📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Jr. Paid Search Specialist (Onsite)
🔹 Company: Weedmaps
🔹 Location: Irvine, CA
🔹 Job Type: On-site
🔹 Category: Marketing
🔹 Date Posted: 2025-05-08
🔹 Experience Level: 2-5 years
🔹 Remote Status: On-site
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Supporting the growth of Weedmaps through paid search strategy and execution
- Collaborating with cross-functional teams to optimize campaigns and enhance conversion rates
- Analyzing campaign performance and identifying opportunities for improvement
- Assisting in the development of growth projections and budget alignment
- Working with various performance marketing platforms, DSPs, and ad agencies
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strong understanding of paid search marketing and the ability to work effectively with various teams to drive growth.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Assist in the optimization of paid search campaigns across Google Ads, Bing Ads, and other relevant platforms to ensure alignment with growth objectives while maximizing reach and ROI
✅ Identify continuous ways to improve and optimize existing campaigns to boost user acquisition, engagement, and retention within paid search
✅ Collaborate cross-functionally with Product, Design, Marketing, and Data teams to develop effective ad creatives, optimize landing pages, and conduct A/B tests to enhance conversion rates
✅ Support in keyword research, audience targeting, and budget allocation across campaigns
✅ Gather and organize campaign data for weekly and monthly performance reports
✅ Analyze KPIs such as CTR, CPC, CPA, ROAS, and overall campaign effectiveness, identify underperforming ads, and suggest optimization ideas to senior team members
✅ Help coordinate the development of ad creatives (text, images, videos) with design and content teams
✅ Write basic ad copy variations for testing purposes, adhering to brand tone and compliance guidelines
✅ Ensure all paid media accounts are properly maintained (billing, permissions, settings)
✅ Support the setup of tracking systems, such as UTM parameters, conversion pixels, and basic GA4 integration checks
✅ Document new learnings, optimizations, and process updates in internal SOPs
✅ Generate all manual reports as needed across the different DSPs and present them to leadership for decision making
✅ Work hand in hand with the Lifecycle team to ensure retention of new user acquisitions are being tracked globally across the site to measure engagement scores of both the DSP and the quality of the user we acquire
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strong understanding of paid search marketing and the ability to work effectively with various teams to drive growth.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business, or a related field preferred
Experience: 1-3+ years of experience in paid search and performance marketing with strategic insight, team leadership, and analytical prowess
Required Skills:
- Proven success in paid search and performance marketing
- Ability to execute A/B tests and analyze results
- Strong collaboration skills with cross-functional teams
- Excellent organization and time management skills
- Ability to prioritize workload in a fast-paced environment
Preferred Skills:
- Experience in the cannabis space (strongly preferred)
- BA/BS degree
ASSUMPTION: While a degree is preferred, relevant experience and a strong portfolio may be considered in lieu of formal education.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $70,554.00 - $76,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Physical Health benefits: Medical, Dental & Vision
- Mental Health benefits: Free access to CALM app, Employee Training, Mental Health seminars and Q&A sessions
- Basic Life & AD&D - employer paid 1x salary up to $250,000
- 401(k) Retirement Plan (with employer match contribution)
- Generous PTO, Paid Sick Leave, and Company Holidays
- Supplemental, voluntary benefits: Student Loan Repayment, FSA, Voluntary Life Insurance, Critical Illness Insurance, Accident Insurance, Short- and Long-term Disability Insurance, Pet Insurance, Family planning/fertility, Identity theft protection, Legal access to a network of attorneys, Paid parental leave
Working Hours: Full-time, 40 hours per week
ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is based on industry standards for a Jr. Paid Search Specialist role in the Irvine, CA area.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: Software Development, specifically focused on cannabis industry technology and services
Company Size: 501-1,000 employees. This size allows for a structured yet agile work environment with ample opportunities for growth and collaboration.
