Team: Paid
Level: Leader
Reports to: Growth Director
Salary: Competitive
Location: This role can be based in either our Manchester or Burscough office and includes hybrid working (three days in the office and two from home)
WHO we are…
The vision of House Digital and what we are all about.
House Digital is an award winning, Prolific North Top 50 Digital Agency. We are a full-service digital marketing and training company, delivering strategic, innovative and results-driven solutions. We specialise in integrated, multi-channel campaigns and operate heavily in e-commerce. We have a scientific approach to digital marketing, with a huge emphasis on hypothesis testing and learning, to be better able to predict results for our clients. Our strategy is to reduce the risk of spending BIG on digital by making activity and results as predictable, controllable and as accurate as can be.
WHY you’re here…
The core purpose of your job role.
The Head of Paid Advertising is responsible for the strategic leadership, operational excellence and commercial performance of all paid media activity across the agency. This includes overseeing planning, execution and optimisation of paid advertising campaigns across channels such as Google Ads, Meta, Microsoft, LinkedIn, TikTok, Display and Shopping.
This role ensures that paid campaigns deliver consistently strong ROI, commercial outcomes and strategic value for House Digital’s client base. With a strong focus on performance against KPIs, the Head of Paid Advertising leads the paid media team to develop data-led strategies that deliver measurable results and align with client objectives.
They will also be responsible for setting best practices across campaign builds, testing, budget management and reporting - whilst playing an active role in the agency’s broader commercial strategy, business development and innovation in service delivery. This is a hands-on, strategic leadership role that combines campaign performance, client satisfaction and team growth.
WHAT you’re here to do…
The responsibilities, duties & tasks you are expected to deliver when performing your job role.
Paid advertising leadership & delivery (40%)
- Lead the development, execution and continual optimisation of Paid Advertising strategies across all relevant platforms (Google Ads, Microsoft Ads, Meta, TikTok, etc), ensuring alignment with overarching client strategies and KPIs.
- Set and manage campaign forecasts, budgets and timelines - ensuring accurate performance modelling, consistent tracking and profitable delivery.
- Oversee the day-to-day performance and output of paid accounts, ensuring campaigns meet or exceed KPIs such as ROAS, CPA, revenue, traffic and lead volumes.
- Ensure the effective management of client budgets, including proactive resource tracking, to avoid over or under-spend and to ensure accounts are appropriately serviced.
- Lead the testing and implementation of new tools, ad formats, bidding strategies and campaign approaches to drive innovation and performance uplift.
- Collaborate with SEO Account Directors and the wider SEO team to deliver integrated, cross-channel campaigns that meet shared goals.
- Continuously refine internal workflows and reporting frameworks to enhance efficiency, consistency and data-driven decision-making.
- Own quality control across paid media accounts - ensuring all campaigns are set up and optimised to a consistently high standard, and all deliverables meet House Digital’s benchmarks for quality.
Client & commercial management (20%)
- Build and maintain strategic, senior-level relationships with clients - acting as the lead escalation point for paid media and ensuring satisfaction, retention and long-term growth.
- Understand each client’s Statement of Work and ensure all paid media services are delivered within scope and to the highest standard.
- Proactively identify and communicate risks, opportunities and performance shifts - backed by clear insight and practical recommendations.
- Regularly engage in strategic reviews and performance meetings, bringing commercial acumen and a clear vision for account growth.
- Support Account Directors with paid strategy input, reporting guidance and hands-on troubleshooting when needed.
- Contribute to award submissions, case studies, and thought leadership that raise the profile of high-performing paid media campaigns.
Business development & growth (20%)
- Take a proactive role in business development - spotting upsell/cross-sell opportunities within current client accounts and developing new ideas or solutions that address business challenges.
- Lead on the paid advertising elements of new business proposals, including strategy development, KPI forecasting and commercial modelling.
- Play an active role in pitch delivery, including content creation, attending pitch meetings and representing the paid team during Q&A and objection handling.
- Contribute to the agency’s marketing by developing content, insights and tools that highlight House Digital’s paid media expertise and attract new leads.
