Assistant Director, Paid Search

Job Description

Carnegie | A Career That Helps Higher Education Thrive

We partner with colleges and universities to create lasting impact—for institutions, students, and the world they’ll shape. At Carnegie, your work contributes to something bigger: advancing opportunity through higher education. We invest in people, not just positions, and build careers that grow with you.

Carnegie Life | Our People & Culture | Benefits

About the Role

The Assistant Director, Paid Search leads paid search strategy and day-to-day work across Google Search, Performance Max, and ChatGPT Ads for a group of complex Carnegie clients. You’ll also manage and coach 1–3 paid search team members. You’ll work closely with the Directors and Senior Director of Paid Search to support high-stakes client work, grow the team, and shape how Carnegie approaches AI-driven search.

What You’ll Own

Paid Search Strategy & Execution

• Run paid search strategy and execution from start to finish for a portfolio of complex, high-spend clients.
• Manage and optimize Google Ads campaigns, using paid search best practices to drive results. Troubleshoot complex PPC issues on your own before escalating.
• Track account performance using down-funnel goals and CRM data where available, and use what you find to shape recommendations. Use Google Analytics, Carnegie Clarity, Profound, and other reporting tools to spot opportunities.
• Build and review client-facing campaign build-outs, recommendations, and other materials that turn strategy into clear next steps. Partner with Digital Strategists and other teams on the paid search pieces of proposals, RFPs, and strategic initiatives.

Client Leadership

• Serve as the trusted paid search advisor and main point of contact for your clients. Lead client conversations with confidence and build strong relationships.
• Present strategy, performance insights, recommendations, and campaign changes to clients, including on larger and more complex accounts.
• Learn each client’s goals and turn them into paid search strategies that support their broader objectives.

Team Leadership & Development

• Manage and develop 1–3 paid search team members with ongoing coaching, feedback, and support.
• Lead training and onboarding, and help build team resources and best practices.
• Give regular performance feedback and contribute to formal performance reviews.
• Act as a senior resource for the team, helping others sharpen their technical PPC and client management skills.

AI Search & Innovation

• Guide campaign strategy through the shifting AI-driven search landscape, using automation and new capabilities to improve performance.
• Stay current on Google Ads and AI search developments, and find ways to put new capabilities to work for clients.
• Help shape Carnegie’s paid search approach to AI search by testing new ideas, sharing what you learn, and building best practices for the team.

Team Knowledge & Thought Leadership

• Share knowledge and best practices with teammates and cross-functional partners.
• Contribute to paid search training, process improvements, and team initiatives. Stay on top of industry trends and bring new ideas to the team.

What You Bring

• 3–6 years of hands-on paid search experience, with strong Google Ads expertise and experience managing complex, high-spend campaigns.
• Strong technical grasp of Google Ads strategy, optimization, and performance management.
• Experience directly managing at least one team member, including coaching, feedback, and day-to-day leadership.
• Strong client-facing communication skills, and the confidence to lead meetings, present recommendations, and build relationships.
• Experience creating detailed client-facing campaign build-outs, strategic recommendations, and presentations.
• Strong attention to detail, and the ability to turn strategy into clear, workable campaign execution.
• Experience analyzing digital campaign metrics to measure success.
• Strong problem-solving skills, plus the ability to troubleshoot issues and pick up new tools and technologies quickly.
• A forward-thinking approach to paid search, and openness to testing and adopting new Google Ads and AI search capabilities.
• Professional presence, and the ability to communicate well with clients, colleagues, and senior stakeholders.
• Strong team player with excellent time management, able to juggle multiple priorities in a remote environment.
• A plus: experience with Enhanced Conversions for Leads (ECL), Google Tag Gateway (GTG), AI Max, ChatGPT Ads, or other emerging ad capabilities.
• A plus: lead generation experience.
• A plus: experience with Asana or similar project management tools, and Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides.

Why This Role

Paid search is changing fast, and this role puts you at the center of it. You’ll run strategy for clients that matter, grow the people on your team, and help decide how Carnegie uses AI-driven search. You’ll see your impact in client results and in the skills of the people you coach.

Compensation

The salary range for this role is $85,000–$95,000. Your offer will reflect the experience, skills, and qualifications you bring.