Paid Search Account Manager

With a history that dates back over 80 years, Starcom is a global communications planning and media leader. We are an agency still grounded in our founding principle that people are at the centre of all we do. Each day, we apply this belief to harness the transformative power of data and technology to inspire and move people and business forward. With more than 7,000 employees in over 100 offices around the world, we are the flagship Publicis Media agency that uses our ‘Power of One’ business model, with teams that span multiple disciplines across clients such as Aldi, P&G, P&O Ferries, Primark, Samsung, Stellantis, and Visa.

We place a huge focus on our People and have driven flagship D&I and L&D programmes within Publicis Media; our goal is to help every individual reach their fullest potential and we encourage everyone to make “Brave Plays” in how they approach their work and their own career development. As a result, we have an exceptionally energised and committed talent base, all of us proud of our welcoming and supportive culture, as evidenced by our recognition as one of Campaign’s Best Places to Work for three years in a row (2021, 2022 and 2023) and most excitingly, Media Week's Agency of the Year 2023!

This role supports Aldi, one of the UK’s leading supermarket brands. The team is the first at Publicis to operate a fully hybrid model, bringing together Programmatic, Social, and Search planning to deliver a truly holistic media approach. This structure offers the Search Manager a unique opportunity to gain significant exposure to Social and Programmatic, enabling you to develop into a well‑rounded digital expert.

The Paid Search Manager is responsible for all aspects of Paid Search campaign implementation and will line manage a small team of Paid Search Executives and Senior Executives. The Paid Search Manager will report into the Account Director on the account.

Responsibilities

• Media planning excellence – Developing media plans that deliver on the client KPIs and that also deliver the best commercial outcomes for Publicis Media. Always ensuring that all calculations are correct. Seeking opportunities to showcase innovative approaches and proven campaign strategies to all relevant stakeholders.
• Test and learn – Creating test and learn roadmaps with a particular focus on robust test designs, hypotheses and measurement. Bringing innovation to your Paid Search media plans & embracing a test & learn culture across the emerging solutions in market (cookieless, retail media data).
• Operational excellence – Driving brilliant basics across the team, and continuously work to deliver operational efficiencies through automation and smart thinking. Proactively organising workflow and implementing a process‑driven approach for the full end‑to‑end implementation of multiple campaign types. Working with internal teams to manage finance queries and PO tracking and ensuring that the use of QA technology is mandated to mitigate errors.
• PCAs – Showcasing campaign performance across leading search engines like Google or Bing by providing in‑depth analysis that demonstrates results and key learnings that can easily be the basis of making future campaign decisions.
• Awards – Identify market‑leading work that has been delivered by you and your team. Proactively track upcoming award entry opportunities and draft submissions to play your part in the Paid Search team becoming recognised for award‑winning work.
• Client contact on weekly tasks – Build strong and trusted relationships with your clients by demonstrating that you understand your client’s business inside and out. Use the time spent with clients to showcase campaign results and identify new opportunities to expand on positive learnings that drive business value.
• Team management – You will have a small team of Executives and Senior Executive who you are responsible for the learning & development and performance, setting and delegating and communicating clearly and effectively.

Qualifications

• In‑depth experience and understanding of PPC across key suppliers – Google Ads and Bing.
• Active experience working with campaign & bid management software (SA360, Marin or Kenshoo) and hold a valid certification.
• Excellent prioritisation and project management skills.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office solutions – particularly Excel and Powerpoint.
• Web Analytics understanding, particularly Google Analytics or Adobe Analytics.
• Experience with budget forecasting and planning.
• Analytical thinking, mathematical skills, and attention to detail.
• Accurately selects key metrics and dimensions relating to the client's business and marketing success measures to report marketing outcomes.
• Is inquisitive about data and delivers actionable business insights.
• Identifies the limitations of available data and generates creative, solution‑driven strategies for data usage.
• Has a high attention to detail when practising quality assurance and due diligence of their own work and the work of their team.
• Uses technology to increase efficiency of iterative work outputs. Tests new technology to determine its value for client engagements. Champions the team to use and test new technology.
• Will confidently present the benefits of Publicis proprietary solutions, e.g. OneSearch or other T&I products.
• Works collaboratively across channels, engaging appropriate colleagues when necessary.
• Pursues opportunities to utilise their skills outside of core role expectations.
• Approaches change with a mindset that seeks opportunity and growth.
• Good presentation skills and inter‑personal relationship skills. Candidates must have the ability to communicate complicated concepts simply and effectively.
• Ensures equal opportunities and supportive ways of working are in place for teammates with equity requirements by working with the Talent team.

Additional information

Starcom 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.
• HELP@HAND BENEFITS 24/7 helpline to support you on a personal and professional level. Access to remote GPs, mental health support and CBT. Wellbeing 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, BANK HOLIDAY SWAP & BIRTHDAY DAY OFF You are entitled to an additional day off for your birthday, from your first day of employment.
• GREAT LOCAL DISCOUNTS This includes membership discounts with Soho Friends, local restaurants and retailers in Westfield White City and Television Centre.

Full details of our benefits will be shared when you join us! Publicis Groupe operates a hybrid working pattern with full time employees being office‑based three days during the working week.

We are supportive of all candidates and are committed to providing a fair assessment process. If you have any circumstances (such as neurodiversity, physical or mental impairments or a medical condition) that may affect your assessment, please inform your Talent Acquisition Partner. We will discuss possible adjustments to ensure fairness. Rest assured, disclosing this information will not impact your treatment in our process.

Please make sure you check out the Publicis Career Page which showcases our Inclusive Benefits and our EAG’s (Employee Action Groups).