- Represent House Digital at relevant client events, industry conferences and internal initiatives, showcasing innovation and raising visibility of our paid advertising offering.
- Continuously stay ahead of industry trends, platform changes and new techniques - ensuring House Digital remains a leader in the paid space through thought leadership and innovation.
Team leadership & culture (20%)
- Lead, inspire and develop a high-performing Paid team - setting clear expectations, providing regular coaching and ensuring every team member has the support they need to thrive.
- Act as a role model for House Digital's values - creating an inclusive, transparent and performance-driven culture that prioritises continual improvement and collaboration.
- Line manage direct reports, holding regular 1-to-1s, career development conversations, and performance reviews.
- Drive high standards of delivery and client service across the team, through hands-on mentoring, quality assurance, and guidance on strategic thinking.
- Identify training needs within the team and work with the leadership team to deliver targeted learning opportunities (internal or external), helping individuals to progress in their careers.
- Oversee team capacity planning and task prioritisation - ensuring workloads are balanced, deadlines are met, and the right people are aligned to the right projects.
- Support recruitment efforts by defining team resource needs, helping write job specs, interviewing candidates, and onboarding new hires.
- Foster strong cross-functional collaboration with Account Management, Design, SEO and Digital PR teams - ensuring seamless delivery across integrated campaigns.
- Act as a visible and trusted leader within the wider agency - championing knowledge-sharing, attending key meetings and contributing to the agency's strategic direction.
- Proactively address underperformance or morale issues, with empathy and professionalism - escalating to leadership where needed.
- Ensure that own and team member's timesheets are completed accurately and on time.
In addition, you will be expected to undertake any other task, deemed to be reasonable and appropriate to this role, as directed by your line manager.
HOW you will deliver in the job role…
The knowledge and experience you are expected to apply when performing your job role.
- 10+ years’ demonstrable experience in Paid Advertising, including at least 4 years leading a paid function with a proven track record of delivering successful, results-driven campaigns.
- Proven expertise in managing high-budget, high-complexity campaigns across platforms including Google Ads, Meta Ads, Microsoft Ads, TikTok and LinkedIn (experience with Pinterest is desirable).
- Strong forecasting, budgeting and media planning skills with a high level of accuracy, commercial awareness and analytical rigor.
- Deep knowledge of tracking and performance platforms such as Google Analytics (GA4), Google Merchant Centre, Looker Studio and relevant ad platform UIs.
- Demonstrable experience of building and leading high-performing paid media teams - mentoring, motivating and developing individuals to consistently exceed expectations.
- Confident presenting to clients and stakeholders, with experience in pitching, upselling and cross-selling paid media solutions to drive account growth.
- An outstanding communicator - skilled at managing upwards, liaising across departments and handling escalations professionally and promptly.
- Able to juggle multiple projects under pressure, adapt quickly to performance shifts and maintain focus on delivery excellence.
- Naturally curious, forward-thinking, and growth-focused - always looking for opportunities to drive innovation, improve client performance, and evolve the agency’s paid media offering.
The WAY you’re expected to behave and demonstrate the House Digital values…
The behaviours you will need to demonstrate when delivering the WHAT and applying the HOW.
- GETTING BETTER EVERY DAY
- BEING TOTALLY TRANSPARENT
- CREATING A FAMILY UNIT
- PRIORITISING FUN
SUCCESS MEASURES…
The results you are expected to deliver and how your performance will be measured.
Client & campaign success
Delivery against paid media KPIs (e.g. ROAS, CPA, revenue, lead quality), alongside client satisfaction, engagement and retention, and the quality and timeliness of campaign builds, reporting and insights.
Commercial impact
Growth in paid advertising revenue and client spend, conversion rates from new business pitches involving paid media, and contribution to the agency’s overall turnover and profitability.
Team & leadership performance
Role modelling and upholding House Digital values with positive internal feedback, demonstrable impact as a senior leader across the Paid team and wider agency, and the development and progression of direct reports through consistent coaching and feedback.
