Paid Search Specialist Contractor

REMOTE, UK

COMPANY OVERVIEW

Croud is a global, full service digital marketing agency with a unique business model that helps businesses drive sustainable growth in the new world of marketing. Croud was recently named a Sunday Times Best Place to Work for the second year in a row, and was named Performance Marketing Employer of the Year by PMW.

At Croud, we unlock potential by elevating our people, clients, and communities within a rapidly advancing and complex economy. We operate as a unique scaled network of Intelligent, Creative Specialists, enabling us to deliver superior brand outcomes and unlock potential for our people, our clients and our communities.

Our culture is strategically driven and inspired by a shared long-term vision. It is collaborative and connected, with a focus on continuous learning and mutual support.

We are energised by future thinking, driving innovation to achieve better outcomes. We are instinctively generous, actively including and empowering our people. Above all, we are purpose-driven, committed to positively impacting our people, the planet, and our global communities.

ROLE OVERVIEW

As a Paid Search Specialist, you'll take ownership of the day-to-day management and performance of paid search activity across a key client account. You'll bring strong technical expertise, a hands-on approach and the ability to translate performance data into actionable insights that drive meaningful results.

Working closely with the wider team, you'll help shape and deliver effective search strategies, identify opportunities to improve campaign performance, and ensure activity is managed efficiently and commercially. You'll be confident working autonomously, bringing fresh thinking and technical expertise to the account, while collaborating with the team to maintain high standards of delivery.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Paid Search Management & Delivery

You'll take ownership of day-to-day Paid Search activity, ensuring campaigns are managed effectively and consistently deliver against client objectives.

• Campaign Management: Managing and optimising Paid Search campaigns across Google Ads and other relevant platforms, ensuring activity is aligned with client objectives and performance targets.

• Performance Optimisation: Proactively monitoring campaign performance, identifying opportunities to improve efficiency, drive results and maximise return on investment.

• Budget Management: Managing campaign budgets, pacing and spend allocation, ensuring investment is being used effectively and in line with agreed targets.

• Delivery & Quality Control: Taking ownership of campaign setup, implementation and ongoing management, ensuring all activity is accurate, efficient and delivered to a high standard.

Technical Expertise & Innovation

You'll bring strong technical Paid Search knowledge, helping to maintain high standards of execution and identify opportunities to improve performance.

• Bidding & Automation: Managing bidding strategies, leveraging automation and platform features to improve campaign efficiency and performance.

• Measurement & Tracking: Ensuring campaigns are set up with the appropriate tracking and measurement in place, identifying and resolving any issues that could impact reporting or performance.

• Technical Troubleshooting: Identifying and resolving technical campaign issues, working with platform support teams where needed to ensure minimal disruption.

• Platform Knowledge: Keeping up to date with Google Ads developments, new features and industry best practice, identifying opportunities to bring new approaches into campaign activity.

Strategy, Insights & Performance Reporting

You'll use data and insights to inform decision-making, shape campaign activity and identify opportunities to drive better results.

• Paid Search Strategy: Supporting the development and implementation of effective Paid Search strategies, ensuring campaign activity is aligned with wider client objectives.

• Data & Insights: Analysing campaign performance and translating data into clear, actionable insights and recommendations.

• Testing & Innovation: Identifying opportunities to test new approaches, audiences, bidding strategies and campaign formats to continually improve performance.

• Reporting & Recommendations: Contributing to regular performance reporting, clearly communicating results, key learnings and recommended next steps.

Collaboration & Client Communication

You'll work closely with the wider Paid Media team to ensure effective delivery and build strong working relationships with key stakeholders.

• Team Collaboration: Working alongside Account Managers, Senior Account Managers and wider specialists to support joined-up campaign delivery and share knowledge.

• Client Communication: Confidently communicating campaign performance, insights and recommendations to clients, helping them understand the impact of Paid Search activity.

• Ownership & Autonomy: Taking ownership of your workload, managing priorities effectively and working proactively to ensure deadlines and client expectations are met.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

• Confident Communicator: You’re comfortable leading client meetings, presenting insight-led recommendations and navigating difficult conversations. You have the gravitas to manage expectations, influence stakeholders and build trusted client relationships.

• Solutions-Oriented Mindset: You’re proactive, organised and able to manage multiple accounts, competing priorities and simultaneous deadlines. You thrive under pressure and take ownership of finding solutions that keep delivery on track.

• Data-Driven & Strategic: You have a strong analytical mindset and can translate complex data into clear, actionable insights. You understand how to use performance data to inform strategy, drive growth and identify opportunities to improve results.

• Leadership Presence: You know how to motivate, coach and develop others, fostering a positive, collaborative and accountable team culture. You’re confident in delegating effectively and empowering others to deliver their best work.

• Meticulous Standards: You have exceptional attention to detail and take pride in the accuracy and quality of your own and your team’s output. You proactively identify opportunities to improve processes, strengthen QA and raise delivery standards.

• Commercially Minded: You understand the commercial drivers behind successful client relationships, from account profitability and resource efficiency to client retention and growth. You’re confident in identifying opportunities to add value and develop accounts.

COMPANY BENEFITS

Standard hours are from 9.00am to 5.30pm, there’s flexibility if agreed in advance with your line managers (it may also be necessary on occasions to work outside of these hours).

Croud is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the grounds of a person's gender, marital status, race, religion, colour, age, disability or sexual orientation. All candidates will be assessed based on merit, qualifications and their ability to perform the requirements of the role.

OUR VALUES

At Croud, our vision centres around the idea of unlocking potential. We do this by elevating everyone in an inclusive and progressive culture, empowering individuals to deliver their best work. This means we build better brand outcomes, and unlock potential for our people, our clients and our communities.

We live and breathe five core values that foster a culture where everyone can thrive. Our commitment to elevating each other is fundamental to both our cultural and business success. The ideal candidate will excel in and demonstrate the following:

• In it together - our value on integration, collaboration and outcomes

• Eye on the future - our value on futurism, creativity and passion

• Generous in spirit - our value on people, development and inclusion

• Do what you say - our value on integrity and accountability

• Make a difference - our value on purpose and impact