Head of Paid Search
We’re looking for a world-class head of paid search to drive the next phase of our global expansion. You’ll own the strategy, execution, and multi-million-pound budget for our entire search ecosystem across all markets. You will lead a growing team of specialists, implement cutting-edge automation and bidding strategies, and ensure search remains our most efficient and scalable performance channel.
You will have the resources, data infrastructure, and executive support to build a best-in-class operation, testing the limits of platforms like Google and Bing while pioneering our strategy for emerging search environments.
This hybrid role is based three days per week in our London HQ.
What you’ll do
- Own the global search strategy – Develop and execute a comprehensive paid search strategy across Google, Bing, and emerging platforms, tailored to different products and international markets.
- Command a ten-figure budget – Take full ownership of the paid search P&L, managing one of the largest DTC search budgets in Europe. You will be responsible for forecasting, allocation, and delivering against ambitious CAC and volume targets.
- Lead and mentor a specialist team – Directly manage and develop a team of paid search managers and analysts, fostering a culture of excellence, rigorous testing, and continuous learning.
- Drive technical and bidding excellence – Implement and refine sophisticated bidding strategies (tROAS, tCPA, value-based bidding), account structures, and automation (PMax, scripts) to maximise efficiency at immense scale.
- Champion a rigorous testing agenda – Design and oversee a high-velocity testing roadmap for ad copy, landing pages, audience segmentation, and creative, ensuring we are constantly learning and improving.
- Master measurement and incrementality – Go beyond platform-reported conversions. Work with our data team to measure the true incremental impact of paid search and its interaction with other channels.
- Partner for full-funnel impact – Collaborate closely with the head of SEO to dominate SERPs, the product team to optimise landing pages and conversion flows, and the brand team to ensure creative alignment.
- Innovate and future-proof – Stay at the absolute forefront of the search landscape, from AI-powered campaign management and Performance Max to the future of cookieless tracking and privacy-centric advertising.
Who you are
- 8+ years of hands-on experience in paid search, with a proven track record of managing eight-figure (or larger) annual budgets in a high-growth DTC, e-commerce, or marketplace environment.
- Proven at both altitude and depth – you can present a strategic vision to C-suite and then dive into a Search Query Report to diagnose a performance issue with an analyst.
- Expert-level, hands-on knowledge of Google Ads, Search Ads 360, and Google Analytics. Experience with SQL and data visualisation tools (e.g. Looker, Tableau) is a significant plus.
- A people leader who has experience hiring, managing, and developing high-performing teams. You know how to motivate specialists and build a world-class function.
- Deeply analytical and quantitative. You are fluent in incrementality, media mix modelling, and attribution theory and can translate complex data into actionable insights.
- A master of scale; you understand the unique challenges and opportunities that come with managing massive, always-on campaigns and don't flinch at £1M+ daily spend.
- Thrive in hyper-growth, ambiguity and pace; you are a calm head under pressure and can make decisive, data-backed decisions quickly.
- An excellent communicator who can articulate complex search strategies and performance metrics to a range of stakeholders, from junior marketers to the board.
- Department
- Marketing
- Locations
- London
- Remote status
- Hybrid
About MANUAL
We are destigmatising how people approach their health by offering easy access to diagnostics, a holistic range of treatments, ongoing care and medical advice, as well as a community to help proactively improve one’s health and wellbeing. A place that didn't exist until now.
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