Senior Performance Marketing Manager, SMB

NerdWallet Small Business is the go-to financial resource for small businesses. We’re here to help entrepreneurs achieve their financial goals and grow businesses as big as their aspirations. As a catalyst for smart financial decisions, our combination of proprietary technology and financial expertise provides business owners with tailored solutions based on their unique needs and eligibility—helping them prosper, create more jobs, and, ultimately, grow the economy.

We’re looking for a driven, analytical performance marketer to own and scale paid acquisition efforts across our SMB verticals, including lending, credit cards, insurance, and banking. In this role, you’ll lead the full lifecycle of performance marketing initiatives — from strategy and experimentation through execution, optimization, and measurement. You’ll operate with a high degree of autonomy while partnering cross-functionally to drive measurable business outcomes through data-informed decision making and scalable growth strategies.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone who thrives in ambiguity, enjoys building programs from the ground up, and is energized by seeing the direct impact of their work on business performance. The ideal candidate is both a strategic thinker and hands-on operator with deep SEM expertise, strong analytical rigor, and a passion for experimentation and continuous optimization.

This role reports to the Director, Performance Marketing.

• Own and optimize day-to-day SEM operations across SMB lending, credit cards, insurance, and banking verticals, including bidding strategies, budget allocation, ad copy development, keyword management, and campaign structure optimization.

• Design, execute, and analyze structured experiments across audiences, creative, bidding strategies, and landing page experiences, synthesizing findings into scalable optimization playbooks and growth frameworks.

• Develop and maintain reporting frameworks and dashboards using Salesforce, Looker, Snowflake, and other analytics tools to measure marketing performance, identify opportunities, and surface actionable insights.

• Manage and optimize campaigns across Google Ads, SA360, and Microsoft Ads, applying best practices in campaign architecture, automation, and performance optimization.

• Build and scale emerging paid social acquisition programs across platforms such as Meta, LinkedIn, and TikTok by defining channel strategy, testing creative approaches, and establishing repeatable growth loops.

• Independently drive initiatives from concept through launch and post-performance analysis, bringing structure, momentum, and strong business judgment in a fast-paced environment.

• Partner cross-functionally with Product, Analytics, BI, Creative, and broader Marketing teams to improve acquisition performance and align channel strategy with broader SMB business goals.

• Stay informed on industry trends, platform changes, privacy developments, and emerging growth opportunities to continuously evolve acquisition strategies and maintain a competitive edge.

• 3–6 years of hands-on SEM and performance marketing experience, ideally within financial services, fintech, or other regulated industries.

• Deep familiarity with Google Ads, Microsoft Ads, and SA360, with experience managing large, complex account structures and optimizing toward measurable business outcomes.

• Proficiency with analytics and business intelligence tools such as Salesforce, Snowflake, Looker, or similar platforms.

• Strong analytical mindset with the ability to build reports, interpret complex performance data, identify actionable insights, and influence strategy through data-driven recommendations.

• Demonstrated success designing and executing structured experiments and translating findings into scalable improvements.

• Experience with or strong interest in paid social acquisition channels including Meta, LinkedIn, TikTok, or similar growth platforms.

• Ability to operate independently, manage ambiguity effectively, and balance multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

• Clear and concise communication skills with the ability to translate complex marketing performance data into actionable insights for cross-functional stakeholders.

• Strong collaboration skills and experience partnering cross-functionally across Marketing, Product, Analytics, and Operations teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience marketing SMB financial products, including lending, banking, credit cards, or insurance.

• Familiarity with incrementality testing, media mix modeling (MMM), multi-touch attribution methodologies, or advanced measurement frameworks.

• SQL proficiency with experience querying Snowflake or similar data warehouse environments directly.

• Prior experience in a startup or high-growth environment where you helped build and scale acquisition programs with limited support and evolving processes.

• Experience launching or scaling emerging acquisition channels or new growth initiatives from early-stage development through operational maturity.

• This role will be remote (based in the U.S.).

• We believe great work can be done anywhere. No matter where you are based, NerdWallet offers benefits and perks to support the physical, financial, and emotional well being of you and your family.

Work Hard, Stay Balanced (Life’s a series of balancing acts, eh?)

• Industry-leading medical, dental, and vision health care plans for employees and their dependents

• Rejuvenation Policy – Flexible Vacation Time Off + 11 holidays + holiday company shutdown

• New Parent Leave for employees with a newborn child or a child placed with them for adoption or foster care

• Mental health support

• Paid sabbatical after 5 years for Nerds to recharge, gain knowledge, and pursue their interests

• Health and Dependent Care FSA and HSA Plan with monthly NerdWallet contribution

• Monthly Wellness Stipend, Cell Phone Stipend, and Wifi Stipend (Only remote Nerds are eligible for the Wifi Stipend)

• Work from home equipment stipend and co-working space subsidy (Only remote Nerds are eligible for these stipends)

Have Some Fun! (Nerds are fun, too)

• Nerd-led group initiatives – Employee Resource Groups for Parents, Diversity, and Inclusion, Women, LGBTQIA, and other communities

• Hackathons and team events across all teams and departments

• Company-wide events like NerdLove (employee appreciation) and our annual Charity Auction 

• Our Nerds love to make an impact by paying it forward – Take 8 hours of volunteer time off per quarter and donate to your favorite causes with a company match

Plan for your future (And when you retire on your island, remember the little people)

• 401K with 4% company match

• Be the first to test and benefit from our new financial products and tools

• Financial wellness, guidance, and unlimited access to a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) through Northstar

• Disability and Life Insurance with employer-paid premiums

If you are based in California, we encourage you to read this important information for California residents linked here.

NerdWallet is committed to pursuing and hiring a diverse workforce and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We prohibit discrimination and harassment on the basis of any characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law, so all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment.  

NerdWallet will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act and the San Francisco Fair Chance Act, which requires this notice, as well as the Los Angeles Fair Chance Act, which requires this notice.

NerdWallet participates in the Department of Homeland Security U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services E-Verify program for all US locations. For more information, please see:

• E-Verify Participation Poster (English+Spanish/Español)

• Right to Work Poster (English) / (Spanish/Español) 

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