VP of Paid Search

About The Job Title: Vice President of Paid Search Department: Paid Search Location: Remote Employment Type: Full Time Reports To: Senior Vice President, Client Services Who We Are Clever Digital Marketing (CDM) is a performance marketing agency trusted by the largest home improvement companies across North America. We specialize in scaling client growth through full-funnel paid media strategies and deep business consulting. CDM s success is powered by its industry-leading reputation for exceptional service delivery and performance, with growth driven almost entirely by client referrals and expansion. Our Paid Search division is a major engine of that growth. We manage seven-figure monthly SEM investments, build high-performance systems, and deliver predictable, scalable lead generation and profitability - not vanity metrics. Our agency thrives on accountability, transparency, proactive leadership, and results, with a culture built on extreme ownership, high standards, and a relentless pursuit of performance. We expect leaders to operate with authority, clarity, and calm pressure, and to bring decisive energy to high-stakes environments. As we continue to scale rapidly, we are hiring a Vice President of Paid Search to architect the future of our SEM organization and lead one of the most high-impact departments at CDM. The Opportunity CDM is seeking a Vice President of Paid Search to lead the overall operations, strategy, and future direction of one of the most strategically important divisions in the company. This role is built for a leader with a never-ending passion for Paid Search; someone who lives and breathes SEM, understands the complexity of performance ecosystems, and excels at navigating the constantly evolving landscape of search marketing. You ll be the architect of a best-in-class department- shaping the systems, people, processes, and strategic direction that define how CDM delivers performance at scale. Your leadership will set the pace and standards for our A-player environment, championing a culture of performance excellence, clarity, accountability, and high output, while striking a balance with the empathy and support needed to build healthy, motivated, and high-performing teams. This is a role for a true builder - a strategic operator who has scaled teams, led seven-figure spend lead-generation programs, and built systems that create predictable performance in high-stakes environments. You will transform ambiguity into structure, guide with presence and authority, and partner closely with executive leadership to shape the future of CDM s Paid Search offering. Strong experience leading seven-figure monthly spend, especially in lead generation, is essential for success in this role. Key Responsibilities Department Leadership & Vision • Own the full vision, roadmap, and operational direction of the Paid Search division. • Build, scale, and evolve the organizational structure, roles, processes, and standards. • Architect a high-performance, high-output culture rooted in clarity, accountability, and continuous improvement. • Provide leadership presence that inspires confidence across clients, internal teams, and the executive suite. Performance Strategy & SEM Excellence • Oversee the strategy, execution, and optimization of high-volume, seven-figure paid search programs across Google Ads, Microsoft Ads, and emerging platforms. • Set the strategic direction for PPC tactics, testing frameworks, funnel structure, and cross-channel alignment. • Define the department s measurement philosophy and ensure consistent adoption of performance frameworks, KPIs, and reporting standards. • Lead department-wide adoption of new technologies, tactical innovations, and platform opportunities. • Oversee complex performance landscapes including CRO, landing pages, creative, automation, analytics, and dev-supported initiatives. Client Impact & Revenue Growth • Oversee the SEM strategy that drives client retention, scale, and profitability across large high-stakes accounts. • Partner with Client Services on audit development, pipeline support, and onboarding enhancements. • Identify opportunities to improve client performance, enhance efficiency, and build competitive advantages in the home improvement vertical. Operational Excellence & Systems Building • Design and optimize departmental workflows, SOPs, reporting frameworks, QA processes, and operational systems. • Develop training programs, internal certification pathways, and centralized knowledge assets for all SEM functions. • Build scalable systems that allow the department to 4-10x output without sacrificing quality. • Improve forecasting, spend allocation models, profit optimization, and budgeting processes. Team Development & Leadership Pipeline Building • Lead, develop, and mentor senior managers (minimum of 5+ direct reports). • Recruit, hire, and onboard top-tier SEM talent, building new roles and specialty divisions as ne...