Search Account Director - Digital Marketing Agency

Search Account Director

Industry: Digital Marketing Agency

Position: Search Account Director

Reporting to: Managing Director

Location: Remote from South Africa

About the Opportunity

Our client is seeking an experienced and commercially minded Search Account Director to lead integrated digital marketing strategies, manage key client relationships, and deliver exceptional results across SEO, paid search, and paid social.

This senior position will play a pivotal role in bringing together specialist teams, providing strategic consultancy to clients and driving the continued development of the agency's search and social offering.

Working closely with the Managing Director, the successful candidate will be responsible for overseeing a portfolio of clients across the UK and UAE, ensuring campaigns deliver measurable results while identifying opportunities for business growth and innovation.

The ideal candidate will combine strong technical knowledge, strategic thinking and commercial awareness with excellent leadership and client relationship management skills.

Key Responsibilities

Client Strategy & Leadership

• Lead the strategic direction of a portfolio of clients across the UK and UAE.
  

• Act as a trusted senior point of contact, building strong relationships with key stakeholders and decision-makers.
  

• Translate client business objectives into comprehensive search and social media strategies.
  

• Provide senior-level consultancy, ensuring marketing recommendations align with broader commercial objectives.
  

• Drive the delivery of innovative, results-focused digital marketing solutions.
  

Integrated Digital Marketing Campaigns

• Lead the development and execution of integrated SEO, paid search and paid social campaigns.
  

• Collaborate with content, paid media, analytics and other specialist teams to ensure a cohesive approach.
  

• Ensure campaigns are aligned with client objectives and optimised to maximise performance.
  

• Identify opportunities to improve cross-channel marketing effectiveness and campaign outcomes.
  

Data Analysis & Campaign Performance

• Oversee campaign performance and website analytics across client accounts.
  

• Utilise tools including Google Analytics 4, Google Search Console, Google Ads and Meta Ads Manager to monitor performance.
  

• Analyse campaign data, identify emerging trends and diagnose technical website issues.
  

• Translate complex performance data into clear, actionable recommendations.
  

• Provide meaningful reports and insights to support strategic decision-making and continuous improvement.
  

Technical SEO & Website Performance

• Work closely with technical specialists and web development teams to identify and resolve website performance issues.
  

• Oversee improvements relating to website speed, crawlability, content gaps, and other technical SEO considerations.
  

• Monitor SEO performance and website data to identify risks and opportunities.
  

• Ensure technical recommendations are implemented effectively and contribute to improved search visibility and campaign performance.
  

Team Leadership & Development

• Manage, mentor,r and support a team of account managers and digital marketing specialists.
  

• Set clear performance objectives and provide constructive feedback to support individual and team development.
  

• Encourage collaboration and knowledge-sharing across the department.
  

• Identify skills gaps and training requirements, contributing to professional development initiatives.
  

• Support the continued improvement and development of the agency's search and social offering.
  

Client Communication & Stakeholder Management

• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, internal teams and senior stakeholders.
  

• Communicate complex technical concepts and campaign strategies in a clear, accessible and commercially relevant manner.
  

• Present strategic recommendations, campaign results and performance improvements confidently.
  

• Ensure clients understand the rationale behind proposed strategies and technical changes.
  

• Establish trust and credibility with stakeholders across different cultures and time zones.
  

Business Development & Account Growth

• Identify opportunities to grow existing client accounts through additional services and strategic recommendations.
  

• Recommend opportunities such as international expansion, conversion rate optimisation, and new digital marketing channels.
  

• Support new business development by contributing to pitches, proposals and strategic presentations.
  

• Work with internal teams to develop compelling campaign ideas and service offerings for existing and prospective clients.
  

• Contribute to the commercial growth and ongoing development of the agency.
  

Budget & Commercial Management

• Take a commercially focused approach to campaign planning and delivery.
  

• Manage client campaign budgets effectively to maximise return on investment.
  

• Provide accurate forecasting and ensure resources are allocated efficiently.
  

• Balance campaign performance objectives with commercial targets.
  

• Identify opportunities to improve profitability, efficiency and overall client value.
  

• Demonstrate a clear understanding of ROI for both clients and the agency.
  

Key Skills & Experience

Digital Marketing & Strategic Expertise

• Typically 5+ years' experience in SEO and digital marketing strategy, gained within an agency or client-side environment.
  

• Proven track record of developing and delivering successful search strategies that achieve measurable results.
  

• Strong understanding of integrated digital marketing, including SEO, paid search and paid social.
  

• Demonstrable experience managing paid social campaigns, particularly through Facebook/Meta Ads.
  

• Clear understanding of how paid social complements organic search and wider digital marketing activity.
  

• Ability to secure stakeholder buy-in and translate strategic recommendations into successful outcomes.
  

Analytical & Technical Capabilities

• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to interpret complex data, identify trends and develop actionable insights.
  

• Proficiency in Google Analytics 4, Google Search Console, Google Ads and Meta Ads Manager.
  

• Experience using performance data to forecast results, identify issues, and inform strategic decisions.
  

• Sound understanding of technical SEO and website performance factors.
  

• Confidence working with technical specialists to diagnose and resolve website-related challenges.
  

Commercial Awareness

• Experience managing campaign and project budgets.
  

• Ability to allocate resources creatively and efficiently to maximise ROI.
  

• Strong understanding of commercial targets, forecasting and campaign profitability.
  

• Confidence identifying opportunities for account development and additional revenue.
  

Leadership & Communication

• Proven experience managing, mentoring and developing account managers or specialist team members.
  

• Ability to set performance objectives, provide constructive feedback and identify training needs.
  

• Excellent communication, presentation and interpersonal skills.
  

• Confidence engaging with technical specialists, senior client stakeholders and C-level decision-makers.
  

• Strong relationship-building skills, with the ability to establish trust quickly across internal and external teams.
  

• Experience working effectively with international stakeholders, particularly across the UK and UAE.
  

Strategic Thinking & Innovation

• Strong strategic mindset, with the ability to position search within broader cross-channel marketing campaigns.
  

• Proactive and forward-thinking approach to identifying opportunities and solving problems.
  

• Commitment to staying informed about digital marketing developments, including AI and emerging technologies.
  

• Ability to identify training requirements, encourage innovation and contribute to the continuous improvement of internal processes.
  

• Passion for delivering high-quality digital marketing work and driving the development of the wider team.
  

The Ideal Candidate

Our client is looking for a confident, strategic and commercially aware digital marketing professional who can combine technical expertise with exceptional client leadership.

The successful candidate will have a strong background in SEO and integrated search marketing, alongside proven experience managing teams, developing client relationships and delivering measurable campaign results.

They will be comfortable operating at a senior level, advising key stakeholders, identifying commercial opportunities and collaborating with specialists to deliver effective marketing strategies.

Above all, this individual will be passionate about driving client success, developing high-performing teams and contributing to the continued growth and innovation of the agency.