Associate Director, Search & Discovery

Kelly Scott Madison—KSM—is a leading, independent media and advertising agency that futureproofs brands and fuels business growth. Our team of strategists, solutionists, technologists, and data analysts work united alongside incredible brand partners, helping them connect with customers in more meaningful ways today and positioning them to move with the customers of tomorrow. It’s always an amazing and transformative time at our growing media agency.

At KSM, it’s about more than just a passion for our industry and craft. It’s about the impact we make on the lives and livelihoods of those around us, and the highly personal experience we have here. Being an independent, mid-size agency—not too big, not too small, and proudly entrepreneurial—you’ll be empowered, recognized, and challenged to grow here. We’re adding new Bold Builders and uncommon perspectives to our community and can’t wait to learn more about you. But first, let’s explore the opportunity...

We're looking for an Associate Director who moves fast, thinks big, and thrives on ownership. This isn’t just a search role, it’s a key leader in our Digital Investment practice focused on reshaping how we approach discovery across the full consumer journey. Search is the foundation, but discovery today spans paid social, AI, and the growing ecosystem of channels where consumers find brands. Deep paid search expertise is nonnegotiable, performance marketing is in your DNA, and you bring meaningful pharma experience alongside well rounded proficiency across other verticals like retail.

Of course, the person in the role adds the true value, not the role itself, so let’s talk about you and your winning attributes.

Who you are:

• Razor sharp, strategic, and built for forward movement

• Known for ownership; you take initiative, follow through, and raise the bar

• Decisive and accountable; you make the call, own the outcome, and keep momentum

• A confident communicator; articulate and engaging

• A hunter who is energized by growth and never satisfied with the status quo

• Dedicated to developing and coaching talent through direct feedback

• Flexible and unflustered; you adapt well to change and pivot with ease
  

The ways you will make an impact:

Discovery Practice Leadership

• Serve as a lead in the Digital Investment practice, co-owning the direction, health, and momentum of the discipline alongside practice leadership

• Bring clarity of trajectory to the team: clear priorities, accountable ownership, and a pace that keeps the practice moving forward

• Partner with practice leadership on annual planning, team structure, resourcing, and the operational decisions that shape how we work and grow

• Identify and pursue new business opportunities, expansion within existing clients, and strategic partnerships

• Show up as a thought leader internally and externally, representing KSM in the ad community with energy, a differentiating POV, and presence that attracts the right clients and talent
  

Discovery & Performance Marketing

• Define and lead the agency's approach to discovery; connecting paid search to the broader ecosystem of channels including paid social, AI, and emerging platforms

• Set the strategic direction across paid search and the full Google and Microsoft product suite, including Performance Max, Demand Gen, YouTube, and MSAN, etc.: campaign architecture, bidding strategy, testing frameworks, funnel structure and cross channel alignment

• Ensure measurement integrity across accounts; connecting media decisions to outcomes and turning data into clear, confident client narratives

• Lead adoption of new platform capabilities, AI supported tools, and tactical innovations; balancing automation with sound strategic judgment

• Drive performance marketing rigor across verticals, bringing accountability and sharp instincts to lead generation programs where the stakes are high

• Proven ability to own and cultivate relationships with key platform partners, pushing for best in class support, early access to betas and opportunities
  

AI & Emerging Search

• Stay ahead on where search and discovery is heading, LLM ad offerings, automation shifts, and platform evolution, and translate that intelligence into POVs and new ways of working

• Build and lead the agency’s approach to GEO and AEO, ensuring clients are visible and cited across the growing ecosystem of AI

• Develop a structured, scalable approach to AI search, building strategies that improve client presence in those outputs

• Partner with content and analytics teams to evolve site architecture, structured data, and content strategy in response to how AI models index and interpret information
  

Client Leadership & Growth

• Build and sustain executive level client relationships, serving as a trusted advisor across paid search and broader digital strategy

• Guide senior stakeholders with confidence: translate complex discovery strategies into clear business narratives, and tie performance outcomes directly to client goals

• Proactively identify growth opportunities within existing accounts; new capabilities, expanded scope, and strategic recommendations clients didn’t know to ask for

• Support new business pitches with a hunter’s mindset; bringing advanced search expertise and a unique discovery narrative to win and onboard new clients
  

Experience you should bring:

• 7-10+ years in digital media investment with deep expertise in paid search

• Performance and lead driven marketing experience required

• Pharma vertical experience strongly preferred, retail a plus

• Fluency in paid search platforms: Google Ads, Microsoft Ads, SA360, CM360; familiarity with AI search (GEO, AEO) a strong differentiator

• Experience in ecommerce and product feed management; including shopping campaigns & feed optimization and strategy

• Proven experience in practice leadership, operating at the intersection of client growth, team development, and discipline strategy
  

Benefits we offer:

We've got you covered -- and we’re not just referring to robust health insurance. To us, coverage is about supporting your full experience and whole self, from inclusive benefits, flexibility, and an appreciation for time away, to recognition, professional development, and growth opportunities.

• Talent Enablement: Career pathing, integrated learning ecosystem, mentorship, and employee recognition

• Financial: Competitive compensation, 401(k) with company match, pre-tax programs, referral rewards, and a remote work reimbursement

• Wellness: Comprehensive health insurance (medical, dental, vision, pet, and life), onsite fitness center covered 100%, discounted membership rates at partner gyms and access to virtual fitness classes, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and curated opportunities to nurture your breaktime

• Balance: Personalized Paid Time Off (i.e., “Unlimited PTO”), remote work flexibility, paid parental leave (maternity, paternity, and adoption), and a variety of Employee Resource Groups

• Giving Back: Volunteer opportunities and corporate donation matching through KSM Cares Outreach, our Corporate Social Responsibility program