Search Marketing Manager

📌 Core Information

🔹 Job Title: Search Marketing Manager

🔹 Company: Carnival Corporation

🔹 Location: Southampton, United Kingdom

🔹 Job Type: Full time

🔹 Category: Marketing

🔹 Date Posted: July 3, 2025

🔹 Experience Level: 5-10 years

🔹 Remote Status: Hybrid (3 office days per week)

🚀 Job Overview

Key aspects of this role include:

• Strategic and tactical development of paid search activities
• Managing a multi-million-pound budget to drive revenue and customer acquisition growth
• Optimizing campaigns, ensuring they are data-driven and aligned with broader marketing strategies
• Line management and development of the Senior Search Marketing Executive
• Collaboration with internal teams and external partners to identify opportunities and implement best practices

ASSUMPTION: This role requires a high level of strategic thinking, data analysis, and team leadership skills. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record in managing large-scale paid search campaigns and driving significant revenue growth.

📋 Key Responsibilities

✅ Lead the strategic planning and tactical optimization of paid search campaigns to drive high-quality traffic and revenue

✅ Manage a multi-million-pound paid search budget, ensuring efficient spend and strong ROI

✅ Line management and development of the Senior Search Marketing Executive

✅ Collaborate with internal teams and external partners to identify opportunities and implement best practices

ASSUMPTION: This role involves a high degree of autonomy and requires strong self-motivation, as well as the ability to work effectively in a team environment.

🎯 Required Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business, or a related field (or equivalent experience)

Experience: Proven experience managing large-scale paid search campaigns and high-volume budgets

Required Skills:

• Advanced knowledge of Google Ads, Microsoft Ads, and associated tools and editors
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data and drive performance improvements
• Experience in strategic media planning and cross-channel marketing coordination
• Proven leadership and team management skills

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in the travel industry
• Fluency in additional languages

ASSUMPTION: While a degree in Marketing or Business is preferred, relevant experience and a strong portfolio may be considered in lieu of formal education.

💰 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: £50,000 - £65,000 per annum (based on industry standards for a Search Marketing Manager with 5-10 years of experience in the UK)

Benefits:

• Employee Discounted Cruising plus Friends and Family offers
• Annual bonus
• A friendly welcome with help settling in
• Regular office events including live entertainment, lifestyle events and charity partner fundraisers
• Extensive learning and development opportunities
• Minimum 25 days leave, bank holiday allowance and holiday trading scheme
• Employee-led networks
• Employee Assistance and Wellbeing programmes
• Recognition scheme with prizes and awards
• Contributory Defined Contribution Pension scheme
• Company paid private medical and dental insurance and health assessment
• In-house Occupational Health help and access to digital GP
• Life Assurance
• Parental and adoption leave
• Employee Shares Plan
• Electric Car and Cycle to Work schemes
• Onsite restaurant offering range of healthy cooked and grab and go meals
• Discounted retail and leisure via discounts portal

Working Hours: Full-time position with flexible working hours and up to two days a week from home

ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is an estimate based on industry standards for a Search Marketing Manager with 5-10 years of experience in the UK. The actual salary may vary depending on the candidate's qualifications and experience.

📌 Applicant Insights

🔍 Company Context

Industry: Travel Arrangements

Company Size: 10,001+ employees (Large enterprise)

Founded: 1972 (as Carnival Cruise Line, now part of Carnival Corporation)

Company Description:

• Carnival Corporation & plc is the largest global cruise company and among the largest leisure travel companies, with a portfolio of world-class cruise lines and a fleet of over 90 ships.
• The company's cruise lines, including AIDA Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line, Costa Cruises, Cunard, Holland America Line, P&O Cruises, Princess Cruises, and Seabourn, visit more than 800 ports around the world and account for nearly 40% of the overall cruise market globally.
• In 2024, the company's talented workforce of over 160,000 team members from 150 countries delivered unforgettable happiness to approximately 13.5 million guests by providing extraordinary cruise vacations, while honoring the integrity of every ocean sailed, place visited, and life touched.

Company Specialties:

• Cruise vacations
• Travel arrangements
• Hospitality and leisure

Company Website: http://www.carnivalcorp.com

ASSUMPTION: Carnival Corporation is a large, global enterprise with a diverse workforce and a strong focus on customer experience and employee development.

📊 Role Analysis

Career Level: Mid-level to senior management

Reporting Structure: This role reports directly to the Head of Digital Marketing and has line management responsibilities for the Senior Search Marketing Executive.

Work Arrangement: Hybrid (3 office days per week, with the option to work from home up to 2 days per week)

Growth Opportunities:

• Progression to a senior leadership role within the digital marketing team
• Expansion of responsibilities to include additional marketing channels
• Opportunities to work on international projects and collaborate with global teams

ASSUMPTION: This role offers significant opportunities for career growth and development within the digital marketing team and the broader organization.

