Paid Search Team Lead - SEM - Google Ads - Automotive

Role: Paid Search Team Lead - SEM - Google Ads - Automotive

Employment Type: Full-Time

Location: In-Office in our Ohio City/Cleveland Location 5 Days Per Week

Travel: none

About The Role

As the Paid Search Team Lead at Make & Model Marketing, you'll lead our team of Paid Search Specialists and Junior Specialists managing paid advertising campaigns across Google Ads, Meta (Facebook & Instagram), and Microsoft Ads for our automotive dealership clients. Campaign types include Search, Display, YouTube, Performance Max, Vehicle Listing Ads, and Paid Social.

This role combines hands-on account management with team leadership. You'll manage a limited book of client accounts yourself while guiding and supporting the team day to day. You'll also make sure campaigns are built and managed consistently across all of our clients and find ways to improve and streamline how the team works. You'll work closely with account managers and internal teams so that client goals, creative assets, and compliance, brand, and co-op guidelines are handled smoothly from start to finish.

You'll set the standard for quality on the team. That means bringing strong strategic judgment, keeping up with platform changes and new campaign types, and helping the team turn that knowledge into consistent results.

Requirements:

Minimum 4–5 years of hands-on experience managing paid search campaigns across Google Ads, Microsoft Ads, and Meta (Facebook/Instagram)Experience leading, mentoring, or training other paid media team membersDeep working knowledge of paid search platforms, including campaign types, bidding strategies, audience targeting, and performance optimizationStrong experience analyzing paid media performance using Google Analytics and other reporting platformsStrong understanding of paid search KPIs (CTR, CPC, conversion rate, ROAS, etc.) and how to translate data into actionable insightsProficiency in Google Workspace tools (Docs, Sheets, Drive) and Microsoft Office (Word, Excel)Excellent organizational and time management skills, with the ability to balance your own client accounts with overseeing the team's workExperience in a client-facing role is preferred, but not requiredAbility to communicate clearly and collaborate in a fast-paced, detail-oriented environment

Responsibilities:

Lead, support, and develop a team of Paid Search Specialists and Junior SpecialistsManage a portfolio of client accounts Maintain consistent campaign setup, management, and quality standards across all client accountsIdentify ways to improve and streamline team processes and workflows, then put them in placeServe as the team's go-to resource for paid media strategy, platform questions, and best practicesDevelop and execute paid media strategies that align with client goals and deliver measurable resultsMonitor campaign performance and analyze key metrics to evaluate effectiveness and identify optimization opportunitiesProvide recommendations for budget allocation, bidding strategies, and campaign enhancementsCollaborate with account managers and internal teams to manage the workflow of creative assets and ensure campaigns meet brand, compliance, and co-op guidelinesStay current with platform updates, industry trends, and best practices, and share that knowledge with the team

The Ideal Candidate:

Has deep knowledge of paid search metrics and how to evaluate campaign performanceEnjoys coaching others and helping team members build their skills and confidenceNaturally spots inconsistencies and inefficiencies and takes initiative to fix themBrings new ideas to the table and takes initiative to test and execute themHas a strong interest in the automotive industry and a desire to understand all facets of digital marketingIs organized and detail-oriented, with the ability to manage deadlines and priorities across a team and multiple clientsWorks well with account managers and internal teams to ensure seamless project executionContributes to a positive, collaborative team cultureIs passionate about digital marketing and excited to stay up to date with evolving platforms, tools, and campaign typesPossesses strong project management skills and the ability to track multiple moving pieces

The First 90 Days

You'll be fully supported as you ramp up, with a focus on learning our accounts, our team, and how we work.Get to know each member of the paid search team, their accounts, and their strengths.Begin taking ownership of your own set of client accounts, with a clear understanding of expectations.Work closely with account managers to understand client goals, strategies, and how we communicate and collaborate internally.Learn what quality standards look like at Make & Model, from campaign setup to reporting, and how we maintain them across our clients and teams.Become familiar with the platforms and tools we use for paid media management, reporting, project coordination, and internal organization.Begin identifying opportunities to improve consistency and streamline team processes.By the end of your first 90 days, you'll have a strong understanding of our approach, our team, and our clients, and you'll be ready to manage your own accounts and lead the team with confidence.

Compensation and Benefits

Your final compensation will be determined by your experience level and skillsetCompensation is reviewed annuallyMedical, Dental, & Vision Insurance (Employer pays 50% of premiums)Simple IRA + 3% Matching Opportunity10 Paid Time Off days in your first year + your birthday. 15 PTO days after 5 years with our company. 20 PTO days after 10 years with our companyPaid HolidaysContinuous Training OpportunitiesFlexible Hours - This position requires employees to work onsite at our office for 7 hours per day. Our office is open from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM, allowing you the flexibility to choose a schedule that works best for you within those hours