CAREERS

Assistant Director, Paid Search

Location:


About the Role

The Assistant Director, Paid Search runs paid search strategy for a smaller group of key Carnegie clients and manages 1–2 team members. This role works closely with the Directors and Senior Director to keep best practices, training, and performance standards consistent, and plays a part in growing Carnegie’s paid search practice over time.

What You’ll Own

  • Team Leadership & Development
    • Manage and coach 1–2 paid search team members on campaign strategy, setup, and optimization
    • Lead training, onboarding, and professional development for direct reports
    • Run performance evaluations and give clear, constructive feedback
    • Support hiring and workflow planning for the team
  • Campaign Management & Reporting
    • Own paid search strategy and execution end to end for medium-priority accounts
    • Guide campaign strategy through the shifting AI-driven search landscape, using automation and new AI features to drive performance
    • Partner with Digital Strategists on proposals, RFPs, and strategic pivots
    • Use tools like Clarity, GA4, and dashboards to keep campaigns on track toward performance goals
    • Join client calls as needed
  • Internal Team & Thought Leadership
    • Work with cross-functional teams to share best practices and push new ideas forward
    • Stay current on paid search trends and bring forward process improvements, tests, and training opportunities for the company

What You Bring

  • Bachelor’s degree required; a Marketing/Advertising major or concentration is preferred
  • 3–5 years of experience in paid search on the Google Ads platform; lead generation experience is a plus
  • Currently certified in Google Ads Paid Search, or willing to get certified
  • Experience analyzing digital campaign metrics to measure success
  • Experience managing employees is preferred
  • Experience with Asana or similar project management tools, and Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides, is a plus
  • Sharp attention to detail and the ability to juggle multiple priorities on tight deadlines
  • Strong problem-solving skills — you troubleshoot issues on your own before escalating
  • Quick to learn and comfortable adapting to new tools and technology
  • Clear written communicator, both internally and with clients
  • Genuine enthusiasm for digital marketing and client success
  • Strong communication and time management skills for a remote environment, with the ability to move between multiple platforms regularly
  • Must be able to work at a computer for extended periods

Why This Role

This role gives you ownership over a meaningful book of client business while building your management chops with a small, growing team. You’ll shape how paid search evolves at Carnegie as AI reshapes the channel, working alongside Directors and a Senior Director who’ll back your growth every step of the way.

About Carnegie

For more than 30 years, Carnegie has been a leader and innovator in higher education marketing and enrollment strategy, offering groundbreaking services in the areas of Research, Strategy, Digital Marketing, Lead Generation, Slate Optimization, Student Search, Website Development, and Creative that generate authentic connections.

Learn more about who we are, what we do, and what we care about.

No phone calls or unscheduled visits to the office, please. Carnegie is an equal-opportunity employer.

Apply Today.