Director, Paid Search

Tombras, an independent, 400+ person, national full-service advertising agency is searching for a Director, Paid Search.

Where you’ll be working: Knoxville. Relocation assistance may be provided.

The Director will report to the SVP and Chief Digital Officer and will lead a team of paid search supervisors, managers, strategists and/or analysts. The Director, Paid Search will be responsible for helping create, implement, execute and continually optimize effective paid search campaigns optimizing for total business growth in addition to platform ROAS/CPA. This role requires an entrepreneurial and analytical mindset to help create award winning strategy and drive business results for our clients. At Tombras we encourage the best ideas rather than the status quo. In addition to strategy, this position will be responsible for developing strong client relationships, training paid search assistants and managers, leveraging tactical expertise to optimize existing campaigns, and ensuring campaigns are meeting client objectives.

What you will be doing:

• Architect effective Search Engine Marketing (SEM) / Pay-Per-Click (PPC) campaigns
• Exhibit confident communication skills to effectively present tactical paid search plans and campaign status reports to clients on a daily and weekly basis
• Manage paid search bid management using best-in-class match type strategies, campaign settings, demographic targeting, remarketing, custom audience lists, and custom-built automation
• Research keywords, analyze their relevance and perform competitive analysis
• Recommend landing page strategies and consult on landing page planning and optimizations
• Possess a well-developed analytical ability and a proven track record of extracting tangible insights from large data sets
• A/B testing a multitude of campaign variables to increase the efficiency of campaign budgets to drive leads/conversion improvements, expand search impression share and drive higher ROI for our clients
• Administer bid management tools to accurate pace daily paid search budgets
• Monitor and analyze campaign performance in platforms like Google AdWords, Bing Ads, Kenshoo, and more
• Implement and test strategies designed to increase conversion rates and lower cost-per-lead across multiple clients in multiple verticals
• Mentor, train, and develop Paid Search Analysts and Strategists to continually strengthen your team members
• Work with Paid Search Analysts to ensure billing and budget pacing is handled accurately and in a timely matter
• Leading a team within Paid Search and working closely with other internal departments to develop fully integrated search campaigns
• Champion department processes, stay current on search marketing industry trends and best practices
  
  
  
  

What you bring:

• 6-7+ years of Paid Search experience within an advertising agency
• Google AdWords certifications - with 7+ years' experience with Google AdWords and Bing Ads
• 4+ years leading a team of several direct reports
• Experience managing multi-million dollar campaigns for enterprise clients
• Proven track record of successful client relationship development
• Strong analytical thinker
• Excellent communicator, team player and collaborator
• Skilled in Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint or Keynote
• Intimate knowledge of paid search tactics including Search, Performance Max, Discovery, YouTube, Display, Local, Shopping, and App across Google, Bing and Apple.
• Experience working with various enterprise bidding platforms like Skai (Kenshoo), Adobe, Google Campaign Manager etc.
• Working knowledge around tracking solutions like pixels, Google Conversions, UET goals, Enhanced Conversions and offline conversions tracking
• Skilled in Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, Keynote and the Google Suite.
• Intimate knowledge of website analytics programs (Google Analytics, Adobe, etc.)
• Bachelor's Degree in Advertising/Marketing, Business, PR/Communications or related field
  
  
  
  

Why Join Tombras’ Integrated Search team?

Since 2020, Tombras is the most awarded search agency in the United States winning 32 major paid search and SEO awards. Most recently, our search team swept the US Search Awards 2025 with the following distinctions:

Best Large PPC Agency

Best Use of AI in PPC

Best Use of Search - B2B

Best Use of Search - Fashion

Best Local SEO Campaign

Most Innovative SEO Campaign

Best Use of Content Marketing

Best Use of AI in Content

Best Use of AI for Data

Best Low Budget Campaign

Why you’ll want to work at Tombras:

You’ll be joining one of the top independent agencies in North America. Connecting Data & Creativity for Business Results® is working for our clients and creating a flywheel affect fueling both client and agency growth. You’ll be a part of a highly creative agency that has been recognized by AdAge, Adweek, Communication Arts, Fast Company, Forbes and Fortune. Tombras was recently named 2025 AdAge Agency of the year and 2024 AdAge Independent Agency of the Year.

Tombras Benefits:

Family - It comes first, on every list. Tombras has been family-run since day 1, we strive to facilitate a family-oriented environment rooted in supporting one another.

Dog-friendly offices

Unlimited PTO

Generous parental leave for primary and non-primary caregivers.

Medical (PPO or High Deductible option) for employee + dependents

401(k) Participation

Employer-paid Dental & Vision

A company culture of promotions from within and an atmosphere allowing for varied and rapid career development.

New, Modern building in Downtown Knoxville

Want more reasons to work at Tombras? Check out the latest Tombras News and Our Values.

Tombras is proud to be an equal opportunity employer dedicated to pursuing and hiring a diverse workforce.

Tombras is an E-Verify employer and participates in the E-Verify program.

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice. Job may require traveling overnight, driving long distances as required and sitting for extended periods of time with occasional walking and standing and occasionally lifting or carrying articles weighing less than 10 pounds.