Senior Vice President, Paid Media

ABOUT THE JOBZeno Chicago is looking for a digital paid media expert to drive existing client business and help build Chicago’s quickly growing paid media practice within the digital team. The SVP, Paid Media will be responsible for leading the strategy and overseeing execution of paid media programs across paid social, direct and programmatic display, media partnerships and SEM.  This role is for an entrepreneurial candidate with a vision for the future of paid media and the role this discipline can play in both the digital and larger communications sphere. S/he should be excited by the opportunity to create a new and unique direction for the digital team - helping grow existing clients and new business.  As a SVP, Paid Media, you’ll be responsible for developing integrated media strategies to support both ongoing brand storytelling and key campaign tentpole moments. S/he should have experience across B2C and B2B work, including lead gen campaigns. This candidate should be an expert at developing strategies that leverage market, category and audience insights to uncover and point to a unique path forward for our clients. This candidate should have strong presentation skills and client counsel, being able to answer tough questions in the room.  In addition to strategy-building, as a SVP, Paid Media, you’ll be expected to drive execution from start to finish. This candidate should have a hands-on approach to mentoring junior teammates and driving the team collectively towards success.  The SVP, Paid Media should also be highly analytical. S/he will work closely with our analytics lead to ensure we’re constantly syncing up on results and ongoing optimization opportunities. Data should be at the center of everything we do - from strategy to execution to measurement. In this role, the candidate would shape, structure and create a team with a diverse skillset. This role will oversee a growing team of paid media specialists and be expected to cultivate additional talent. The SVP, Paid Media will report into the Chicago digital practice lead and be a leader on both the Chicago and US digital team An ideal candidate will have a strong vision of the future of paid media and the role it plays within the context of the larger media landscape (earned, owned, and paid) and is excited by the opportunity to create a new and unique direction for their clients and for the business. 

Responsibilities

• Lead paid media team out of Chicago office, managing career development of team as well as building internal relationships within the region
• Implement and enforce established Paid Media processes within Chicago office
• Actively participate and provide leadership in Global Paid COE
• Participate in new business opportunities
• Develop thought leadership and share POVs across the network
• Oversee pricing, scoping, and staffing for Paid Media workstreams and clients
• Collaborate with both regional and US leadership to grow Digital and Paid Media practices
• Strategically lead high-priority clients

Qualifications

• 10+ years in media industry
• 5+ years leading and growing a media team
• Experience working in ad platforms including Meta, Google Ads, TikTok, and LinkedIn (Pinterest, Snapchat and all others are a plus)
• Deep experience managing paid social, programmatic, and search campaign
• History working in Prisma strongly preferred
• Knowledge of research tools like Resonate
• Proven track record of working closely with other subject matter experts, especially analytics teams (Comms/PR team interaction a plus)
• Strong understanding of performance metrics, media optimizations and ability to spot trends while translating to non-media fluent audiences
• Highly experienced with client counsel and tough client Q&A conversations
• Exemplifies a high degree of attention to detail
• Ability to thrive and perform in a fast-paced climate and consistently hit client deadlines
• Eager learner, collaborative partner and easy, candid and empathetic communicator


• PLUSES
• Understanding/experience of SEO and SEO tools
• Experience with top consumer, EComm, Healthcare brands

ABOUT USZeno Group is the fiercely independent and global, integrated communications agency, born from PR. We bring together the boldest and brightest talent to help clients across industries and sectors unleash the power of strategic communications. Guided by our "Fearless Pursuit of the Unexpected," we push the boundaries to achieve real business value and societal impact for clients. Winner of the industry’s most coveted awards including the 2024 PRWeek U.S. Outstanding Large Agency of the Year, 2023 PRWeek Purpose Agency of the Year, 2022 PRWeek Global Agency of the Year, 2022 PRovoke Best Large Agency to Work For in North America and a three-time winner of