Paid media director

Job Description

PAID MEDIA DIRECTOR

Are you a strategic Paid Media specialist looking to help shape the future of performance marketing at a fast-growing, ambitious agency?

We’re looking for a Paid Media Director to work closely with our Head of Paid Media, supporting the evolution of our Paid Media offering while driving performance across key accounts. This is a senior, hands-on role with a strong focus on strategic thinking, team development, and bringing fresh ideas to the table.

Join Education Cubed, a rapidly expanding, award-winning advertising agency in the heart of Brighton. We are on a mission to redefine student recruitment marketing, working with over 40 Higher Education institutions in the UK and globally.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

• Lead Paid Media strategy across key accounts, ensuring campaigns are insight-driven, innovative, and aligned with client objectives.
• Act as the senior Paid Media lead within client accounts, confidently leading Paid Media strategy, performance discussions, and recommendations.
• Work closely with the Head of Paid Media and other senior team members to shape the direction of the team, identifying opportunities for growth and continuously improving performance standards.
• Line manage and develop Paid Media Managers and Executives, providing regular feedback, training, and support to elevate team output.
• Drive innovation across campaigns, introducing new ideas across creative, testing frameworks, audience strategy, and platform usage.
• Oversee campaign performance, identifying optimisation opportunities and ensuring consistent delivery against KPIs.
• Support new business efforts, contributing Paid Media expertise to pitches, strategy development, and proposals.
• Champion best practices across the team, ensuring high-quality execution across all platforms and accounts.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Account Management, Data, and Creative teams to deliver integrated, full-funnel campaigns.
• Ensure strong tracking and measurement frameworks, working across GA4, Google Tag Manager, and platform tracking to maintain data integrity.
• Participate in internal team and company-wide meetings.

WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR

• Strong Paid Media experience across Google, Meta, LinkedIn, TikTok, Snapchat, and other key platforms, with a track record of delivering results.
• Experience operating at a senior level, with ownership of strategy, client relationships, and campaign performance.
• Previous line management or mentoring experience, with the ability to develop and motivate a team.
• Strategic mindset, able to move beyond execution and influence broader marketing direction.
• Innovative thinker, bringing new ideas, testing approaches, and ways of working to improve performance.
• Confident communicator, comfortable leading client conversations and presenting to senior stakeholders, as well as in internal team and company meetings.
• Strong written communication skills, with the ability to clearly provide insights, strategies, and recommendations in a client-friendly format.
• High attention to detail, ensuring accuracy across campaign setup, tracking, reporting, and deliverables.
• Strong analytical skills, with a data-led approach to optimisation and decision-making.
• Solid understanding of tracking and measurement, including GA4 and GTM.
• Commercial awareness, with an interest in contributing to agency growth and new business success.

WHY JOIN US?

• Play a key role in shaping and evolving a high-performing Paid Media team, working with senior leadership.
• Take ownership of Paid Media performance and strategic direction across high-impact client accounts.
• Be part of a collaborative, ambitious agency environment where ideas are valued.
• Endless learning opportunities, with the Paid Media team previously benefiting from a £10k+ training budget.
• Build your profile through public speaking opportunities and new business pitches.
• Be part of a close-knit, passionate team that values collaboration and innovation.
• Annual Christmas trips, with past destinations including Amsterdam, Berlin, Dublin and Krakow.
• Inclusive, fun culture with quarterly team strategy days and socials.

THE PERKS

• Hybrid working model for flexibility and work-life balance
• 26 days holiday, plus 8 bank holidays and your birthday off
• Company-paid healthcare package (including dental, optical, physiotherapy)
• Regular team socials and away days
• Bonus structure
• Discounted gym membership
• Dog-friendly office
• Complimentary snacks and drinks
• Enhanced company pension scheme
• Paid time off for charity work
• Bake-Off competitions, quizzes, yoga and themed lunch clubs

MORE DETAILS

We offer excellent career prospects and career development plans so you can reach new heights. The Cubed office is a fun and friendly working environment, with flexible hours and a strong team culture. We value individuals who are collaborative, agile, self-motivated, and passionate about what they do.

Right to Work checks will be carried out with all individuals selected for interviews.