SEM Supervisor

ROLE: SEM SUPERVISOR
TEAM: MEDIA
LOCATION: TORONTO (HYBRID ONSITE)

COMPANY OVERVIEW

Salt is a North American marketing agency that creates connected experiences through creative, digital & media innovation.  

Our mission is to “Earn the World’s Attention,” and Salt is built to find, develop, execute, and amplify the ideas that matter to our clients’ audiences. We are structured to do what’s right for our clients — connecting perspectives, operating across mediums, and ensuring meaningful, effective creative solutions.  

We live the values in our name. “Salt of the Earth” reflects how we work: collaborative, humble, and hard-working. We believe talent and culture create great work — so we're looking for people who are as smart as they are kind.  

ROLE OVERVIEW

As an SEM Supervisor , you will lead the strategic planning, execution, and optimization of search and retail media programs across a portfolio of clients while providing day-to-day leadership to members of the SEM team. You   are responsible for   delivering integrated, data-driven media strategies that drive measurable business outcomes while ensuring campaigns are executed efficiently, governed effectively, and   in accordance with   best practices.

You will act as the senior subject matter expert across search and retail media, providing strategic recommendations to clients, mentoring team members, and championing continuous improvement through analytics, testing, and platform innovation. Just as importantly, you will translate complex platform capabilities and performance insights into clear, actionable recommendations for clients and internal stakeholders, helping them understand how search contributes to broader business and media objectives. Working closely with Client Services, Strategy, Analytics, and Creative teams, you will shape integrated media solutions while supporting the operational excellence required to manage high-performing search programs.

This role balances hands-on expertise with people leadership and is responsible for elevating team capability, strengthening client relationships, driving operational excellence across account administration and governance, and contributing to the ongoing evolution of Salt’s performance media practice.

Success in this role comes from the ability to combine deep platform   expertise   with exceptional communication, making complex search strategies accessible, actionable, and credible for clients and cross-functional partners alike.

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES

Search Strategy &  Architecture

• Lead the strategic planning, development, and optimization of search and retail media programs across a portfolio of clients:
• Design full-funnel search strategies and cohesive account structures aligned to business   objectives .
• Develop keyword, audience, and intent strategies that connect consumer behavior with media planning and measurement.
• Monitor campaign performance, pacing, budgets, and forecasting, proactively identifying optimization opportunities and risks.
• Build testing roadmaps and translate insights into scalable account improvements and strategic recommendations.
• Stay ahead of evolving search trends, including AI-powered search experiences, AI Overviews, automation, and platform innovation, adapting strategies accordingly.
• Ensure search programs integrate effectively with broader media, creative, analytics, and measurement strategies.

Client Leadership & Strategic Communication

• Build trusted client relationships by confidently translating complex search strategies into clear, actionable business recommendations:
• Lead client meetings and strategic discussions, presenting recommendations with confidence and credibility.
• Clearly articulate the rationale behind search strategies, campaign performance, and optimization decisions to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Demonstrate how search contributes to broader marketing objectives and integrates within full-funnel media plans.
• Partner closely with Client Services, Strategy, Analytics, Creative, and Media teams to develop integrated recommendations.
• Mentor junior team members through coaching, constructive feedback, and collaborative problem solving.
• Serve as a trusted advisor internally and externally, helping demystify search and elevate   understanding of th e discipline.

Platform   Governance  & Operational Excellence

• Own the operational health and governance of client search accounts while driving continuous improvement across platforms, processes, and best practices:
• Manage account governance, including account creation, billing profiles, advertiser verification, access management, and platform administration.
• Maintain consistent account structures, naming conventions, documentation, and operational standards across the client portfolio.
• Partner with leadership to establish and evolve SEM best practices, workflows, quality assurance processes, and governance standards.
• Evaluate and implement new platform capabilities, automation opportunities, beta products, and operational efficiencies.
• Support forecasting, investment planning, and budget governance to ensure accounts remain operationally healthy and scalable.
• Act as a senior resource for troubleshooting complex platform, tracking, and operational issues.

EXPERIENCE & SKILLS

Core Requirements

• 6-8 years of experience developing, managing, and optimizing paid search programs within an agency or client environment.
• Demonstrated success building full-funnel search strategies that align media investment with business objectives and customer intent.
• Deep expertise across Google Ads, including Search, Performance Max, Demand Gen, YouTube, and emerging AI-driven campaign capabilities.
• Strong understanding of modern search ecosystems, including SEO fundamentals, AI-powered search experiences (AEO/AI Overviews), and how evolving search behaviors influence paid search strategy.
• Expert knowledge of campaign architecture, keyword strategy, audience planning, intent mapping, bidding strategies, and account optimization best practices.
• Strong experience with GA4, conversion tracking, attribution, tagging, reporting frameworks, and performance measurement.
• Experience implementing or troubleshooting conversion measurement, including Google Tag Manager, enhanced conversions, Consent Mode, and platform integrations.
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills, with the ability to translate complex search concepts into clear business recommendations for both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Proven experience leading client meetings, presenting strategic recommendations, and building trusted client relationships.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor team members, establish best practices, and elevate overall team capability.
• Strong organizational skills with experience managing multiple priorities while maintaining high operational standards.
• Experience working collaboratively with Strategy, Analytics, Creative, Client Services, and broader media teams to deliver integrated marketing solutions.
• Curiosity and passion for continuous learning, with a demonstrated ability to evaluate and adopt emerging platform capabilities, automation, and AI-driven tools.

Nice to Have

• Experience with scripts, automation, AI workflows, or operational efficiencies within Google Ads.
• Working knowledge of SEO strategy, content discovery, and organic search optimization.
• Experience with Looker Studio, BigQuery, SQL, or other marketing analytics tools.
• Experience across   additional   digital channels such as Paid Social, Programmatic, or CRM.

PERKS & BENEFITS THAT SET US APART  

We don’t just talk about balance, growth, and culture, we build for it:  

• Work-Life Flexibility: Hybrid setup, up to 28 paid days off and winter holiday shutdowns  
• Comprehensive Coverage: Health, dental, and vision plans, plus Salt Bucks to spend on what matters to you—wellness, RRSPs, or extra time off.  
• Growth-Driven Culture: Dedicated Salt Days, top-tier learning access, and formal leadership development.  
• Celebration-First Mentality: Legendary team trips, seasonal socials, and Salt Swag that reps your squad.  
• Real Rewards: Referral and new business bonuses, exclusive lifestyle perks, and personalized wellness options.  
• Culture of Belonging: DEI programs, active ERGs, and a workplace where every voice counts.  

WHAT WE STAND FOR   

• Salt of the Earth: We lead with humility, honesty, and heart—always.  
• Do What’s Right: No shortcuts. We choose integrity over ease, every time.  
• Earn Your Salt: We roll up our sleeves, chase results, and celebrate the journey.  
• Make Things Better: We’re solution-seekers, always pushing for smarter ways forward.  
• Seek Different Perspectives: Diversity fuels our thinking. Inclusion drives our impact.  

The  anticipated annual base salary range for this position is $80,000–$90,000. Individual compensation within this range is determined based on job-related factors such as experience, skills, level of responsibility, internal equity, and business needs. This range  represents the expected base salary for this role and does not include other elements of SALT’s total rewards program.