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Job Title:Paid Media Lead (Progression to Head of Paid Media)Location:Essex (Hybrid, 3 days office | Free parking | 35 mins from Liverpool Street)Salary:£50,000 £60,000 + 10-15% BonusIf youre working in paid media right now and you know youve outgrown your role, this could be exactly what youve been looking for.Maybe youre the person whos always fixing messy accounts when youd rather be building strategy. Maybe reporting feels more like box-ticking than insight. Or maybe youre 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 thats coached and developed properly. And a department built on systems, not last-minute firefighting.In short, you wont just be running campaigns, youll be building something that scales.The StoryThis 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 theyre growing fast.They dont do fluff. They dont do ego. They dont 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 thats structured properly, scalable, and consistent, without relying on one person being a hero.Thats where you come in.Why Youll Want This RoleThis isnt a role where youre boxed in and micromanaged.Youll have real ownership. Youll be trusted to lead. Youll be listened to when you want to improve how things are done.Youll shape the way Paid Media is delivered, reported and sold, and youll be joining at the exact moment where you can make a genuine impact.And if youve 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 Youll Be DoingPaid Media Strategy & DeliveryOwning performance across Google Ads (Search, Shopping, Performance Max, Display, YouTube where relevant)Planning, building and optimising campaigns end-to-endRunning audits and turning them into clear action plans (quick wins plus longer-term improvements)Improving account structure, testing frameworks and account hygiene across the boardSupporting paid social where needed (typically Meta, and sometimes LinkedIn depending on the client)Reporting, Insight & MeasurementBuilding 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 improvementsHelping improve landing page performance through better analysis and testingClients & Commercial GrowthLeading Paid Media onboarding for new clients and setting expectations properly from day oneJoining key client calls and confidently steering performance conversationsIdentifying growth opportunities within accounts (new campaign types, landing pages, new markets, smarter budget allocation)Supporting forecasting, budgeting and building retainers that make sense commerciallyHelping clients understand whats working, whats not, and what happens nextTeam & Department BuildingCoaching and upskilling the current Paid Media team, raising standards over timeCreating and improving internal processes, QA checks, templates and playbooksHelping shape hiring plans as the department growsBringing ideas to improve how Paid Media is sold and delivered without over-complicating itWhat Theyre Looking For In YouYoure commercially minded and care about outcomes, not just platform activity.You take ownership, follow through, and dont need chasing.Youre confident speaking to clients, including when performance dips, because you can explain whats 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 dont want to be a firefighter forever.You want to lead.Experience They Need You To HaveMust HavePaid Media experience (agency side preferred)Strong Google Ads experience across Search, Shopping and Performance MaxConfident 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 skillsNice to HaveMicrosoft Ads experienceMeta ads experience (and ideally some LinkedIn exposure)Feed and Merchant Centre experienceExperience working alongside SEO and web teams to improve landing page performanceHubSpot experience (useful, not essential)What Youll GetCompensation£50-60k depending on experience10-15% performance-based bonusFlexibility & Work-Life BalanceFlexible working hours (8:30-5:00 or 9:00-5:30)Summer working hoursHybrid 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 birthdayWellbeing & DevelopmentFree access to HeadspaceBusiness therapy support availableOngoing training and development budgetRapid progression opportunities as the department growsCultureAnnual summer and Christmas socialsNo fluff, no ego agency cultureSmall enough to have real impact, big enough to work on quality accountsThe Bottom LineIf youre 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.Youll get autonomy, progression, and the chance to make a real impact, with clear compensation and a genuine path to Head of Paid Media.JBRP1_UKTJ