Associate Director, SEM

Stella Rising is the leading marketing and media agency for spirited, high-growth consumer brands and service companies. We combine deep category expertise with a data-driven approach and a passion for elevating the brands people love most. As we continue to grow, we’re expanding our world-class team — and we’re looking for an experienced, strategic, and inspiring Associate Director, SEM to join us.

As Associate Director, SEM you are leveraging your advanced knowledge of SEM to drive strategic leadership across your assigned accounts as well as being actively involved in the day-to-day management of accounts assigned to your direct reports. Emphasizing the critical role of continuous learning and rigorous testing, it is imperative to leverage insights gained, ensuring they inform and elevate the strategies within your assigned accounts as well as sharing your learnings across the search department. Collaborating closely with the SEM Director and VP, you will play a key role in driving forward department initiatives (training, best practices, etc.), innovation, and thought leadership contributing significantly to the advancement of our SEM capabilities. As an expert in SEM, you will work on top-tier accounts which will require you to apply strong knowledge of holistic digital strategy and steward cross channel collaboration. Strong client and team leadership is essential in this role.

Regular responsibilities but not limited to:

• Provide strategic leadership and guidance in developing and executing comprehensive paid search strategies across search engines (e.g., Google, Bing and YouTube) for assigned accounts (including those of your direct reports).

• Establish channel forecasts and budget recommendations, adjusting tactics and strategies quickly based on learnings and opportunities.

• Conduct in-depth data analysis and generate actionable insights to continuously improve campaign performance and drive innovation across all accounts under your leadership.

• Serve as point person for senior client relationships, leveraging thought leadership and innovative points of view to strengthen client relationships.

• Develop and maintain relationships with search engine representatives and advertising platforms to stay informed about new features, beta opportunities, and industry insights.

• Oversee assigned team work efforts including account creation, QA, optimization, pacing, bid management, targeting, reporting, and client deliverables with a strong focus on ensuring departmental standards and deadlines are met.

• Provide leadership support and guidance to junior team members, nurturing their ongoing growth and development. Conduct quarterly reviews to discuss strengths, areas of opportunity, and goals.

• Prioritize thought leadership efforts by authoring and reviewing SEM related POVs, Case Studies and insights based on industry updates, trends and findings.

• Partner with SEM Department Head and senior leadership on identifying and submitting team work for industry wide awards and recognition.

• Conduct new business audits, clearly illustrating strategic flaws and areas of opportunity within high impact PowerPoint format.

• Help guide process and procedure improvement within internal SEM team.

• Vet and onboard new partners, tools, and platforms to advance client and department goals and strategies.

• Interview, hire, develop and effectively grow high-performing employees.

• Help lead assigned team to prioritize and delegate tasks as needed in the areas of account creation, QA, optimization, pacing, bid management, targeting, reporting, etc

• Establish channel forecasts and budget recommendations, adjusting tactics and strategies quickly based on learnings and opportunities.

• Stay up to date with industry trends, search engine algorithm updates, and emerging paid search techniques to stay ahead of the competition and leverage new opportunities.

Required Skills and Qualifications:

• Advanced experience in producing strong results in holistic paid search strategy and execution (automated bidding strategies, campaign structure, targeting, tactical mix, etc.).

• Proven experience managing large-scale paid search campaigns and achieving business objectives.

• Certifications in both Google Ads & Microsoft Ads

• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to effectively communicate complex concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

• Strong leadership and management skills with the desire to help build and grow a team.

• Strong critical thinking skills with the ability to independently solve client concerns.

• Strong project management skills, with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment with high attention to detail.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills including the ability to lead client facing calls.

• Advanced experience of MS Office including excel and PowerPoint.

• Advanced experience across primary platforms – Google Ads, Microsoft Ads, SA360, Google Analytics (GA4), Google Ads Editor, Microsoft Ads Editor.

• Bachelor’s degree or relevant experience.

Stella Rising is a women-led company that prizes diversity, creativity, hard work and intelligence, while keeping warmth, balance and human understanding at the core of our values. Named Ad Age Best Workplace and Inc Best Workplace for multiple years running, the company fosters an energetic and collaborative work environment where employees come first. In addition to surprising and delighting our team, we offer an environment where employee learning and recognition is prioritized. We take care of our team through a highly competitive benefits package that includes health, vision, dental, life insurance, a 401k with company match, wellness and technology reimbursements, home office setup support, over seven weeks of PTO, and Summer Fridays. If this sounds like the right opportunity for you, we would love to hear from you. Please send a resume and any work samples you are most proud of to kdillon@stellarising.com or fill out the form on this page.

Due the volume of candidates that typically apply, we will only contact qualified candidates. THIS COMPANY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Salary Range: $105,000 - $130,000