Director of Paid Media

Company: SEO Brand
Location: Remote (US Based, EST hours)
Reports To: CEO and President

About SEO Brand

SEO Brand is a leading digital marketing agency specializing in AI-powered search optimization, paid media and website design+development. Founded in 2008, we’ve grown into a respected agency serving clients ranging from emerging businesses to Fortune 500 companies. With over 20 years of expertise and a track record of unusually low turnover, we pride ourselves on building long term relationships with both clients and team members.

The Opportunity

This is a career defining opportunity to build and lead our paid media department from the ground up. We’re looking for an experienced paid media strategist who’s ready to step into their first true leadership role, someone who’s been the go to expert at their current agency and is ready to take ownership of an entire department.

You won’t be inheriting someone else’s broken systems. You’ll have the autonomy to establish best practices, build training programs, and create the department structure you’ve always wished you had. This is your chance to implement everything you’ve learned about what works (and what doesn’t) in agency paid media management.

Position Overview

The Director of Paid Media is the strategic leader and architect of all paid media operations at SEO Brand. You are the head of strategy for every paid media account in our agency, responsible for setting the strategic direction, building the team’s capabilities, and ensuring client success and retention. This role combines high-level strategic thinking with hands-on team building and client management for our most important accounts.

While you’ll personally oversee 3+ Tier 1 strategic accounts, your primary responsibility is building a world class paid media department by establishing SOPs, training your team, and serving as the strategic advisor and final decision maker on all paid media accounts across the agency.

Critical to this role: You will also develop and execute SEO Brand’s own paid advertising strategy to generate qualified leads for our agency. This is a key business development initiative and an essential responsibility of this position.

Core Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership (30% of time)

Account Strategy Ownership

Serve as the strategic director for every paid media client in the agency. When new clients onboard, work directly with the assigned account manager to develop the comprehensive paid media strategy. Define objectives, KPIs, budget allocation, channel mix, and testing roadmap for each account. Review and approve all major strategic decisions and campaign approaches across the agency. Serve as the final escalation point for strategic questions and complex optimization challenges.

Client Strategy Development

Lead initial strategy sessions for all new paid media clients. Develop detailed 90 day onboarding plans that set clients up for success. Create quarterly strategic roadmaps for each account showing testing priorities and growth opportunities. Present high-level strategy to clients during QBRs and strategic planning sessions. Ensure every account manager understands not just the “how” but the “why” behind each strategy.

Strategic Account Management

Personally oversee 3+ Tier 1 accounts (typically $100K+ monthly spend). Serve as strategic advisor and relationship owner for enterprise clients. Use these accounts as testing grounds for advanced strategies that can be scaled across the agency. Model best practices in client communication, reporting, and relationship management.

SEO Brand Lead Generation (Critical Business Function)

Develop and execute comprehensive paid advertising strategy for SEO Brand’s own business development. Design campaigns across Google Ads, Meta Ads, and LinkedIn to generate qualified agency leads. Set up proper tracking, attribution, and lead scoring to measure campaign effectiveness. Test and optimize messaging, targeting, and creativity to improve lead quality and cost per lead. Collaborate with the sales/business development team to ensure lead handoff and follow-up processes. Report monthly on lead generation performance, pipeline contribution, and ROI. Continuously refine strategy based on what’s converting to actual clients. Use SEO Brand’s campaigns as proof of concept and case study material for prospective clients.

Department Building & Leadership (35% of time)

Build the Foundation

Establish comprehensive SOPs for campaign setup, optimization, reporting, and client communication. Create standardized processes for onboarding new clients and team members. Develop quality control checklists and campaign audit procedures. Build the training curriculum and certification path for team members. Define the paid media service offerings, pricing, and deliverables. Implement project management systems and workflow automation.

Team Development & Empowerment

Lead, mentor, and develop 2 account managers and 3 offshore specialists. Conduct weekly 1-on-1s focused on skill development and career growth. Host regular training sessions on platform updates, strategies, and best practices. Empower account managers to own their accounts while providing strategic guardrails. Teach account managers to think strategically, not just tactically. Create career paths and promotion criteria for the team. Build a culture of continuous learning, testing, and knowledge sharing.

