Director, Performance Marketing (Hands-On)

Open position in Portsmouth, NH, St Louis, MO, Kansas City, MO, Minneapolis, MN, Columbia MO; Hybrid work schedule; 2 days in the office, 3 days working from home

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position, now or in the future. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a permanent basis without requiring employer sponsorship.

The Opportunity

We are seeking a SVP, Performance Marketing to lead and scale a high-impact performance team within our agency, Swell Media, part of the broader integrated media holding companies True Independent Holdings, and Meet The People.


This role is built for a challenger-minded performance digital leader, someone who thrives in fast-moving, high-accountability environments and knows how to turn media into a true revenue engine.


You will own a portfolio of ecommerce and lead generation clients, driving measurable growth through full-funnel strategy, advanced platform execution, and a relentless focus on efficiency (ROAS, CPA, LTV). Internally, you will lead, mentor, and scale teams. Externally, you will serve as a trusted partner to senior client stakeholders, shaping both strategy and business outcomes.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities (Other duties may be assigned)

Client Leadership & Commercial Growth

• Own performance outcomes across a portfolio of ecommerce and lead generation clients, with direct accountability to revenue, CAC/CPA, and ROAS targets
• Build senior-level client relationships, positioning the agency as a strategic growth partner, not just an executional vendor
• Lead new business pitches, RFP responses, and organic account growth, with a focus on expanding performance-driven services
• Identify and unlock growth opportunities across the broader holding company's capabilities (brand, creative, analytics, CRM)

Performance Strategy (Ecommerce & Lead Gen Focus)

• Architect and oversee full-funnel, audience-led strategies tailored to:
• Ecommerce (feed-driven media, conversion rate optimization, LTV optimization, retention signals)
• Lead Generation (funnel optimization, lead quality, offline conversion tracking, sales alignment)
• Ensure seamless integration between upper-funnel investment and lower-funnel efficiency, driving scalable, sustainable growth
• Push beyond platform defaults, developing differentiated approaches to audience strategy, creative, and bidding
• Serve as the ultimate technical escalation point for the agency, conducting rigorous audits on high-stakes accounts to identify and resolve performance plateaus
• Develop proprietary testing frameworks that push beyond standard A/B testing into sophisticated incrementality and lift studies

Channel & Platform Leadership

• Oversee execution across all core performance channels:
• Primary - paid search, paid social
• Secondary - programmatic, affiliate, CTV, and emerging platforms
• Maintain deep expertise across key platforms:
• Google Ads (Search, YouTube, Performance Max, Shopping, Merchant Center)
• Meta, TikTok, LinkedIn, and programmatic ecosystems
• Lead advanced capabilities across:
• Feed optimization and automation (critical for ecommerce scale)
• Creative testing frameworks and iteration velocity
• Signal development, audience modeling, and incrementality

Data, Measurement & Martech

• Own the measurement framework and marketing technology ecosystem, including:
• GA4, Google Tag Manager, CRM integrations (e.g., HubSpot)
• Attribution models, incrementality testing, and offline conversion tracking
• Reporting and visualization (e.g., Looker Studio)
• Build closed-loop measurement systems that connect media investment to revenue, pipeline, and customer value
• Drive a culture of testing, experimentation, and continuous optimization

Team Leadership & Challenger Culture

• Build, lead, and mentor high-performing, performance-driven teams across levels
• Instill a challenger mindset, pushing teams to question platform best practices, test aggressively, and innovate beyond standard approaches
• Act as a player-coach, balancing strategic leadership with hands-on expertise where it matters
• Develop scalable frameworks, playbooks, and training to elevate team performance and consistency

Operational & Financial Leadership

• Oversee portfolio-level performance, including budget allocation, pacing, and forecasting
• Drive accountability to client KPIs, SLAs, and agency revenue/margin targets
• Partner with executive leadership on resource planning, staffing, and operational efficiency
• Build systems that enable scalable growth without sacrificing performance quality

Holding Company Integration

• Collaborate across the broader media organization to deliver fully integrated, cross-channel strategies
• Act as a bridge between performance marketing and brand, creative, analytics, and investment teams
• Ensure performance media is fully aligned with brand strategy, creative direction, and broader media planning
• Help position the agency as a modern, performance-first leader within the holding company ecosystem

Qualifications - To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• 8+ years of experience in performance marketing, with leadership roles in an agency environment
• Proven success scaling ecommerce and/or lead generation businesses through paid media and conversion optimization
• Deep expertise across paid media platforms, analytics, and marketing technology
• Mastery of advanced scripts, API integrations for automated bidding, and sophisticated CRM-to-platform data loops (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot, and Offline Conversion Tracking at scale)
• Proven ability to troubleshoot complex tracking and attribution discrepancies in a post-cookie landscape
• Femonstrated ability to manage high-growth client portfolios and drive measurable business outcomes
• Strong track record in new business, client growth, and senior stakeholder management
• Experience operating within or alongside integrated media organizations or holding companies preferred
• Exceptional leadership, strategic thinking, and communication skills

Total Perks Package

• The chance to be a part of a growing company and the next success story
• Amazing opportunities for career development
• Recognition programs
• Employee referral bonus
• Hybrid work schedule; 2 days in the office, 3 days working from home
• Fun and collaborative work environment
• Casual dress code
• Insurance Coverage (medical, dental, vision, life, and disability)
• 401(k) retirement plan, with employer 4% match
• Work/life benefits, including mental health and wellbeing support
• Flexible Time Off Policy
• Paid holidays, including agency soft closing Christmas Eve-New Year's Day
• Paid leave options, including sick leave, medical leave for self and family, and parental leave

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