Search Advertising Manager

Search Advertising Manager

Location: Remote- USA

Compensation: The full salary range for this position is $85,000-$120,000 annually. The anticipated starting pay is $85,000-$105,000 plus bonus, determined by factors such as skills, experience, and organizational considerations. Final compensation will be established through the interview process in accordance with applicable pay equity and transparency laws.

The Search Advertising Manager leads the development and execution of Paid Search (SEM) and emerging AI/LLM-driven search ads experiences. This role owns search advertising performance across the full funnel—awareness, conversion, and retention—by leveraging data, cross-channel insights, and advanced search technologies.

The ideal candidate will guide strategy, oversee execution, manage experimentation, and ensure the Lithia retail store network is optimally discoverable across traditional search engines, AI search platforms, and next-gen conversational assistants within advertising. This position is ideal for someone who understands the evolving search landscape and knows how to translate opportunities into measurable growth

What You'll Do

• Drive strategic direction of the Search Advertising channel to ensure maximum visibility, efficiency, and ROI

• Develop & implement best practices across traditional Search and AI-driven search channels for advertising

• Establish Search Advertising standards, focus areas, core KPIs, and SLAs for vendor partners

• Evaluate Search Advertising vendor partners across the Lithia dealer network while planning and executing quarterly audits

• Implement tracking solutions across web assets (GA4, GTM, pixels, tags) to ensure reliable data capture and reporting

• Oversee Google partnership as well as corresponding platforms including Google Ads, Google Merchant Center, YouTube, etc.

• Negotiate competitive fee structures with on-program Search Advertising partners

• Identify, test, and implement new search advertising tactics, automation, and optimization techniques

• Manage and optimize campaigns across Google Ads, Bing Ads, and other relevant platforms

• Oversee keyword segmentation, bidding strategies, audience targeting, and creative testing

• Adapt paid strategies for emerging AI search experiences (e.g., SGE, OpenAI Search, Chat-based retrieval systems)

• Guide teams in prompt-driven optimization, structured content development, and AI-friendly strategies

• Evaluate and integrate AI tools for workflow enhancements, content generation, insights, and automation

• Analyze search advertising and AI advertising performance and deliver actionable insights

• Build dashboards, reporting frameworks, and experiment analyses

• Translate data into clear strategic recommendations

• Collaborate with Media, Content, Analytics, and Creative teams

• Provide search advertising input for landing pages, site architecture, and campaign planning

• Educate teams on evolving search and AI trends and recommend best practices to improve performance

What You'll Bring

• 4–6+ years in Search advertising, ideally in growth-focused environments

• Experience in automotive marketing required

• Proven experience managing substantial paid search budgets and campaign complexity

• Strong understanding of analytics platforms (GA4, GSC, Looker, etc.)

• Familiarity with AI/LLM search systems, prompt optimization, AI content workflows, and emerging search models (e.g., SGE, Perplexity, ChatGPT Search)

• Strong attention to detail, urgency, critical thinking, and time management

• Collaborative team player with experience working cross-functionally and with external agencies

We offer best in class industry benefits:

• Competitive pay

• Medical, Dental and Vision Plans

• Paid Holidays & PTO

• Short and Long-Term Disability

• Paid Life Insurance

• 401(k) Retirement Plan

• Employee Stock Purchase Plan

• Lithia Learning Center

• Vehicle Purchase Discounts

• Wellness Programs

High School graduate or equivalent, 18 years or older required. We are a drug free workplace. We are committed to equal employment opportunity (regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status). We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements.