Citigroup, Inc

SEM Associate Director, Paid Search Activation

Citigroup, Inc • $129K — $194K *
New York, NY 10025Hybrid
Finance & Insurance
5 - 7 years of experience
Today
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Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 6-10 years of experience in paid search execution, including leadership of delivery teams.
  • Hands-on expertise in Google Ads, Microsoft Ads, and SA360 with advanced automated bidding proficiency.
  • Ability to manage large-scale paid search programs with sizeable budgets.
  • Knowledge of automation and AI-driven search impact on workflows.
  • Background in digital analytics, attribution, A/B testing, and optimization methods.
  • Experience in regulated environments with exposure to compliance frameworks.
  • Bachelor's degree or equivalent qualification.

Responsibilities

  • Lead end-to-end paid search campaign execution across multiple business lines.
  • Manage and develop a campaign delivery team for quality assurance and performance reporting.
  • Refine standardized workflows and operating procedures for efficient campaign delivery.
  • Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements in paid search activities.
  • Implement AI-powered and automated bidding strategies in campaign workflows.
  • Build reporting frameworks with Analytics teams to track campaign performance metrics.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders to align execution priorities and manage relationships.

Benefits

  • Hybrid working arrangement allowing for flexibility and collaboration.
  • Ownership of a high-impact paid search program across multiple products.
  • Involvement in adopting AI-driven search capabilities for campaign execution.
  • Learning and development opportunities for career growth and leadership skills.
  • Collaboration with diverse teams offering broad influence within the organization.
  • Comprehensive financial wellbeing and benefits package, including support for long-term financial planning.
  • Wellbeing support and resources for work-life balance.
Full Job Description
Citi is looking for a Paid Search Associate Director to lead enterprise-scale paid search execution within the U.S. Consumer Cards Paid Media team - one of the largest and most performance-driven digital marketing operations in financial services. In this role, you will own the end-to-end delivery of paid search campaigns across multiple lines of business, translating strategy into scalable, compliant, and high-performing execution. You will manage a hands-on delivery team and play a central role in advancing automation and AI-driven search capabilities across Citi's paid search program.

Responsibilities
  • Lead end-to-end paid search campaign execution across multiple lines of business, overseeing delivery from initial build through launch and ongoing in-flight management to ensure consistent, high-quality output.
  • Manage and develop a campaign delivery team responsible for trafficking, quality assurance, budget pacing, and performance reporting, setting clear execution standards across all accounts.
  • Design and continuously refine standardized workflows, playbooks, and operating procedures that improve campaign delivery efficiency, scalability, and consistency at enterprise scale.
  • Coordinate with Risk, Legal, and Compliance teams to ensure all paid search activities meet regulatory requirements and internal advertising standards, minimizing operational and compliance risk.
  • Operationalize AI-powered and automated search capabilities - including automated bidding strategies such as tCPA, tROAS, and portfolio bidding - within campaign execution workflows to improve performance and reduce manual effort.
  • Partner with Analytics teams to build reporting frameworks and dashboards that track campaign performance against key metrics including ROAS, CPA, and conversion rates, enabling reliable attribution and informed decision-making.
  • Collaborate with stakeholders across Marketing, Technology, Product, Risk, Legal, and Finance to align execution priorities, communicate performance updates, and manage platform and vendor relationships with Google, Microsoft, and SA360.


Required Qualifications & Skills
  • 6-10 years of experience in paid search execution, including direct leadership of campaign delivery teams in complex, high-volume environments.
  • Hands-on expertise in Google Ads, Microsoft Ads, and SA360, with advanced proficiency in Google automated bidding strategies including tCPA, tROAS, budget-based bidding, multi-target portfolio strategies, and shared budgets.
  • Demonstrated ability to manage paid search programs at scale, including large budgets and simultaneous campaigns across multiple business lines.
  • Working knowledge of automation and AI-driven search capabilities and their practical impact on campaign execution workflows.
  • Solid grounding in digital analytics, attribution models, A/B testing, and performance optimization methodologies.
  • Experience operating within regulated environments, with exposure to risk, compliance, and governance frameworks.
  • Bachelor's degree or equivalent university qualification.


Beneficial Skills & Qualifications
  • Familiarity with tagging, tracking implementation, and scalable execution solutions developed in partnership with Data and Engineering teams.
  • Experience troubleshooting campaign, platform, and tracking issues across major search platforms to maintain consistent delivery.
  • Background in consumer marketing or financial services, with an understanding of how paid search fits within broader through-the-line campaign strategies.


What We Offer

Joining Citi's U.S. Consumer Cards Paid Media team means working at the centre of one of the largest card businesses in the United States, where your decisions directly influence how millions of customers discover and engage with Citi's products. This is a senior role with real ownership, cross-functional reach, and the opportunity to shape how paid search evolves at enterprise scale.
  • A hybrid working arrangement with 3 days in the office and 2 days working remotely, giving you flexibility alongside meaningful in-person collaboration.
  • Ownership of a high-impact paid search program that operates at significant scale across multiple products and business lines.
  • Direct involvement in the adoption of AI-driven search capabilities and automation, keeping you at the forefront of how the discipline is evolving.
  • Access to learning and development opportunities that support your continued growth as a senior practitioner and people leader.
  • Collaboration with cross-functional teams spanning Marketing, Technology, Product, Risk, Legal, and Finance, giving you broad exposure and influence across the organization.
  • Competitive financial wellbeing and benefits package, including support for long-term financial planning.
  • Wellbeing support and work-life balance resources designed to help you perform at your best.


Apply now to take ownership of paid search execution at one of the world's leading financial institutions and help shape the future of digital marketing at Citi.

Job Family Group:
Marketing

Job Family:
Advertising, Branding and Media

Time Type:
Full time

Primary Location:
New York New York United States

Primary Location Full Time Salary Range:
$129,840.00 - $194,760.00

In addition to salary, Citi's offerings may also include, for eligible employees, discretionary and formulaic incentive and retention awards. Citi offers competitive employee benefits, including: medical, dental & vision coverage; 401(k); life, accident, and disability insurance; and wellness programs. Citi also offers paid time off packages, including planned time off (vacation), unplanned time off (sick leave), and paid holidays. For additional information regarding Citi employee benefits, please visit citibenefits.com. Available offerings may vary by jurisdiction, job level, and date of hire.

Most Relevant Skills
Please see the requirements listed above.

Other Relevant Skills
For complementary skills, please see above and/or contact the recruiter.

Anticipated Posting Close Date:
Jul 07, 2026

About Citigroup, Inc

Citigroup is a financial services holding company that provides financial products and services. The company operates through two segments, Global Consumer Banking (GCB) and Institutional Clients Group (ICG). The GCB segment offers traditional banking services to retail customers through retail banking, commercial banking, Citi-branded cards, and Citi retail services. The ICG segment offers various banking, and financial products and services to corporate, institutional, public sector, and high-net-worth clients. This segment provides wholesale banking products and services, including fixed-income and equity sales and trading, foreign exchange, prime brokerage, derivative services, equity and fixed-income research, corporate lending, investment banking, and advisory services, private banking, cash management, trade finance, and securities services. Citi is committed to sustainability and social responsibility, and the company invests in initiatives that promote economic progress.

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Learn more about Citigroup, Inc
Market Cap
$1.3 billion
Industry
Finance & Insurance
Net Income
$89.6 million
Founded
1812
5 Year Trend
+4.6%
NASDAQ
C
* Ladders Estimates

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