PPC Specialist - Pod Lead

Background

The7stars is unlike any other agency. The distinction started the day we launched in 2005 when we named ourselves after a pub, but more importantly when we made a promise that we were going to do things differently.

And this commitment has stuck with us. It guides how we work, how we think and how we treat one another and can be expressed in a single word.

Freedom.

Our Freedom philosophy lives across our entire business from people, product and planning. It means we plan & buy media how we want, develop careers how we want, take holiday when we need it, invent tools when we need them, give people a platform to speak up, question and express themselves freely - but more importantly it has allowed us to create an amazing place to work.

We have a unique working environment and open structure which encourages personal development through client contact, team work, training, exposure to all media and internal teams – and a “sky’s the limit” approach to your growth within the agency.

In 2024 we have achieved our 12th year in a row as a Sunday Times Top 100 company to work for and in 2023 were awarded Campaign’s number one media agency to work for accolade for the second year running.

The7stars is c300 passionate media people that are able to focus purely on creating great work for our clients. Clients such as Warner Music, Entain, Suzuki, Gousto, Freemans and The People’s Postcode Lottery. UK focused, we also operate within an agile global network of like-minded friends, extending our client portfolio into Europe and the US.

If thinking freely and with integrity is your bag, then the7stars is an agency you should meet.

The PPC Specialist - Pod Lead is a highly skilled paid search specialist with extensive experience and a proven track record in the field. This role requires a strategic and tactical approach to managing a team of specialists and overseeing a portfolio of client accounts. The PPC Pod Lead will drive best-in-class, innovative work, enhance team expertise, and improve output efficiency through advanced automation and processes. This role involves building strong relationships with clients and key suppliers and contributing to the agency’s growth and industry recognition.

Key Responsibilities

Client Work & Innovation

• Develop, own and drive advanced paid search strategy for selected accounts in portfolio.
• A leader in innovation across the team – from inception of idea to delivery.
• Lead the development and delivery of testing roadmaps for your clients, focusing on search and wider digital maturity.
• Confidently present analysis, updates, and strategic recommendations to senior stakeholders.
• Ensure excellent attention to detail is maintained across Pod and best practice is being followed by all junior team members.
• Ensure all clients in patch have growth/testing roadmaps.
• Deliver award-winning work across your patch.

Collaboration

• Work with wider PPC, client, and other specialist teams to deliver integrated cross-channel campaigns.
• Maintain strong relationships with media owners and technology platform providers.
• Stay updated with PPC and performance industry trends, developments, product releases, and new technologies.

Team Management & Leadership

• Lead the team by example, supporting and encouraging continuous improvement in team performance.
• Set objectives and provide ongoing support for direct reports and junior team members.
• Ensure all junior team members have actionable PDP, with SMART objectives.
• Carry out weekly 1-2-1s with all team members, following up over email where necessary.
• Work with the Head of Search and Paid Search Business Directors to evaluate and future-proof team training and development.

Operations & Commercial

• Be accountable for best-in-class work delivered on your accounts portfolio by consistently identifying areas to improve performance on your accounts.
• Be responsible for carrying out team and agency processes that improve quality and accuracy, including QA, optimisation, and automation.
• Support wider team initiatives, Paid Search Business Directors and Head of Search in driving Search Excellence, Digital Maturity and contribute to Industry recognition.
• Contribute towards team wide same store growth targets.

Essential

• A track record of working on PPC Retail-focused accounts with annual budgets in excess of £500k, either as a senior account manager or account director.
• Evidence of delivering exceptional performance through solid analysis, advanced testing and first-class execution that adds business value to clients’ bottom-line.
• Proven ability to use Google Ads, Microsoft Advertising and SA360 platforms at an expert level, including optimal use of bidding strategies, offline conversions, and custom variables.
• Experience working across large retail accounts, with knowledge of feeds, tactics and ways of working in this vertical.
• Evidence for advanced use of Automation and Feed-based solutions that drive efficiency at scale.
• Solid understanding of industry best practice versus Google best-practice – and the right balance between the two
• Expert knowledge of measurement methodologies, privacy-centric features and attribution within Google Ads, GA and SA360
• Passion for delivering innovation and award-winning work through implementational planning and buying.
• Experience in leading, motivating and managing a small team.

Desirable

• Experience across Amazon Sponsored Products, Retail Media, and the Adobe analytics stack.

Benefits

• Uncounted holiday & wellbeing (Star) days
• Flexible & hybrid working (4 days per week in the office)
• Work from anywhere for up to 2 weeks of the year
• Free breakfast & company bar
• New Business Bonus eligible in your first year as a 7stars employee
• Personal finance advice
• Discretionary summer profit share bonus and Christmas bonus
• Private Medical Insurance
• Choice of 5 gyms
• Season ticket Loan
• Cycle to work Scheme & Techscheme
• Life Assurance, critical Illness cover & income protection
• Enhanced family friendly policies, including Shared Parental & Adoption Leave
• Royal London pension (8% employer contributions up to £35k, 5% thereafter)
• Employee assistance programme & MHFA trained colleagues

The7stars is committed to creating a diverse environment, where employees feel empowered to share different ideas, perspectives and experiences in a collaborative and creative work environment. Equality and inclusion are at the heart of our culture. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race (which includes colour, nationality and ethnic or national origins), religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.