Director of Paid Media

About the COOL company

At the COOL company, we believe in creating a win-win environment where everyone benefits. We are committed to ensuring users, publishers, franchisees, and advertisers all have a better experience and achieve more than they ever thought possible through our innovation, advanced AI, groundbreaking advertising technology, and teams of inspired experts. Our every move, expansion, acquisition, and upgrade is done to provide that better experience for an ever-growing list of satisfied clients and users all over the world.  

COOL Media products under the COOL company include DCO & Creative Automation, a data-driven, creative ad server capable of personalizing, automating, measuring, and optimizing digital ads and placements for advertisers; Franchise & Multi-Location, a complete advertising management platform for franchise and network businesses; Media & Attribution, a managed service solution for agencies and brands to reach and measure audiences; Publisher Experiences, a premier SSP and engagement platform for publishers; and Supply-Side Platform, delivering website and app publishers everything they need to maximize their ad revenue.

Coming soon in 2026, COOL AI is a next-generation advertising platform that builds, buys, and optimizes digital ad campaigns faster and smarter using AI. It automates every step of the media journey—from generating ad creatives to launching campaigns and optimizing performance across channels like Google and Facebook. With no agency fees or waiting, COOL AI helps brands maximize ROI through data-driven strategy, automated creative generation, and real-time performance measurement.

Collectively, the COOL company reaches over 350 million consumers monthly across their network of premium publishers and advertisers, including Disney, Hyundai, Air France, Kohler, Suzuki, Acer, Pearle Vision, Trek, Brita, Viking Cruises, MLB, Playmaker, Blitz, Evolve Media, and more.  Under the former umbrella of Insticator, the COOL company is a proud 7x recipient of the Inc 5000 list of America's fastest-growing private companies, a 2x recipient of Deloitte's Fast 500, recognized on Crain's New York Fast 50 list, recognized by Digiday's Digiday Media Awards as a company working to modernize digital media, and awarded as one of AdWeek's Top 10 Fastest Growing Solution Providers globally.

Our Core Values

At the COOL company, we believe in being C.O.O.L.:

Creative - we look to find solutions that others can’t and new ways of doing things that are smarter, faster, better and more efficient.

Open-minded - we’re always evolving and keep an open mind as to new ways of doing things, new solutions and new processes that can help us.

Optimistic - The glass is always half full :) as a growing tech startup we’re always faced with new challenges, we overcome them because we see them as opportunities.

Leaders - We look for drivers, people who like to set the pace of the organization, who don’t simply go with the flow, you’re setting a fast impact pace and holding others to it.  We look for speed, impact, and setting the industry benchmark.

We creatively integrate new elements in innovative combinations, fueled by our optimism to drive success. Our open-mindedness allows us to embrace new ideas and approaches, empowering us to lead our industry through bold initiatives. That’s the attitude we bring to work with us every day, and it’s what we expect from everyone who works here.

That’s just part of the values that drive us to greatness. We also believe in this trio of truths that inform every decision we make and everything we do:

• Sleeves Up: At the COOL company, we provide you with the autonomy and creativity needed to own your role. We encourage iteration where necessary so that you can drive massive impact.
• 100% Viewability: the COOL company is passionate about open feedback at all levels of the company. This allows us to fail fast, create in real-time, and build an open company culture.
• Be Defiantly Great: We're defiant, and that's in our blood. Challenging the status quo is a central part of who we are. We're capable of much more than what others deem impossible.

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced and strategic Paid Search Director to lead our paid search efforts and play a key role in managing senior-level client relationships. This individual will oversee paid search strategy across key accounts, guide a team of high-performing specialists, and serve as a trusted advisor to C-suite and VP-level clients.

The ideal candidate combines deep expertise in paid search (Google Ads, Bing Ads, Shopping, YouTube, etc.) with exceptional leadership and communication skills. You thrive in high-stakes environments, are passionate about performance marketing, and understand how to translate complex data into strategic business decisions.

Key Responsibilities

Paid Search Strategy & Execution

• Lead the development, implementation, and optimization of paid search strategies across multiple clients and industries.
• Own channel performance metrics (ROAS, CPA, CTR, CVR, etc.) and ensure continuous improvement.
• Oversee the integration of paid search with broader digital campaigns (SEO, paid social, programmatic).
• Leverage data, audience insights, and market trends to inform testing strategies and future planning.

Client Management

• Serve as the primary strategic advisor for senior clients, including CMOs, VPs of Marketing, and other executive stakeholders.
• Build and maintain strong, trusted relationships through proactive communication, business-focused reporting, and strategic recommendations.
• Present campaign insights, performance updates, and strategic plans in executive-level meetings.
• Translate marketing metrics into business KPIs to demonstrate value and ROI.

Team Leadership & Collaboration

• Manage and mentor a team of paid search managers and specialists.
• Foster a culture of curiosity, accountability, and high performance.
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams including Analytics, Creative, Paid Social, and Account Services.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of paid search experience, ideally in an agency or fast-paced environment.
• 3+ years of experience managing enterprise-level or senior executive clients.
• Proven success in leading multimillion-dollar search budgets with a focus on performance and ROI.
• Deep knowledge of platforms such as Google Ads, Microsoft Ads, Google Shopping, YouTube Ads, and related tools (SA360, Google Analytics, Looker Studio, etc.).
• Strong analytical skills and comfort with attribution models, forecasting, and measurement.
• Exceptional presentation, communication, and storytelling skills.
• Experience leading, mentoring, and developing high-performing teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with ecommerce and lead generation campaigns.
• Familiarity with privacy-first marketing and conversion tracking best practices (GA4, Enhanced Conversions, etc.).
• Certification in Google Ads and/or Microsoft Ads.
• Experience with international or multi-language campaigns is a plus.

Cultural Competencies

• Must be able to work primarily between the hours of 9:30 AM - 6:30 PM ET
• Must have a player/coach mentality, willing to both execute and leAbility to juggle multiple projects concurrently and set and meet deadlines
• Skilled at receiving and providing direct feedback
• Collaborative mindset and great teamwork skills
• Entrepreneurial & adaptable; great learning skills
• Curious, research-minded, data-informed
• Able to search for possible solutions and apply them
• Creative confidence
• Proactive communicator
• A sense of humor and a love of online culture
• Thrives in a start-up culture

Benefits

• Health, Dental and Vision Insurance
• Paid Time Off
• Company Holidays
• 401k