A skilled Paid Ads Manager is the fuel for your company’s growth engine. They are the strategic and analytical experts who turn ad spend into measurable revenue. While anyone can boost a post, a true professional knows how to build, manage, and optimize complex campaigns that deliver a consistent return on investment. Hiring the right one is crucial for scaling your business, and it all starts with a job description that targets their specific expertise.
A generic marketing job post will attract a mixed bag of applicants, few of whom will have the deep, data-driven skills required for the role. To find a manager who can navigate platforms like Google Ads and Meta, optimize for conversions, and manage a budget effectively, you need to be precise. This guide will show you how to write that description, covering key responsibilities, salary insights, a smarter way to hire, and three distinct job templates you can use today.
What/who is an ads manager?
An ads manager, often called a Paid Ads Manager or PPC (Pay-Per-Click) Manager, is a specialist responsible for planning, executing, and optimizing a company’s paid advertising campaigns. Their primary goal is to generate leads, sales, or brand awareness through platforms like Google Ads, Meta (Facebook & Instagram), LinkedIn, and others.
They are masters of data, constantly analyzing performance metrics to make strategic decisions that maximize return on ad spend (ROAS). Unlike general marketers, they live in the ad platforms, fine-tuning bids, testing creative, and ensuring every dollar of the ad budget is working as hard as possible.
What are the job responsibilities of a Paid Ads Manager?
A Paid Ads Manager is responsible for the entire lifecycle of a paid media campaign, from initial strategy to final reporting. They are the central point of contact for all things related to paid acquisition, blending analytical rigor with creative insight.
The core job responsibilities include:
- Strategy & Planning: Developing comprehensive paid media strategies that align with business goals and defining key performance indicators (KPIs).
- Campaign Management: Building, launching, and managing campaigns across multiple platforms, including search, social, and display networks.
- Budget Management: Allocating and managing the advertising budget to ensure efficient spending and maximum ROI.
- Keyword & Audience Targeting: Conducting keyword research and defining target audiences to ensure ads reach the most relevant users.
- Creative & Copywriting: Collaborating with designers and copywriters to develop compelling ad creative and copy that drives clicks and conversions.
- Optimization & A/B Testing: Continuously monitoring campaign performance and running A/B tests on ad copy, creative, and landing pages to improve results.
- Performance Reporting: Tracking, analyzing, and reporting on campaign performance to stakeholders, providing actionable insights and recommendations.
Paid Ads Manager Salary
The salary for a Paid Ads Manager reflects their critical role in driving revenue. Compensation is influenced by the size of the ad budget they manage, their years of experience, the complexity of the campaigns, and location. Based on 2024 data for traditional hires in the United States, here are the general salary ranges:
- Junior/Associate Paid Ads Manager: $65,000 to $80,000 per year.
- Mid-Level Paid Ads Manager: $80,000 to $110,000 per year.
- Senior Paid Ads Manager: $110,000 to $140,000+ per year.
These figures represent only the base salary. The total cost to an employer is significantly higher once you add benefits, payroll taxes, recruiting fees, and the cost of specialized marketing and analytics software, which can increase the total investment by 30-40%.
A Smarter Way to Hire: The Global Talent Advantage
The high cost of hiring a skilled Paid Ads Manager locally can be a major financial burden, especially for businesses looking to scale their ad spend. However, there’s a more efficient way to secure top-tier talent. By accessing a global pool of pre-vetted, remote advertising professionals, you can get the expertise you need for a fraction of the cost.
Let’s look at the cost comparison for a Mid-Level Paid Ads Manager:
By hiring a dedicated, full-time Paid Ads Manager from our global talent network, you can onboard an expert for as little as $2,000 a month. This unlocks annual savings of over $110,000, allowing you to re-invest that capital directly into your ad budget for even faster growth.
Paid Ads Manager Job Description Templates
Job Title: Paid Ads Manager
Job Summary:
We are seeking a results-driven Paid Ads Manager to own our paid acquisition strategy across multiple channels. You will be responsible for managing campaigns on platforms like Google Ads and Meta (Facebook/Instagram) from start to finish. The ideal candidate is a data-obsessed professional with a proven track record of managing budgets and driving a positive return on ad spend (ROAS).
