Head of Paid Search
At a glance
Director-level Paid Search / PPC role at Valnet. Montreal · full-time.
Pay not stated Paid Search / PPC salary
growthroles summary, based on the employer's posting.
What you'll do
- Set portfolio-wide paid search direction, using Google Ads as the main channel and Microsoft Ads as a secondary one
- Shape account structure, bids, keywords and audiences to grow traffic while keeping margin protected
- Track revenue, spend, net revenue and ROAS, then prioritize growth opportunities across verticals, regions, keywords and landing pages
- Lead the paid search team, setting KPIs and testing plans and reviewing results with them every week
- Work with platform teams and internal partners on account reviews, tracking, attribution, conversion rates and performance reporting
What you bring
- At least five years in paid search or performance marketing, including three or more years leading a team or channel
- A record of managing substantial Google Ads budgets and meeting revenue and profitability goals
- Hands-on expertise with Google Ads, including Search, Performance Max, Smart Bidding, scripts and Google Ads Editor
- Strong commercial judgment, including forecasting, margin modelling and spend decisions based on unit economics
- Experience leading platform, partner or agency relationships and negotiating business terms
Who this fits
This is a senior leadership role with direct reports, suited to someone who can own financial outcomes and lead day-to-day paid search execution. The role is based in Montreal, Quebec.
From the employer
Location: Montreal, Quebec
Reporting Structure: Portfolio General Manager
Direct Reports: Senior Performance Marketing Manager(s) and paid search specialists
Summary
We are looking for a Head of Paid Search to own the strategy and financial performance of our paid search programs across the portfolio, with Google Ads as our primary channel. This is a senior leadership role for a commercially minded operator who thinks in margin, not just in clicks. You will set the direction for how we acquire traffic, manage our key platform and commercial partners, and lead the team that executes day to day. Your success will be measured by one thing: hitting and beating our revenue, profitability and efficiency targets.
Responsibilities
Strategy & Performance
• Define and own the paid search strategy across the portfolio, with Google Ads as the core channel, Microsoft Ads as a secondary focus, and new high intent platforms (e.g., Chat GPT) as a growth lever.
• Set account structure, bidding, keyword and audience strategies that scale volume while protecting margin.
• Own the paid search financial results: revenue, spend, net revenue, ROAS
• Find and prioritize the biggest levers to improve financial results - new verticals, GEOs, keyword expansion, bid strategy changes, funnel and landing page improvements.
Partners & Commercial
• Be the senior point of contact with Google (and other platform) account teams: drive beta access, quarterly business reviews and co-investment opportunities.
Leadership & Operations
• Lead, coach and grow the paid search team.
• Set clear KPIs, testing roadmaps and ways of working; review performance weekly with the team.
• Partner with analytics, product, content and finance to improve tracking, attribution, conversion rates and reporting.• Report performance, insights and recommendations to the General Manager and senior leadership.
• Stay ahead of changes in search - AI-driven campaign types (Performance Max, AI Max), automated bidding, privacy and measurement shifts.
Requirements
• 5+ years in paid search or performance marketing, including 3+ years leading a team or channel.
• Proven track record of owning large-scale Google Ads budgets and delivering against revenue and profitability targets.
• Expert, hands-on command of Google Ads: Search, Performance Max, Smart Bidding, scripts, Google Ads Editor and Merchant Center where relevant.
• Proficiency with building AI agents and leveraging AI to build systems and processes
• Strong commercial and financial acumen: comfortable building forecasts, modelling margin and making spend decisions on unit economics.
• Experience managing relationships with platform reps, partners and agencies, and negotiating commercial terms.
• Advanced analytical skills with GA4, Excel/Sheets; SQL or BigQuery a plus.
• Solid understanding of conversion tracking, offline conversion imports, attribution and incrementality testing.
• Excellent leadership, communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to present to senior leadership.
• Experience in fast-paced, digital-first or high-growth environments.
Assets
• Experience in insurance, banking, mortgage or other lead-generation / financial services verticals.
• Experience with arbitrage or media-buying models where search traffic is monetized through partners.
• Bilingual English/French.
Built on Trust
We operate with unwavering trust, uphold the highest standards of integrity, and deliver consistent performance. Our mission is to serve our audiences with transparency and measurable value, building long-term relationships grounded in results.
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