Search Account Director

Search Account Director

If you require any adjustments or additional support during the recruitment process, for any reason whatsoever, please let us know at peopleteam.london@essencemediacom.com.

At Essence Media, we want to eradicate inequity. We don't tolerate it and when we see it, we act. We attract, support and develop our talent without bias and strive to foster the empathy, creativity and diversity of thought needed to drive meaningful change for our people, our clients, our industry and our society. WPP and GroupM have already made strong commitments to combat racial injustice. While we are part of this group, we know we have an individual responsibility as an employer and an industry leader to fight against racism. That’s why we have pledged the following seven commitments.

Even if you don’t meet all the requirements, that’s okay, and we encourage you to apply anyway to find out more about whether this is the right match for you.

Did you know that marginalized groups including women, people of colour and people with a disability are more likely to discount themselves for a role if they don't feel they meet every requirement? This is why we encourage connection and conversation to ensure that everyone has the opportunity and information needed to find the right role for them. If this role isn’t quite right, you may be the perfect fit for another – so go ahead, apply and find out!

About GroupM Nexus

GroupM Nexus UK is a community of over 1,000 specialists spanning Search, Social, Programmatic & Display, and Ad Tech Ops Practice Squads from across GroupM agencies.

GroupM Nexus is designed to accelerate our clients’ businesses by harnessing the power and capabilities of GroupM and its agencies. This is achieved through partnerships with the world’s leading digital platforms, advanced accreditations for digital practitioners, and the continuous development and implementation of industry-leading benchmarks.

The Team

At EssenceMediacom, our Search team is focused on delivering exceptional paid search performance, helping clients stay ahead in an ever-changing digital landscape. We are a dynamic and diverse group of approximately 20 specialists, working across a wide range of clients and markets to achieve impactful results.

As part of our team, you’ll join the Global and UK GroupM Nexus Search Community — a hub of collaboration and innovation that drives the future of Search. This community provides our teams with access to the latest technology, tools, actionable insights, and industry-leading best practices, co-developed with GroupM agencies, to deliver transformative outcomes for clients.

We’re thrilled to welcome a Search Account Director to our team at EssenceMediacom North, based in the vibrant WPP Campus in Manchester. If you’re passionate about Search, thrive in a collaborative environment, and are ready to lead in a fast-paced, transformative industry, we’d love to hear from you!

Intro to the Role

As a Search Account Director, you will oversee the delivery of paid search activity, serving as the primary activation lead for your clients. Leveraging your platform expertise and account management skills, you’ll ensure search strategies are tailored to the unique challenges of each client and that campaigns are executed to brief, on time, and within budget. As part of the GroupM Nexus Search Community, you’ll contribute to a network of specialists, shaping best practices, driving innovation, and showcasing the very best of your expertise and results.

Key Responsibilities

Campaign Management

1. Lead the output of your team, ensuring high quality client-facing and operational deliverables, while working with UK-based and global teams.
2. Ensure adherence to controls and best practices across paid search campaigns.
3. Maintain a strategic understanding of client business objectives and KPIs, staying informed on industry trends, product updates, and opportunities to boost performance.
4. Adopt an innovative approach to the development and execution of paid search activities.

Client & Partner Management

1. Build and nurture strong relationships with clients and key partners, acting as the main point of communication for your team.
2. Provide clients with valuable insights, demonstrating a deep understanding of the search landscape and its impact on their business.
3. Monitor the client’s industry and competitive environment to create effective, forward-thinking solutions.

People Management

1. Play an active role in recruitment, interviewing, and building a strong team, serving as an ambassador for the agency to potential candidates.
2. Invest in the professional growth of your team members, supporting their career development and progression within the agency.
3. Lead by example to inspire and motivate less experienced team members, creating a culture of collaboration and experimentation.
4. Effectively manage junior team members, ensuring workloads are monitored, prioritized, and delivered on time.

Operational Excellence

1. Drive process automation through the adoption of AI tools, scripts, third-party solutions, and more efficient ways of working.
2. Ensure compliance with all aspects of paid search activation finance processes.
3. Contribute to the development of strategic revenue and service opportunities for the agency.

About You

1. Extensive expertise in search campaign setup, management, optimization, and reporting across platforms such as Google Ads, Microsoft Ads, and ideally Search Ads 360.
2. Strong understanding of the strategic and tactical applications of paid search and digital marketing as a whole.
3. Proven experience in project management, stakeholder engagement, and people management.
4. Ability to lead and manage hybrid teams across multiple markets.
5. Excellent communication skills, with the ability to work effectively with people from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and countries.

GroupM Nexus Benefits

1. Work in the vibrant WPP Manchester Campus.
2. 25 days of holiday, plus your birthday and work anniversary off.
3. Flexible working policy and public holiday options.
4. On-site refreshments, food at Level Ate Café, and an in-house barista.
5. Wellbeing allowance for an activity of your choice (e.g., gym or yoga membership).
6. Annual allowance for learning a new skill.
7. WPP pension scheme.
8. Optional private medical insurance.
9. Cycle-to-work scheme.
10. Enhanced maternity and paternity leave policies.

About EssenceMediacom

We are a global communications agency leading with breakthrough thinking, building explosive growth for brands, and helping our clients see the bigger picture. Our daring global network of 10,000 influencers help our clients breach traditional boundaries in media, uncover novel ideas, and unleash exponential growth. EssenceMediacom challenges conventional thinking to build, propel, and supercharge our clients’ businesses at scale and lead our industry in critical areas such as diversity, equity, inclusion, and sustainability.

EssenceMediacom understands that our people are tasked with big goals: building breakthrough growth for brands and leading with breakthrough thinking in our industry. Our people are at the heart of this work because their ideas will enable us to decode the intersections of people, content, and technology to bring our aspirations to life. Our success is down to our eclectic, diverse, and talented people. EssenceMediacom is a place for us to grow our careers and expand our horizons. EssenceMediacom is committed to building an agency culture that supports our people, puts diversity at the forefront of our operations, and creates opportunity for all. This collective culture will be our “new power” where ideas are freely exchanged, and collaboration is actively encouraged in a place where you can innovate in our hyperconnected world.