Day to Day Management

Lead daily stand ups to address priorities, blockers, and urgent issues. Review and approve major campaign changes, budget increases, and strategic pivots. Provide real-time guidance when account managers face complex challenges. Ensure consistent quality and strategic alignment across all accounts. Manage team capacity, workload distribution, and prioritization. Handle performance management, coaching, and accountability.

Hiring & Scaling

Assess when additional team members are needed. Define role requirements and lead the hiring process. Onboard and train new team members. Build the organizational structure to support agency growth.

Client Retention & Growth (20% of time)

Retention Excellence (Key KPI)

Monitor client satisfaction and engagement across all paid media accounts. Identify at risk accounts early and develop retention strategies. Proactively address performance issues before they become churn risks. Build strong relationships with key client stakeholders. Ensure account managers are delivering consistent value and communication.

Revenue Growth

Identify upsell opportunities within existing client accounts. Develop expansion strategies (new platforms, increased budgets, additional services). Collaborate with the sales team on new business pitches. Contribute to case studies and thought leadership that support business development. Track and report on departmental revenue performance.

Performance Excellence

Own the aggregate performance metrics across all paid media accounts. Establish benchmarks and performance standards by industry/vertical. Conduct monthly performance reviews across the entire paid media portfolio. Identify trends, opportunities, and systemic issues affecting multiple accounts. Ensure the team is hitting client KPIs and agency profitability targets.

Operational Excellence (15% of time)

Quality Assurance

Conduct regular audits of active campaigns across the agency. Spot check account structures, ad copy, tracking setup, and optimization approaches. Ensure all accounts follow established best practices and SOPs. Review client reports before they go out to ensure quality and strategic insights. Maintain high standards for campaign quality and client deliverables.

Platform Expertise

Stay current on Google Ads and Meta Ads platform updates and beta features. Test new features and automation capabilities. Build relationships with platform reps to access beta programs. Evaluate and implement new tools and technologies. Share platform updates and best practices with the team.

Cross Functional Collaboration

Partner with the SEO team on integrated search strategies. Coordinate with the creative team on ad asset development. Work with the analytics team on tracking and attribution. Collaborate with client services on client satisfaction and renewals. Support finance team with forecasting and budget planning. Work closely with business development/sales on lead qualification and conversion.

Day-to-Day Activities

Daily (1 to 2 hours)

Morning account performance review across all agency accounts (including SEO Brand’s own campaigns). Daily standup with the team to address priorities and blockers. Real-time troubleshooting and strategic guidance for account managers. Review and approve major campaign changes or budget adjustments. Monitor budget pacing and address anomalies. Monitor SEO Brand lead generation performance and lead quality. Respond to urgent client or team needs.

Weekly (8 to 10 hours)

1-on-1 meetings with each direct report (coaching, development, performance). Team training sessions on new strategies, features, or best practices. Strategic planning sessions for new client onboarding. Review and provide feedback on client reports before delivery. Shadow account managers on client calls for coaching. Deep dive analysis on underperforming accounts. Personal management of Tier 1 strategic accounts. Weekly review of SEO Brand lead generation campaigns and optimization. Update departmental performance dashboard for leadership. Sync with the sales/BD team on lead quality and conversion rates.

Monthly (6 to 8 hours)

Comprehensive department performance review. Strategic planning for the upcoming month. Client QBRs for strategic accounts. Team capacity planning and workflow optimization. Update SOPs and training materials. Leadership meetings to report on department performance. Collaborate on new business pitches and proposals. Monthly report on SEO Brand lead generation ROI and pipeline contribution.

Quarterly (4 to 6 hours)

Performance reviews and compensation discussions. Departmental goal setting and KPI review. Strategic planning for scaling the team. Budget forecasting and resource planning. Review and refresh service offerings. Quarterly analysis of SEO Brand lead generation strategy and adjustments.

Key Performance Indicators

Primary KPIs (What You’ll Be Measured On):

• Paid media client retention rate (Target: 90%+)
• Revenue growth from paid media services (existing client expansion + new clients)
• SEO Brand qualified lead generation (volume, quality, and cost per lead)
• SEO Brand lead to client conversion contribution (pipeline value generated)
• Aggregate account performance (ROAS/CPA benchmarks across portfolio)
• Team development and retention (team member satisfaction and growth)
• Departmental profitability (utilization rates and account margins)

Secondary KPIs:

Client satisfaction scores (NPS for paid media services). Time to resolve escalations and strategic questions. Team member skill advancement (certifications, promotions). Quality audit scores across managed accounts. New paid media service adoption within existing clients.

