Performance Marketing Manager

Performance Marketing Manager

Our ideal candidate is a seasoned performance marketing professional who has managed complex, multi-platform campaigns and wants to bring their expertise to a hypergrowth FinTech that's making it simple for our customers to save money and enjoy life more.

Auto Approve is a fast-growing, multi-million-dollar fintech organization. We are disrupting the way people pay for their cars and trucks, saving customers over $1,000 a year. Auto loans are complicated, confusing, and too costly. Auto Approve makes it simple for our customers to save money and enjoy life more. With the help of our private equity backers, we are revolutionizing the auto finance industry.

We recently crossed the $5.5B loan milestone, helping over 180,000 customers refinance loans; putting more money back in their pockets for things that matter the most. Auto Approve has been 3x recognized on Inc. 5000's list of Fastest Growing Private Companies and most recently received the distinction of inclusion on BuiltIn's 2026 Best Places to Work List in Chicago. We have big goals and growth in mind for 2026, and the Performance Marketing Manager will have an opportunity to grow personally and professionally and have a direct impact in helping Auto Approve to continue recognizing our high level of success!

Most of our team members join us because they connect with our mission of providing services that make it simple for our customers to save money and enjoy life more. We provide a fast-paced, enthusiastic atmosphere that thrives on constant improvement. We offer a competitive compensation package, a full suite of benefits (including medical, dental, vision, & pet insurance, disability & leave benefits, life insurance, 401K plan with match, and more), and PTO and holidays. We are looking for individuals to demonstrate an entrepreneurial spirit, promote fresh ideas, and serve as an agent of change. The Performance Marketing Manager will join our rapidly growing team remotely.

As a Performance Marketing Manager, you will develop and execute paid marketing campaigns across paid search, paid social, and programmatic channels. You will own strategy, execution, and ongoing optimization across Google Ads, Microsoft Advertising (Bing), Meta (Facebook/Instagram), TikTok, Reddit, LinkedIn, and display networks, with a focus on customer acquisition, lead quality, and ROI. You will work closely with the head of marketing to set campaign objectives, define target audiences, and manage budgets, using data analysis to optimize campaign performance at every stage of the funnel.

This is a hands-on role for a data-driven marketer who stays current with the evolving paid media landscape. You keep pace with platform algorithm updates, test AI-powered bidding and automation tools, build structured testing frameworks, and translate platform changes into performance gains. Success in this role comes from experimentation, sound measurement, and continuous improvement.

Use of AI tools like Claude to analyze performance, optimize campaigns, and speed up reporting is our bare minimum. You'll spend time querying and analyzing Google Ads performance directly through a proprietary AI workflow rather than building every report by hand. This position will help shape how we apply AI across the Auto Approve paid media program.

The role's day-to-day duties include (but are not limited to):

• Develop and execute full-funnel paid media strategies across Google, Bing, Meta, TikTok, Reddit, LinkedIn, and programmatic display, with a strict focus on CPL and Cost Per Funded loan.
• Build and manage structured testing programs to continuously improve campaign performance.
• Leverage AI and automation tools within ad platforms, including Performance Max, Advantage+, and automated bidding strategies.
• Stay current with platform updates, policy changes, and new features across all channels, translating changes into actionable strategies.
• Manage and optimize marketing spend to maximize ROI and ROAS across all paid channels while adhering to allocated budgets.
• Own conversion tracking, pixel implementation, attribution setup, and campaign measurement infrastructure.
• Own performance reporting from top of funnel through lead generation and funded loans, delivering regular readouts to marketing leadership.
• Conduct root cause analysis on performance trends and translate findings into clear, actionable recommendations.
• Analyze performance data to surface insights, improve targeting and messaging, and inform budget allocation decisions.
• Work with creative agency to develop and test high-converting ad creatives and landing pages.
• Manage purchase orders and forward ad platform invoices to the finance team accurately and on time.
• Provide insight into Auto Approve's digital customer experience and recommend improvements.

What You'll Need :

• 5+ years of hands-on experience managing paid search and paid social campaigns, ideally in B2C, fintech, or high-volume lead generation.
• Solid working knowledge of Google Ads, Microsoft Advertising (Bing), Meta Ads Manager, TikTok Ads, and display/programmatic networks.
• Experience with AI and automation features within ad platforms (Performance Max, Smart Bidding, Advantage+, etc.), plus hands-on comfort using AI assistants like Claude to analyze data, optimize campaigns, and work more efficiently.
• Specific, real-world examples of how you've used AI in your paid media work and the impact it had. We care more about how you actually use it than buzzwords.
• Experience building and running testing programs to improve campaign performance.
• Experience managing six-figure monthly ad budgets and optimizing spend toward aggressive KPIs.
• Solid understanding of digital attribution, funnel metrics, and conversion rate optimization.
• Proficiency with GA4, Google Tag Manager, and performance dashboards (PowerBi or similar a plus).
• Analytical mindset with the ability to translate campaign data into business outcomes and clear next steps.
• You're plugged into the paid media world. You regularly read sites like Search Engine Land, PPC Hero, or Jon Loomer's blog, follow experts on LinkedIn, and you're usually the first to know when Google or Meta announces something new.
• Comfortable in a high-growth, results-driven environment where agility and execution matter.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and drive execution independently.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work : This is a full-time position. Days and hours of work are variable and based on business need. Evening and weekend work may be required as job duties demand.

Physical Requirements : This position is indoors. Must be able to sit at a computer terminal for an extended period. May be asked to lift approximately 25 lbs. Exposure to moderate noise and light, i.e business office with computers, phone, printers, light foot traffic.

Other Duties : Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

EEO Statement : Auto Approve provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Auto Approve complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States.