Manager, Paid Search

What You’ll Do, as our Manager, Paid Search

Support MERGE's practice in creating, optimizing, and executing best-in-class client paid search campaigns. As a hands-on Paid Search Media Manager, you will provide the strategic direction for keyword research, campaign building, and testing roadmaps. We are looking for a curious, data-driven marketer who understands the evolving AI landscape and can proactively identify opportunities to improve performance and goals delivery. You will bring passion and strong interpersonal skills to drive success, ensuring every dollar spent contributes to client growth.

Campaign Creation & Launch

• Campaign Ownership: You will act as a Paid Search subject matter expert, fostering accounts growth while ensuring that output meets agency standards.
• Structure & Creation: Build and launch (or guide executional-focused team members on what is needed) comprehensive campaigns across search, Performance Max, Demand Gen and more, ensuring best-practice account structure, compelling ad copy, tailored keyword lists, and client-specific targeting strategies.
• QA & Oversight: Lead the Quality Assurance (QA) process for all trafficked plans (keywords, ad copy, extensions) and launch components (dayparting, bids, budgets, targeting).
• Collaboration: Act as the primary Paid Search liaison for the broader media strategy teams, ensuring search is integrated seamlessly into the holistic media mix.

Strategy, Execution & AI

• Strategy & Discovery: Lead the client discovery process to establish PPC objectives and develop the strategy for tactic, budget, goals, etc. Provide thoughtful leadership to ensure these goals are met.
• Campaign Architecture: Develop and recommend keyword lists, targeting strategies, and testing plans (e.g., ad copy A/B testing, landing page reviews).
• AI Landscape: Apply a working knowledge of the current AI landscape (e.g., Performance Max, Broad Match/Smart Bidding, Generative AI) to keep client accounts modernized and efficient.
• Platform Mastery: Work closely with media partners (Google, Microsoft) to implement best practices across Search, PMax, Demand Gen, Video, and Call campaigns.

Analytics, Reporting & Financials

• Budgeting: Accurately forecast and pace monthly budgets to ensure spending aligns with client targets and is the most optimal use of funds aligning with goals.
• Performance Analysis: Monitor daily and analyze program KPIs (ROAS, CTR, CPA, CVR) to drive continuous improvement.
• Optimization Roadmap & AB Testing: Develop a comprehensive, long-term optimization roadmap for the account, utilizing a data driven, test-and-learn approach.
• Client Reporting: Provide in-depth reporting on program performance. You will lead client status calls, presenting insights and strategic recommendations.
• Tracking & Tech: Ensure analytics tracking implementation is accurate, robust, and easy to manage.
• Auditing: Conduct deep-dive PPC audits to identify structural weaknesses in legacy accounts and uncover new opportunities.

What You’ll Bring

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Communications, Advertising, and/or equivalent work experience.
• Experience: 3 to 5 years of professional paid search campaign management experience.
• Industry Focus: Healthcare, Health Insurance or pharma lead generation experience is a strong plus.
• Platform Depth: Deep knowledge of all Google and Microsoft advertising products (Search, PMax, AI Max, Demand Gen, Video, etc.).
• Data-driven decision-maker who relies on evidence and performance metrics to guide strategy.
• Learning Mentality: A desire to keep learning and being informed on everything search, digital & AI
• Communication: Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills. You must be able to explain complex search data to clients clearly.
• Critical Thinking: A problem-solving orientation with the ability to think critically about business goals.

At MERGE, we’re committed to fostering an environment where our team members can thrive in both their careers and personal lives, ensuring they feel supported and empowered to succeed.

MERGE believes in transparency and equity. In accordance with state regulations, we’re proud to include salary ranges in our job postings to ensure fair compensation practices.

The salary range for this role is $78,000 - $114,000, based on the individual’s skills, experience, qualifications, location, and other relevant factors. The salary pay range is subject to change and may be modified at any time.  

MERGE is proud to invest in benefits that include meaningful Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, 401K, Lifestyle Spending Account, Employer Paid Life & Disability Insurance, Flexible Time off & Holidays plus many other benefits and rewards.

Applicants for employment in the US must have work authorization that does not now or in the future require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the United States.

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