Director, Search Engine Marketing Jobs

Explore Director, Search Engine Marketing opportunities for experienced digital marketing leaders ready to shape paid search strategy and drive measurable business growth. These directors oversee search engine marketing programs, guide teams, manage budgets, and turn campaign data into decisions that improve reach, qualified traffic, and revenue. Ladders features vetted professional roles paying $100,000 or more.

What Does a Director of Search Engine Marketing Do?

A Director of Search Engine Marketing leads an organization’s paid search strategy across platforms such as Google Ads and Microsoft Advertising. The role may include setting campaign goals, managing agency or in-house teams, allocating budgets, improving account structure, and partnering with analytics, product, finance, and creative teams. Directors monitor performance and make sure search programs support broader acquisition and business objectives.

Skills and Qualifications

Employers commonly seek substantial experience in SEM and digital acquisition, strong analytical and financial skills, and a record of growing campaigns at scale. Familiarity with keyword research, bidding strategies, conversion tracking, attribution, experimentation, and marketing analytics is valuable. Leadership, clear communication, and the ability to translate performance data into business recommendations are also important.

Career Opportunities and Compensation

Director-level SEM roles are available across technology, retail, financial services, healthcare, media, and other industries. Scope and compensation vary based on company size, location, experience, and team responsibility. Browse Ladders for vetted professional openings paying $100,000 or more, and compare opportunities that align with your leadership experience and career goals.

How to Find the Right SEM Director Role

Use Ladders to explore relevant openings and evaluate each role’s channel ownership, budget responsibility, reporting structure, team scope, and success measures. Highlight accomplishments with clear outcomes—such as improved return on ad spend, lower acquisition costs, increased qualified conversions, or successful team development—to show the impact you can bring.

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$160K - $200K *

Champion the development of policy strategies that guide product decisions, ensuring compliance and safety while navigating complex regulatory landscapes. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to tr...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$120K - $145K *

Transform data into actionable insights by building models that optimize carrier selection for auto insurance shoppers. Own media buying models to enhance ROAS, ensuring effective deployment and monit...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Media

$118K - $130K *

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Seattle, WARemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$118K - $130K *

Join a team that's driving growth in Residential HVAC Sales through strategic partnerships and market development. Manage relationships with distributors and contractors while executing sales plans to...

City Of Industry, CARemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$80K - $95K *

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Texas, USRemote

4 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Education, Government & Non-Profit

$340K - $445K *

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3 days ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$195K - $245K *

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Chicago, ILRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Business Services

$138K - $165K *

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5 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$80K - $90K *

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1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Education, Government & Non-Profit

$80K - $90K *

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1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Education, Government & Non-Profit

$120K - $145K *

Champion exceptional customer operations for North America by leading Onboarding, Support, and Pay functions. Drive strategic growth through operational excellence and scalable practices, ensuring top...

Philadelphia, PARemote

Reposted today

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$138K - $165K *

Accelerate progress at the forefront of AI by leading innovative marketing strategies. Leverage your expertise to shape and expand market presence while collaborating with top researchers and organiza...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 4 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$90K - $120K *

Lead the charge in empowering healthcare decisions as you develop brand knowledge, drive medical research, and collaborate with clients and teams to create innovative solutions that align with strateg...

New York, NYRemote

Reposted 2 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Media

$90K - $120K *

Empower healthcare decisions as you drive medical research and strategic communication, collaborating with clients and teams to enhance brand objectives and foster innovative solutions in a dynamic en...

North Carolina, USRemote

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Media

$173K - $313K *

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Cambridge, MARemote

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$160K - $200K *

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United StatesRemote

3 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$135K - $160K *

Champion the transformation of web initiatives into impactful projects, overseeing the entire lifecycle from planning to launch. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance user experience and...

United StatesRemote

4 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$110K - $130K *

Reimagine product marketing by crafting clear messaging and positioning. Collaborate across teams to understand customer needs and market dynamics, driving impactful product launches and sales enablem...

San Francisco, CARemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$119K - $222K *

Empower the Partnerships & Alliances team by leading strategic initiatives, optimizing partner operations, and driving measurable outcomes through data-driven decision-making and technology solutions...

Frisco, TXRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Media

$80K - $110K *

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Reposted 4 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Media

$110K - $130K *

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2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Business Services

$145K - $205K *

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5 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$170K - $250K *

Help us build a high-performing infrastructure team that drives operational excellence and reliability. Lead a diverse group of engineers, manage budgets, and modernize technology while collaborating...

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3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Telecommunications & Hardware

$100K - $185K *

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Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$82K *

Lead the charge in managing nightlife and retail consumer engagement programs, ensuring compliance and excellence in execution. Oversee staff training, event coordination, and data management to enhan...

Florida, USRemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Media

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

  • What does a Director of Search Engine Marketing do?question toggle

    A Director of Search Engine Marketing leads paid search strategy and execution, manages teams and budgets, and uses campaign performance data to support customer acquisition and business growth.

  • What qualifications are typically required for Director, Search Engine Marketing jobs?question toggle

    Employers generally look for significant SEM experience, leadership ability, analytical expertise, and knowledge of paid search platforms, measurement, attribution, and campaign optimization. Requirements vary by employer.

  • How much do Director of Search Engine Marketing jobs pay?question toggle

    Compensation depends on factors such as industry, location, company size, and role scope. Ladders focuses on vetted professional jobs paying $100,000 or more.

  • Where can I find Director, Search Engine Marketing jobs paying $100,000 or more?question toggle

    Browse Ladders to explore vetted professional Director, Search Engine Marketing openings with salaries of $100,000 or more.