketing Lead – Paid Search at Sainsbury’s, you will play a key role in leading the activation and optimisation of paid search campaigns across multiple platforms. You will work closely alongside two other leads, collaborating to drive performance and share best practice. Managing a significant share of annual budgets, you will drive performance, innovation and best-in-class execution through strategic test-and-learn agendas designed to improve targeting, creative and formats. You will collaborate closely with internal stakeholders to align digital activity with wider campaigns and commercial goals, overseeing campaign setup, optimisation and delivery while ensuring technical accuracy. You’ll also build strong relationships with agency partners, internal teams and platform providers to deliver effective campaigns and stay ahead of industry trends and opportunities.

You are a seasoned digital marketing professional with paid search experience in performance-driven environments, ideally within ecommerce, fashion or retail. You bring strong experience managing large-scale budgets and delivering against performance KPIs, with a solid understanding of PPC campaign execution across key platforms. With a strategic mindset, strong analytical skills and a collaborative approach, you are confident aligning activity to commercial goals, optimising campaigns and using data-driven insights to continuously improve performance and drive business growth.

Essential criteria

  • Hands-on experience working with Google Ads, Microsoft Ads (Bing), and SA360, with a strong understanding of campaign setup, optimisation, and reporting.
  • Experience managing multi-million pound digital marketing budgets.
  • Strong experience delivering and optimising performance-driven campaigns.
  • Experience with Performance Max, Shopping campaigns and feed management (Merchant Centre).
  • Proven track record of delivering against performance KPIs.
  • Experience with campaign measurement (incrementality, MMM – working knowledge).
  • Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data and identify actionable insights.

We’re one of the biggest supermarkets in the UK, with one of the largest retail websites. So marketing here happens at scale. We move faster than you might expect too, across Brand Planning, Brand Comms and Creative, Digital Marketing, CRM and Loyalty, Nectar 360 and Insights. With more people shopping with us every week, there are more interactions, more moments to connect. And thanks to data and insight, we understand our customers in a way few others can. We work alongside incredible brand partners and some of the best agencies in the industry.

We are committed to being a truly inclusive retailer, so you’ll be welcomed whoever you are and wherever you work. Around here, there’s always the chance to try something new - whether that’s as part of an evolving team or somewhere else across the business - and we take development seriously and promise to support you. We also recognise and celebrate colleagues when they go the extra mile and, where possible, offer flexible working. When you join our team, we’ll also offer you an amazing range of benefits.

Starting off with colleague discount, you'll be able to get 10% off at Sainsbury's, Argos, TU and Habitat after 4 weeks. This increases to 15% off at Sainsbury’s every Friday and Saturday and 15% off at Argos every pay day. We've also got you covered for your future with our pensions scheme and life cover. You'll also be able to share in our success as you may be eligible for a performance-related bonus of up to 10% of salary, depending on how we perform.

Your wellbeing is important to us too. You'll receive an annual holiday allowance, and you can buy additional holiday. We also offer other benefits that will help your money go further such as season ticket loans, cycle to work scheme, health cash plans, pay advance (where you can access some of your pay before pay day) as well access to a great range of discounts from hundreds of other retailers. And if you ever need it there is also an employee assistance programme.

Moments that matter are as important to us as they are to you which is why we give up to 26 weeks’ pay for maternity or adoption leave and up to 4 weeks’ pay for paternity leave.

Please see www.sainsburys.jobs for a range of our benefits (note, length of service and eligibility criteria may apply).

Digital Marketing Lead - Paid Search in London employer: Sainsbury's

Joining Sainsbury's as a Digital Marketing Lead means becoming part of a vibrant and innovative team dedicated to digital marketing excellence. With a strong emphasis on employee growth, collaboration, and a supportive work culture, you will have the opportunity to lead impactful campaigns while enjoying a comprehensive benefits package that includes generous discounts, flexible working options, and a commitment to your wellbeing. This role not only allows you to drive strategic initiatives but also positions you within one of the UK's largest retailers, ensuring your contributions are felt across a vast customer base.

Sainsbury's

Contact Details:

Sainsbury's Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Digital Marketing Lead - Paid Search in London

Show Your Creative Side

In marketing communications, standing out is key. Get creative with your application! Consider designing a mini-campaign or pitch that highlights your skills and understanding of the brand. Tailor it for Sainsbury's and show them what you can bring to the table.

Engage in Marketing Communities

Get involved in local or online marketing communications groups. Check out platforms like Meetup for events and workshops. Networking here can lead to hidden job openings and valuable insights into the industry trends—this is where we often discover what companies like Sainsbury's are looking for.

Leverage Social Media

Use platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter to showcase your passion for marketing communications. Share insights, articles, and your own content that resonates with the industry. Tagging or interacting with Sainsbury's on these platforms can catch the eye of recruiters and show you're genuinely interested in them.

Attend Industry Events

Keep an eye out for marketing conferences and workshops. These are great places to meet potential employers face-to-face and make connections that could land you a full-time role at Sainsbury's. Bring your business cards and be prepared to chat about how you can contribute!

We think you need these skills to ace Digital Marketing Lead - Paid Search in London

Paid Search Campaign Management
Google Ads
Microsoft Ads (Bing)
SA360
Performance Max
Shopping Campaigns
Feed Management (Merchant Centre)

Some tips for your application 🫡

Craft an Impactful Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Focus on your passion for marketing communications and how your previous experiences can benefit Sainsbury's. Make sure to mention specific campaigns or projects you’ve worked on that showcase your creativity and strategic thinking.

Showcase Your Writing Skills:As you're diving into a marketing communications role, your writing ability is crucial. Include samples of your work, like blog posts, press releases, or social media campaigns in your application. This lets us see your style and how you engage with different audiences.

Tailor Your CV to Marketing:Your CV should highlight relevant marketing skills and experiences! Include specific tools or platforms you’ve used, like Google Analytics or social media management software. Mention any certifications or workshops related to marketing that you've completed – they can give you an edge!

Demonstrate Your Understanding of Sainsbury's:Show us that you’ve done your homework! In your application, briefly mention what you admire about Sainsbury's’s marketing approach or any recent campaigns that caught your attention. This can reveal your enthusiasm for the role and your genuine interest in joining our team!

How to prepare for a job interview at Sainsbury's

Showcase Your Creative Campaigns

Get ready to flaunt your portfolio! Include examples of previous marketing campaigns you've worked on, especially those that showcase your creativity and strategy. Recruiters at Sainsbury's will be keen to see how you conceptualise and execute campaigns, so highlight any measurable outcomes to back up your claims.

Know Your Digital Tools Inside Out

If you’re heading into a marketing-communications role, make sure you're comfortable discussing key digital marketing tools like Google Analytics, HubSpot, or Hootsuite. Expect some technical questions about how you've used these tools in the past, as they'll want to gauge your hands-on experience and how you analyse data to drive marketing decisions.

Be Ready for Scenario-Based Questions

At Sainsbury's, they may throw some scenario-based questions your way, aimed at testing your problem-solving skills in real-life marketing situations. Think through potential challenges you’ve faced, how you navigated them, and be prepared to discuss your thought process and outcome.

Demonstrate Your Passion for Marketing

As you’re applying for a full-time position, show that you're not just looking for a job, but a career in marketing. Talk about the latest trends in marketing communications, your favourite campaigns, and why they inspire you. Your enthusiasm can really make you stand out and demonstrate that you’re committed to growing within the field.