Who You Are

Required Experience

5 to 7+ years of hands on paid media experience managing Google Ads and Meta Ads

Strong strategic background as a senior account manager, paid media lead, or strategist at an agency

Proven experience generating B2B leads through paid advertising (agency or SaaS experience highly valued)

• Proven track record managing accounts with $50K+ monthly spend
• Experience training or mentoring junior team members (formal or informal)
• Deep expertise in campaign strategy, not just execution
• History of strong client relationships and retention

You’re Ready for This If:

• You’re currently the person everyone at your agency comes to for strategic guidance
• You’ve thought “I could run this department better” more than once
• You’re tired of just executing and you want to build something
• You’ve mentored teammates and loved watching them grow
• You can think strategically about the business, not just the campaigns
• You’re ready to trade some hands on work for leadership impact
• You want to establish the systems and processes you’ve always wished you had
• You understand B2B lead generation and what makes a qualified lead

Required Skills

• Strategic thinking and problem solving abilities
• Strong communication skills (written and verbal)
• Ability to teach complex concepts clearly
• Comfortable with ambiguity and building from scratch
• Process oriented with attention to detail
• Client relationship management
• Data analysis and performance reporting
• B2B lead generation experience (understanding lead quality vs. volume)
• Google Ads and Meta Blueprint certifications (or ability to obtain within 90 days)

Preferred Experience

• Built SOPs, training programs, or department processes
• Managed or coordinated with offshore team members
• Experience with LinkedIn Ads for B2B lead generation
• Experience with additional platforms (Microsoft Ads, TikTok Ads, Linkedin Ads, Reddit, Pinterest)
• Presented to C level executives
• Understanding of SEO and integrated search strategies
• Experience with agency project management tools
• Background across multiple industries/verticals
• Experience managing your own company’s lead generation campaigns

What Makes You Great for This Role

You’re not looking for a lateral move, you’re looking for your first real leadership opportunity. You’ve proven yourself as a strategist and expert, and now you want to build and lead a department. You get energy from teaching others and seeing them succeed. You’re equally comfortable diving into campaign strategy and thinking about departmental workflows and team development.

You understand B2B lead generation and the difference between traffic and qualified prospects. You’re excited about the challenge of generating leads for SEO Brand while simultaneously building a department that delivers exceptional results for clients.

You’re ready to take ownership of outcomes beyond just your own accounts. You understand that your success will be measured by your team’s success, client retention, the quality of leads you generate for the agency, and the overall health of the paid media department. You’re excited about the opportunity to establish best practices, train others, and build something that outlasts any single campaign or client.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience 
• Comprehensive benefits package
• Professional development budget for training and certifications
• Real autonomy as this is your department to build
• Collaborative culture with exceptionally low turnover
• Opportunity to shape the paid media department’s future
• Work with diverse clients from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies
• Access to cutting edge tools and technologies
• 100% remote work with flexible schedule
• Direct access to CEO/ownership for strategic decisions

Our Culture & Your Growth Path

At SEO Brand, we value long-term relationships and building things that last. We’re profitable and stable (17 years and counting), and we’re planning for a strategic exit in 5 years. This means:

• You’ll have stability and resources to build properly
• Your leadership role could expand as we grow toward exit
• Potential for equity/ownership stake as the department proves its value
• Opportunity to be part of something meaningful during a critical growth phase
• We’re looking for someone who wants to grow with us and potentially take on even broader leadership responsibilities over time.

Why This Role Exists Now

We have talented account managers handling day to day execution, but we’re missing the strategic leadership and departmental infrastructure to scale. We need someone to be the head of paid media, setting strategy, building processes, developing the team, owning client retention, and generating qualified leads for our own business growth.

This isn’t about replacing anyone, it’s about giving our team the leader and mentor they need to reach their potential, giving our clients the strategic depth they deserve, and fueling our agency’s growth with a consistent pipeline of qualified leads.

To Apply:

Please submit your resume along with:

1. A brief cover letter explaining why you’re ready to step into a leadership role
2. A case study of an account where you set the strategy (not just executed it)
3. An example of a time you mentored someone or improved a process
4. If applicable, examples of B2B lead generation campaigns you’ve managed

We review applications on a rolling basis and will move quickly for the right candidate.