VP of Paid Search

Key Responsibilities

• Own the full vision, roadmap, and operational direction of the Paid Search division.
• Build, scale, and evolve the organizational structure, roles, processes, and standards.
• Architect a high-performance, high-output culture rooted in clarity, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Provide leadership presence that inspires confidence across clients, internal teams, and the executive suite.

• Oversee the strategy, execution, and optimization of high-volume, seven-figure paid search programs across Google Ads, Microsoft Ads, and emerging platforms.
• Set the strategic direction for PPC tactics, testing frameworks, funnel structure, and cross-channel alignment.
• Define the department’s measurement philosophy and ensure consistent adoption of performance frameworks, KPIs, and reporting standards.
• Lead department-wide adoption of new technologies, tactical innovations, and platform opportunities.
• Oversee complex performance landscapes including CRO, landing pages, creative, automation, analytics, and dev-supported initiatives.

• Oversee the SEM strategy that drives client retention, scale, and profitability across large high-stakes accounts.
• Partner with Client Services on audit development, pipeline support, and onboarding enhancements.
• Identify opportunities to improve client performance, enhance efficiency, and build competitive advantages in the home improvement vertical.

• Design and optimize departmental workflows, SOPs, reporting frameworks, QA processes, and operational systems.
• Develop training programs, internal certification pathways, and centralized knowledge assets for all SEM functions.
• Build scalable systems that allow the department to 4–10x output without sacrificing quality.
• Improve forecasting, spend allocation models, profit optimization, and budgeting processes.

• Lead, develop, and mentor senior managers (minimum of 5+ direct reports).
• Recruit, hire, and onboard top-tier SEM talent, building new roles and specialty divisions as needed.
• Create personalized growth plans, performance improvement pathways, and coaching rhythms.
• Ensure performance management rhythms (quarterly evals, coaching cycles, compensation alignment) are upheld with consistency and clarity.
• Uphold and model CDM’s culture and core values of extreme ownership, integrity, collaborative success, continuous improvement, and results with speed.

• Work closely with Client Services, Paid Social, Creative, CRO, Data/Analytics, and other department heads to unify CDM’s strategy.
• Collaborate with the executive team on annual planning, department forecasting, P&L oversight, and long-term strategic investments.
• Support new product development, market expansion initiatives, and enterprise-level growth decisions along with ongoing agency and department innovations to continuously evolve and improve agency deliverables and client results.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

• Relentless About Performance: You thrive in environments where excellence is expected and accountability is non-negotiable. You instinctively tie strategy to performance, performance to profitability, and profitability to long-term scale. For you, results aren’t an outcome — they’re a responsibility.
• A Proactive, Forward-Thinking Operator: You don’t just manage. You anticipate, plan, pressure-test, and act. You stay several steps ahead — of the market, the platforms, the team, and the competition.
• Analytical, Commercial, and Systems-Minded: You see SEM through the lens of business impact and operational scale. You think in frameworks, processes, and levers. Data isn’t noise — it’s direction.
• Assertive With Empathy & Confident Humility: You push when it’s right and listen when it matters. You hold high standards without losing the trust, respect, and loyalty of your team.
• Calm, Clear, and Commanding Under Pressure: When stakes are high, you bring clarity. When challenges arise, you bring direction. When ambiguity appears, you bring structure.
• A Builder at Heart: You thrive in environments where something needs to be created, improved, or scaled. You bring order to complexity, develop people, and build systems that outlast you.
• Curious, Coachable, and Growth-Minded: You seek mastery in your craft and depth in your understanding. You ask sharp questions, pursue continuous learning, and welcome feedback as fuel.
  
  

• 12+ years of comprehensive Paid Search / SEM experience.
• 5+ years in a senior leadership role overseeing paid search teams.
• 5+ years directly managing $1M+ in monthly performance advertising spend within lead generation environments.
• Proven experience scaling a department (ideally 4×+ growth) through systems, people, and strategy.
• Direct experience hiring, training, and managing senior SEM leaders and multi-layered teams.
• Demonstrated success in building departmental processes, onboarding systems, and operational frameworks.
• Strong track record leading cross-functional strategic initiatives (e.g., CRO, dev, analytics).
• Experience partnering with executive leadership on forecasting, revenue planning, and P&L impact.

• 6+ years Director-level leadership in agency environments.
• Experience with CRO, landing page development oversight, or multidisciplinary performance functions.
• Experience overseeing 6+ direct reports and departments of 15+.
• Exposure to home improvement, home services, or lead generation industries.

Benefits

• Competitive base salary + performance-based bonuses
• Flexible remote work environment with option for in-person collaboration (Vaughan, ON)
• Group Benefits - Medical, Dental, Vision, RRSP/401k Plan w/matching, more.
• Company-provided MacBook computer
• Home office budget and Clever merch delivery to get you started
• Work Abroad Policy: Need a new working environment? Our work abroad policy supports this!
• The chance to shape and grow a high-performing Enterprise Client Success team
• A culture of performance and respect where the best work happens with extreme ownership and accountability meets collaboration.