Responsibilities:
- Develop, execute, and optimize paid ad campaigns across search, social, and display networks.
- Manage the full campaign lifecycle, including planning, budget management, execution, and reporting.
- Conduct keyword research, audience segmentation, and A/B testing to improve campaign performance.
- Analyze campaign data to provide actionable insights and recommendations for continuous improvement.
- Collaborate with the marketing team to ensure ad creative and messaging are aligned with brand strategy.
- Stay current with the latest trends and best practices in paid media.
Qualifications:
- 3-5 years of hands-on experience managing PPC campaigns.
- Proven expertise in Google Ads and Meta Ads platforms.
- Strong analytical skills and proficiency in Google Analytics.
- Experience managing a significant monthly ad spend.
- Excellent communication and project management skills.
Paid Social Ads Manager Job Description Template
Job Title: Paid Social Ads Manager
Job Summary:
We are looking for a creative and analytical Paid Social Ads Manager to lead our advertising efforts on social media platforms. You will be responsible for creating and managing campaigns on Meta (Facebook/Instagram), LinkedIn, TikTok, and other relevant channels. Your goal is to drive brand awareness, leads, and conversions through compelling social ad campaigns.
Responsibilities:
- Plan and execute paid advertising campaigns exclusively on social media platforms.
- Develop audience targeting strategies, including custom audiences, lookalike audiences, and interest-based targeting.
- Work with the creative team to produce engaging ad copy, images, and videos tailored for each platform.
- Manage and optimize campaign budgets to achieve target KPIs like Cost Per Lead (CPL) and ROAS.
- Conduct rigorous A/B testing of creative, copy, and audience segments.
- Analyze performance data and generate reports on social ad effectiveness.
Qualifications:
- 3+ years of experience focused specifically on paid social advertising.
- Expert-level knowledge of Meta Ads Manager and LinkedIn Campaign Manager.
- Experience with TikTok and Pinterest ads is a strong plus.
- A strong understanding of social media funnels and customer journey mapping.
- A creative mindset with a keen eye for what makes a successful social ad.
Paid Search (SEM) Manager Job Description Template
Job Title: Paid Search Manager (SEM)
Job Summary:
We are hiring a highly analytical Paid Search Manager to own our search engine marketing (SEM) strategy. You will be responsible for managing all pay-per-click (PPC) campaigns on Google Ads and Microsoft Ads. The ideal candidate lives and breathes search, with deep expertise in keyword strategy, bid management, and conversion rate optimization.
Responsibilities:
- Build, manage, and optimize large-scale paid search campaigns on Google Ads and Microsoft Ads.
- Conduct extensive keyword research and analysis to guide campaign structure.
- Manage bid strategies to maximize conversions within a target Cost Per Acquisition (CPA).
- Write and test compelling ad copy to improve click-through rates (CTR).
- Analyze search query reports to refine keyword targeting and identify negative keywords.
- Collaborate with the SEO team to ensure a cohesive search strategy.
Qualifications:
- 3+ years of experience with a primary focus on managing paid search campaigns.
- Expert-level proficiency in Google Ads and Google Analytics.
- Google Ads certification is required.
- Deep understanding of keyword match types, bidding strategies, and quality score.
- Strong Excel/Google Sheets skills for data manipulation and analysis.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What’s the difference between a Paid Ads Manager and a PPC Manager?
A: The terms are often used interchangeably. However, “PPC Manager” sometimes refers more specifically to someone who only manages pay-per-click campaigns (like Google Search). “Paid Ads Manager” is a broader term that can encompass PPC as well as other payment models, like CPM (cost-per-mille) used in display and social ads.
Q: What is the most important skill for a Paid Ads Manager?
A: Strong analytical ability is the most critical skill. The role requires a deep comfort with data—analyzing performance metrics, identifying trends, and making logical, data-backed decisions to optimize campaigns and improve ROI.
Q: Should a Paid Ads Manager be certified?
A: While experience often trumps certification, having official certifications like Google Ads Search Certification or Meta Certified Media Buying Professional is a strong indicator of foundational knowledge and a commitment to the profession. It is often a requirement for specialized roles.
