SEM Associate Director, Paid Search Activation

SEM Associate Director, Paid Search Activation

Do you love blending operational excellence with strategy to execute search campaigns that perform at scale? At Tonic3, we’re searching for anSEM Associate Director, Paid Search Activationto join our team and be part of an integrated in-house agency, where Tonic3 specialists collaborate with client partners to deliver exceptional work. This is a chance to make a real impact—your work will drive growth, shape operational transformation, and optimize search activation across enterprise-level campaigns for a leading Fortune 500 financial brand.

As an operational strategist and activation leader, you’ll translate vision into seamless execution—overseeing hands-on delivery teams, refining workflows, and driving the adoption of AI-powered SEM capabilities within evolving search environments.

Position Overview:TheSEM Associate Director, Paid Search Activationleads enterprise-level campaign execution, manages operational frameworks, and oversees hands-on keyboard delivery teams responsible for trafficking, QA, budget pacing, and reporting. Working closely with the SEM Operations Lead, you will ensure campaigns are delivered efficiently, accurately, and in compliance with strict regulatory standards while driving automation and workflow transformation.

Location:New York, NY or Irving, TX (Hybrid: 3 days per week in the office, 2 days remote).

Salary:$135,000 - $155,000 per year.

What You’ll Do:

• Lead Activation Teams:Oversee hands-on keyboard execution of SEM campaigns across multiple lines of business, ensuring high-quality delivery from build through launch and in-flight management.

• Manage & Develop Talent:Direct a team responsible for campaign trafficking, QA, budget pacing, and reporting, establishing consistent execution standards across all accounts.

• Optimize Workflows & Playbooks:Design, implement, and continuously refine standardized operating procedures, SLAs, and playbooks to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and scalability.

• Drive AI & Automation:Support the execution of automated bidding (tCPA, tROAS, multi-target portfolios), dynamic creative formats, and scripts while operationalizing emerging AI-driven search experiences.

• Ensure Compliance & Quality Control:Enforce robust QA frameworks (pre-live/post-live, bulk uploads) and partner with Risk, Legal, and Compliance teams to align all SEM activities with regulatory standards.

• Technical & Platform Leadership:Act as a subject matter expert in Google Ads, Microsoft Ads, and SA360, troubleshooting campaign or tracking issues and partnering with Data/Engineering teams on tagging and tracking.

• Performance & Analytics Collaboration:Partner with Analytics teams to build dashboards, track performance against key KPIs (CPA, ROAS, efficiency), and ensure accurate data inputs for reliable attribution.

• Stakeholder & Vendor Alignment:Collaborate across Marketing, Tech, Product, Finance, and key platform partners (Google, Microsoft) to align on priorities and service delivery.

Who You Are:

• 8–10 yearsof professional experience in paid search / SEM execution, with proven leadership of campaign delivery teams in complex, high-volume enterprise environments.

• Bachelor’s degreeor equivalent university degree required.

• Platform Expert:Advanced proficiency in Google Ads, Microsoft Ads, SA360, and related SEM platforms, including deep expertise in Google automated bidding strategies (tCPA, tROAS, shared budgets).

• Automation-Minded:Strong understanding of AI-driven SEM capabilities, scripts, and platform automation, along with the QA processes required to manage automation risks at scale.

• Regulated Industry Experience:Familiarity with operating inside regulated environments and navigating risk, compliance, and governance frameworks.

• Analytics Savvy:Solid knowledge of digital analytics, attribution models, A/B testing, and performance optimization methodologies.

• Strong Communicator & Leader:Exceptional stakeholder management, cross-functional collaboration, and team development abilities.

• Detail-Oriented & Organized:Highly adept at managing multiple priorities, tight timelines, and large-scale budgets simultaneously.

Why Join Us?

• ⚕️Comprehensive Medical, Dental & Vision Coverage

• Generous Paid Time Off– Vacation, Sick Days & Holidays

• 16 Hours of Volunteer Time Off (VTO)to Give Back to Your Community

• All the Equipment You Needto Do Your Best Work

• Ongoing Learning & Developmentwith a Dedicated Training Budget