🌍 Location & Work Environment

Office Type: Corporate office with a casual dress code and flexible work environment

Office Location(s): Southampton, United Kingdom

Geographic Context:

• Southampton is a major port city on the south coast of England, with a rich history and a vibrant cultural scene.
• The city is well-connected by road, rail, and air, with easy access to London and other major UK cities.
• Southampton offers a high quality of life, with a range of housing options, excellent schools, and a variety of leisure and entertainment facilities.

Work Schedule: Full-time position with flexible working hours and the option to work from home up to 2 days per week

ASSUMPTION: The work environment at Carnival Corporation is dynamic and fast-paced, with a strong focus on collaboration and teamwork.

💼 Interview & Application Insights

Typical Process:

• Online application and resume screening
• Phone or video screening with the HR department
• Face-to-face or video interview with the hiring manager and a member of the digital marketing team
• Final interview with the Head of Digital Marketing

Key Assessment Areas:

• Strategic thinking and problem-solving skills
• Data analysis and interpretation skills
• Leadership and team management skills
• Cultural fit and alignment with company values

Application Tips:

• Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills for this role
• Include specific examples of your achievements in managing large-scale paid search campaigns and driving revenue growth
• Demonstrate your understanding of the travel industry and Carnival Corporation's business model

ATS Keywords: Paid search management, budget management, Google Ads, Microsoft Ads, data analysis, performance improvement, strategic media planning, cross-channel marketing coordination, team development, collaboration, coaching, mentoring, continuous improvement, industry trends

ASSUMPTION: The interview process at Carnival Corporation is designed to assess the candidate's technical skills, strategic thinking, and cultural fit for the role and the organization.

🛠️ Tools & Technologies

• Google Ads
• Microsoft Ads
• Google Analytics
• Google Tag Manager
• Google Data Studio
• Microsoft Excel
• Project management tools (e.g., Asana, Trello)

ASSUMPTION: The tools and technologies listed are commonly used in the digital marketing industry and may vary depending on the specific needs of the role and the organization.

👔 Cultural Fit Considerations

Company Values:

• Safety: We prioritize the safety of our guests, team members, and the environment
• Fun: We create unforgettable experiences for our guests and team members
• Innovation: We continuously improve and adapt to meet the evolving needs of our guests
• Integrity: We act with honesty and transparency in all our interactions
• Quality: We strive for excellence in everything we do

Work Style:

• Collaborative: We work together to achieve our goals
• Adaptable: We embrace change and continuously learn and improve
• Results-driven: We focus on delivering outcomes that make a difference
• Customer-focused: We put our guests at the heart of everything we do

Self-Assessment Questions:

• Do you thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic work environment?
• Are you comfortable working with large datasets and using data to drive decision-making?
• Do you have strong leadership and team management skills?
• Are you passionate about creating unforgettable experiences for our guests?
• Do you align with Carnival Corporation's values and work style?

ASSUMPTION: Carnival Corporation values a diverse and inclusive work environment, and candidates from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

⚠️ Potential Challenges

• Managing a large budget and ensuring efficient spend and strong ROI
• Keeping up with the latest trends and best practices in paid search marketing
• Collaborating effectively with internal teams and external partners
• Balancing the demands of the role with a healthy work-life balance

ASSUMPTION: These challenges can be overcome with strong leadership, strategic thinking, and a commitment to continuous learning and improvement.

📈 Similar Roles Comparison

• This role is similar to a Senior Paid Search Manager or Paid Search Team Lead in other organizations, but with additional line management responsibilities and a broader scope of influence within the digital marketing team.
• The travel industry presents unique challenges and opportunities compared to other industries, with a strong focus on customer experience and destination marketing.
• Career progression in this role could lead to senior leadership positions within the digital marketing team or broader marketing and commercial functions within the organization.

ASSUMPTION: This role offers a unique opportunity to lead a critical function within the digital marketing team and make a significant impact on the organization's overall success.

📝 Sample Projects

• Developing and implementing a strategic paid search campaign to drive revenue growth for a new cruise itinerary
• Conducting a comprehensive audit of the current paid search account structure and making data-driven optimizations to improve performance
• Collaborating with the SEO team to develop and execute a cross-channel marketing campaign to promote a new ship launch

ASSUMPTION: These sample projects are designed to illustrate the types of initiatives the Search Marketing Manager may be involved in, but the specific projects will vary depending on the organization's priorities and the candidate's areas of expertise.

❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview

• Can you describe the current paid search account structure and how it has performed historically?
• What are the key priorities for this role in the first 90 days?
• How does this role collaborate with other marketing channels and teams within the organization?
• What opportunities are there for professional development and growth within the digital marketing team and the broader organization?
• How does Carnival Corporation support work-life balance for its employees?

ASSUMPTION: These questions are designed to help the candidate understand the specific requirements and context of the role, as well as the organization's culture and values.

📌 Next Steps for Applicants

To apply for this position:

• Submit your application through the Carnival Corporation careers portal
• Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills for this role
• Prepare for the interview by researching Carnival Corporation's business model and industry trends in paid search marketing
• Follow up with the hiring manager after the interview to express your interest in the role and reiterate your qualifications

⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.