Associate Director, Retail Media (Search)

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for an Associate Director, Retail Media (Search) based in United States.

This is a senior retail media and customer success leadership role focused on driving profitable growth for enterprise brands through search advertising. You will develop and execute sophisticated paid search strategies across major retail marketplaces such as Amazon and Walmart. The role combines hands-on campaign management, advanced analytics, customer consulting, and executive relationship management. You will translate customer goals and advertising performance into measurable business outcomes, including stronger ROAS, optimized CPCs, and increased sales. You will also guide customers in adopting AI-powered automation and emerging agentic capabilities to scale campaign performance. As a people leader, you will manage and mentor a small team while partnering closely with enterprise stakeholders. This is a remote U.S. opportunity, with a strong preference for candidates based on the East Coast.

Accountabilities:

• Customer Strategy and Success: Develop a deep understanding of customer goals, business priorities, and growth objectives, then build joint success plans that connect platform capabilities to measurable outcomes.
• Retail Media Strategy: Develop competitive search advertising strategies based on retailer strengths, customer objectives, channel interactions, and the broader commercial impact across the business.
• Campaign Management: Lead the end-to-end planning, execution, management, and optimization of paid search advertising campaigns across Amazon, Walmart, and other retail marketplaces.
• Performance and ROI: Drive measurable improvements in key customer KPIs such as ROAS, CPCs, and total sales while consistently demonstrating the business value and ROI generated through the advertising strategy.
• Data and Analytics: Analyze campaign and customer performance data to identify trends, uncover opportunities, diagnose challenges, and provide actionable recommendations that improve results.
• AI and Platform Expertise: Develop deep expertise in AI-powered advertising automation and agentic AI capabilities, helping customers adopt and scale these tools to improve campaign performance and operational efficiency.
• Executive Relationship Management: Build trusted relationships with enterprise customers, communicate performance and strategic recommendations clearly, and guide senior stakeholders toward growth opportunities.
• Team Leadership: Manage and mentor 1-2 direct reports, establishing clear expectations, providing ongoing coaching, and supporting their professional development and performance.
• Risk and Project Management: Coordinate complex customer initiatives, anticipate potential risks, and proactively address issues to maintain strong execution and customer outcomes.

Requirements

• Education: Bachelor’s degree preferred in Business, Marketing, Communications, Economics, or a related field.
• Professional Experience: 5+ years of total professional experience, including at least 3 years managing media or advertising engagements with customers in a consulting, agency, or similar environment.
• Retail Media Expertise: Demonstrated experience managing ecommerce advertising budgets for major enterprise brands, particularly across Amazon, Walmart, Kroger, and/or Instacart.
• Large-Scale Advertising: Experience managing marketplace search advertising budgets in the multi-million-dollar range.
• Campaign Optimization: Strong knowledge of bid and budget management, content optimization, promotion planning, and paid search campaign strategy.
• Analytical Skills: Highly analytical approach to problem-solving, with advanced Excel capabilities and the ability to translate complex performance data into practical business recommendations.
• Executive Communication: Proven ability to work effectively with VP, SVP, and C-level executives at enterprise organizations, with excellent presentation, communication, and relationship-building skills.
• Project Management: Experience managing complex projects, coordinating stakeholders, anticipating risks, and maintaining high standards of execution.
• Commercial Mindset: Strong understanding of ecommerce growth and the ability to connect advertising strategy and campaign performance to broader revenue and business objectives.
• Leadership: Ability to coach, mentor, and develop direct reports while maintaining a high-performance, results-oriented environment.

Benefits

• Competitive Compensation: U.S. base salary ranging from $122,400 to $150,000 per year, with the final range determined by experience, qualifications, and location.
• Long-Term Incentives: Eligibility for company stock options and potential discretionary bonuses.
• Healthcare: Comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage.
• Retirement: 401(k) retirement plan.
• Insurance Protection: Short- and long-term disability insurance and life insurance.
• Parental Leave: Paid parental leave.
• Wellness and Connectivity: Monthly reimbursements for gym, phone, and internet expenses.
• Paid Time Off: 10+ paid company holidays each calendar year plus unlimited PTO.
• Remote Work: Fully remote position within the United States, with a strong preference for candidates located on the East Coast.
• Leadership Opportunity: Manage and mentor a small team while helping enterprise customers achieve measurable growth through retail media.
• AI and Innovation: Work with AI-powered automation and emerging agentic AI capabilities within a technology-driven retail media environment.