Founded: 2008, with a mission to power a transparent and inclusive global cannabis economy
Company Description:
- Weedmaps is a leading technology company in the cannabis industry, providing a B2C platform, Weedmaps, and B2B software, WM Business
- The company's mission is to power a transparent and inclusive global cannabis economy, driving legislative change and enabling safe, legal access to consumers worldwide
- Weedmaps holds a strong belief in the power of cannabis and advocates for legalization, social equity, and licensing in many jurisdictions
Company Specialties:
- Internet Technology
- Software
- Media Services
- Marketing
- Web Media
- Medical Marijuana Education
- Medical Marijuana Advocacy
- and SaaS
Company Website: weedmaps.com
ASSUMPTION: Weedmaps is a well-established company in the cannabis industry, with a strong focus on technology and software infrastructure.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: Early to mid-career level, with opportunities for growth and advancement within the marketing department and the company as a whole
Reporting Structure: The Jr. Paid Search Specialist will report directly to the Director of Growth and collaborate closely with various teams, including Product, Engineering, and Data
Work Arrangement: On-site, with the opportunity for hybrid or remote work in the future, depending on the company's policies and the individual's needs
Growth Opportunities:
- Potential advancement to Senior Paid Search Specialist or similar roles within the marketing department
- Opportunities to expand into other areas of marketing or take on leadership roles within the company
- Collaboration with various teams to gain a well-rounded understanding of the cannabis industry and Weedmaps' business
ASSUMPTION: This role offers a strong foundation for a career in paid search marketing and the cannabis industry, with ample opportunities for growth and advancement.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: Weedmaps' headquarters is located in Irvine, CA, with a casual and fun work environment that encourages employees to dress comfortably
Office Location(s): Irvine, CA, with additional offices in Denver, CO
Geographic Context:
- Irvine, CA is located in Orange County, with a mild Mediterranean climate and a cost of living that is generally lower than in coastal California cities
- The area offers a mix of urban and suburban living, with numerous parks, beaches, and outdoor recreation opportunities nearby
- Irvine is home to a diverse population, with a strong job market and a growing tech industry
Work Schedule: Full-time, with flexible hours and the opportunity for remote work in the future, depending on the company's policies and the individual's needs
ASSUMPTION: The work environment at Weedmaps is casual and collaborative, with a strong focus on employee well-being and work-life balance.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Online application submission
- Phone or video screening with the HR team
- Phone or video interview with the hiring manager
- On-site or virtual interview with the team
- Final decision and offer
Key Assessment Areas:
- Paid search marketing expertise and strategic insight
- Ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams
- Analytical skills and data-driven decision-making
- Strong communication and presentation skills
- Cultural fit and alignment with Weedmaps' mission and values
Application Tips:
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills for this role
- Be prepared to discuss your experience with paid search marketing and provide specific examples of your successes in driving growth and optimizing campaigns
- Demonstrate your ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams and collaborate to achieve common goals
- Show your understanding of the cannabis industry and Weedmaps' mission and values
ATS Keywords: Paid Search, Performance Marketing, A/B Testing, Collaboration, Audience Targeting, Keyword Research, Campaign Optimization, Data Analysis, Ad Creative Development, Time Management, Growth Projections, Digital Marketing, User Acquisition, Engagement, Retention, Reporting
ASSUMPTION: The interview process at Weedmaps is designed to assess the candidate's technical skills, cultural fit, and alignment with the company's mission and values.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Google Ads
- Bing Ads
- Other relevant paid search platforms
- Google Analytics
- GA4
- UTM parameters
- Conversion pixels
- Various performance marketing platforms, DSPs, and ad agencies
ASSUMPTION: The tools and technologies required for this role are specific to paid search marketing and may vary depending on the platforms and services used by Weedmaps.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Transparency
- Education
- Community
- Freedom to choose, access, and enjoy cannabis
Work Style:
- Collaborative and team-oriented
- Data-driven and analytical
- Adaptable and open to change
- Committed to the company's mission and values
Self-Assessment Questions:
- How do you align with Weedmaps' values, specifically 'Transparency' and 'Education'?
- How do you approach working with cross-functional teams, and can you provide an example of a successful collaboration?
- How do you stay up-to-date with industry trends and best practices in paid search marketing?
ASSUMPTION: Weedmaps values a strong cultural fit, with employees who are committed to the company's mission and values, and who work well with others in a collaborative environment.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- The cannabis industry is rapidly evolving, with frequent changes in regulations and market dynamics
- Paid search marketing requires a strong understanding of data analysis and optimization techniques
- The role may involve working with multiple teams and stakeholders, requiring excellent communication and collaboration skills
- The work environment may be fast-paced and demanding, with tight deadlines and high expectations
ASSUMPTION: These challenges can be overcome with a strong understanding of the cannabis industry, paid search marketing expertise, and effective communication and collaboration skills.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- This role is similar to a Junior Paid Search Specialist or similar entry-level marketing roles in other industries
- However, the cannabis industry is unique, with its own set of regulations, market dynamics, and consumer behaviors
- Career paths in the cannabis industry may differ from those in more established industries, with opportunities for growth and advancement specific to the cannabis space
ASSUMPTION: While this role shares similarities with other entry-level marketing roles, the cannabis industry's unique characteristics and dynamics make it a distinct and exciting opportunity.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing and optimizing a paid search campaign for a new cannabis product launch, targeting specific demographics and geographies
- Analyzing campaign performance data to identify trends and opportunities for optimization, and presenting findings to the team
- Collaborating with the design team to create visually appealing and on-brand ad creatives for a paid search campaign
ASSUMPTION: These sample projects are designed to showcase the candidate's ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams and drive growth through paid search marketing.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- How does Weedmaps approach data-driven decision-making in paid search marketing?
- Can you describe a time when you identified an opportunity for improvement in a paid search campaign and how you optimized it to drive better results?
- How does Weedmaps support the professional growth and development of its employees?
- What are the biggest challenges facing the cannabis industry today, and how does Weedmaps plan to address them?
- How does Weedmaps foster a culture of collaboration and innovation within its teams?
ASSUMPTION: These questions are designed to provide insight into Weedmaps' approach to paid search marketing, data-driven decision-making, and employee growth and development.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through Weedmaps' Careers Page
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills for this role
- Prepare for your interview by researching Weedmaps' mission, values, and the cannabis industry as a whole
- Be ready to discuss your experience with paid search marketing and provide specific examples of your successes in driving growth and optimizing campaigns
- Follow up with the hiring manager within one week of your interview to express your continued interest in the position
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
