Paid Media Lead #3539544

Job description

Paid Media Lead (Progression to Head of Paid Media)

£50-60k + 10-15% Bonus | Essex

Hybrid: 3 days office, 2 WFH | Free parking | 35 mins from Liverpool Street

If you're working in paid media right now and you know you've outgrown your role, this could be exactly what you've been looking for.

Maybe you're the person who's always fixing messy accounts when you'd rather be building strategy. Maybe reporting feels more like box-ticking than insight. Or maybe you're ready to lead, but your current agency has no clear path up.

This is a rare opportunity to step into a growing digital agency where Paid Media is already delivering strong results, but the next stage is taking it from "working well" to "best in class." Cleaner account structures. Better testing frameworks. Reporting that tells a story. A team that's coached and developed properly. And a department built on systems, not last-minute firefighting.

In short, you won't just be running campaigns, you'll be building something that scales.

The Story

This agency has built a strong reputation for being practical, commercial, and focused on performance. They work across SEO, Paid Media, paid social, web and CRM, and they're growing fast.

They don't do fluff. They don't do ego. They don't do smoke and mirrors.

Clients stay because the work is good, the communication is clear, and results are always linked back to commercial outcomes.

Paid Media is already a key part of the agency, but now they want to build a department that's structured properly, scalable, and consistent, without relying on one person being a hero.

That's where you come in.

Why You'll Want This Role

This isn't a role where you're boxed in and micromanaged.

You'll have real ownership. You'll be trusted to lead. You'll be listened to when you want to improve how things are done.

You'll shape the way Paid Media is delivered, reported and sold, and you'll be joining at the exact moment where you can make a genuine impact.

And if you've been looking for a clear route into a Head of Paid Media role, without waiting years for someone above you to leave, this is it.

This role is built for progression.

What You'll Be Doing

Paid Media Strategy & Delivery

• Owning performance across Google Ads (Search, Shopping, Performance Max, Display, YouTube where relevant)
• Planning, building and optimising campaigns end-to-end
• Running audits and turning them into clear action plans (quick wins plus longer-term improvements)
• Improving account structure, testing frameworks and account hygiene across the board
• Supporting paid social where needed (typically Meta, and sometimes LinkedIn depending on the client)

Reporting, Insight & Measurement

• Building and maintaining reporting dashboards (Looker Studio)
• Turning performance into insight clients actually understand (not just charts)
• Working closely with SEO and web teams to improve tracking and measurement (GA4, GTM, conversion tracking)
• Spotting funnel weaknesses and opportunities for CRO improvements
• Helping improve landing page performance through better analysis and testing

Clients & Commercial Growth

• Leading Paid Media onboarding for new clients and setting expectations properly from day one
• Joining key client calls and confidently steering performance conversations
• Identifying growth opportunities within accounts (new campaign types, landing pages, new markets, smarter budget allocation)
• Supporting forecasting, budgeting and building retainers that make sense commercially
• Helping clients understand what's working, what's not, and what happens next

Team & Department Building

• Coaching and upskilling the current Paid Media team, raising standards over time
• Creating and improving internal processes, QA checks, templates and playbooks
• Helping shape hiring plans as the department grows
• Bringing ideas to improve how Paid Media is sold and delivered without over-complicating it

What They're Looking For In You

You're commercially minded and care about outcomes, not just platform activity.

You take ownership, follow through, and don't need chasing.

You're confident speaking to clients, including when performance dips, because you can explain what's happening and what the plan is.

You enjoy building things properly. You care about process, structure and standards. You like mentoring others and raising the level of the whole team.

You don't want to be a firefighter forever.

You want to lead.

Experience They Need You To Have

Must Have

• Paid Media experience (agency side preferred)
• Strong Google Ads experience across Search, Shopping and Performance Max
• Confident with GA4 and comfortable working with GTM (or closely alongside someone who is)
• Experience building reporting dashboards in Looker Studio (or similar)
• Strong written and verbal communication skills

Nice to Have

• Microsoft Ads experience
• Meta ads experience (and ideally some LinkedIn exposure)
• Feed and Merchant Centre experience
• Experience working alongside SEO and web teams to improve landing page performance
• HubSpot experience (useful, not essential)

What You'll Get

Compensation

• £50-60k depending on experience
• 10-15% performance-based bonus

Flexibility & Work-Life Balance

• Flexible working hours (8:30-5:00 or 9:00-5:30)
• Summer working hours
• Hybrid working: 3 days office, 2 days WFH (with flexibility when needed)
• Office closed over Christmas (in addition to annual leave)
• 1 extra holiday per year of service (capped at 5 additional days)
• A free day off for your birthday

Wellbeing & Development

• Free access to Headspace
• Business therapy support available
• Ongoing training and development budget
• Rapid progression opportunities as the department grows

Culture

• Annual summer and Christmas socials
• No fluff, no ego agency culture
• Small enough to have real impact, big enough to work on quality accounts

The Bottom Line

If you're ready for a Paid Media role where you can genuinely lead, raise standards, and build a department the right way, this is a standout opportunity.

You'll get autonomy, progression, and the chance to make a real impact, with clear compensation and a genuine path to Head of Paid Media.

Extra information

Status

Open

Education Level

Secondary School

Location

Essex

Type of Contract

Full-time jobs

Published at

01-03-2026

Profession type

Advertising / Marketing / PR

Full UK/EU driving license preferred

No

Car Preferred

No

Must be eligible to work in the EU

No

Cover Letter Required

No

Languages

English