Head of Search

Performics UK is the performance marketing arm of Publicis Media, committed to exceeding business goals by blending Data, Tech, Ops, and Talent to accelerate performance impact daily. With over two decades of experience, we harness technology and innovation to generate and convert consumer demand across search, social, display, and commerce channels. Embracing a deep understanding of consumer intent and behaviour, we thrive on data-driven insights, guiding our planning and optimisation processes through rapid trials, real-time enhancements, and intelligent analytics.

As the world’s first Performance Orchestration agency, we have a proven track record of driving performance impact across diverse sectors and markets, leveraging our industry expertise to innovate and transform swiftly. Performics is dedicated to delivering award-winning results and empowering all Publicis Media UK clients.

THE CLIENT

Our client is one of the most prestigious brands in the world, and one of the most prestigious clients within Publicis. They are a genuinely unique business in terms of their structure and goals, meaning that most of the common objectives of an agency client – sales, revenue, margin – are infrequent considerations. Instead, they seek to ensure that the dominant position they hold within their market, the almost ubiquitous aspiration to ownership and their unique synonymity with excellence are sustained, not just for the sales quarter or the financial year, but for the very long term. This presents a unique challenge for media strategy, and that challenge is at the heart of this role.

THE ROLE

A highly experienced client leader and paid search specialist is required to own and oversee the complex and exacting paid search channel for one of Performics’ largest and most prestigious accounts. The role will be London based with most key clients based in Geneva, so regular travel will be required once possible.

Performics works across Paid Search and Paid Social channels globally, covering their corporate activity, their values-led activity and their sophisticated official retailer programme. The successful candidate will be responsible for delivering perfection across the paid search engagement, and managing its ongoing growth. They will be the leader of the central Performics paid search team based in London (around 12 FTE), as well as overseeing and collaborating with around the same number of people across international teams based in the US, China, Japan and South Korea, managing all global markets (80+ markets in total).

They will own and develop senior client relationships as well as internal relationships including with the Social team, the YouTube team, Publicis Media’s technology team and the Performics leadership team. As well as client leadership, team leadership and traditional brand marketing expertise, the role also demands competence with big data infrastructure and management. Since the global scale of the engagement generates data at a huge scale, we operate a Google Cloud based data warehouse with reporting and analysis leaning heavily on BigQuery and Looker Studio. This scale, and the unique requirements of the client, have also led to the development of bespoke software for managing the complexities of the retailer programme, where 750+ retailer paid search accounts are centrally managed with automated budget pacing, targeting and co‑ordinated bidding.

Performics are looking for an exceptional candidate with impeccable client facing skills, a clear understanding of the needs of a brand-led client and strong technical competence, as well as the proven ability to manage, motivate and inspire a team.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• To lead, manage and motivate the central paid search team and co‑ordinate and oversee all global teams
• To ensure all client deliverables are delivered on time and in line with the exacting standards of the client
• To develop a strong understanding of the unique client brand and how performance media can deliver on the client’s goals
• To ensure ongoing account management is delivered precisely and efficiently, while ad hoc analysis and deliverable requests can be accommodated within tight timescales
• To develop a strong understanding of the technical infrastructure and software of the paid search account and work with the technology team to guide its ongoing enhancement
• To develop strong relationships with all key clients
• To identify and capitalise upon opportunities to continue to grow the client engagement

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

• Extensive digital experience
• Strong experience with brand‑led marketing in paid search
• Proven track record of successfully managing client relationships
• Exceptionally strong presentation skills
• Strong leadership skills and demonstrable success of managing a large and globally distributed team
• Strong technical understanding, preferably with experience working with BigQuery and Data Studio and ideally the Google Ads / AdWords API

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).