📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: SEM Manager, Box Business
🔹 Company: Condé Nast
🔹 Location: New York, NY
🔹 Job Type: Full-Time
🔹 Category: Media Production
🔹 Date Posted: April 30, 2025
🔹 Experience Level: 5-10 years
🔹 Remote Status: On-site
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Driving profitable subscriber acquisition through SEM/PPC campaigns
- Collaborating cross-functionally with creative, analytics, and product teams
- Optimizing campaigns to maximize conversions and minimize CPA
- Staying informed on industry trends and search engine algorithm updates
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a high level of analytical and strategic thinking, with a strong focus on data-driven decision making.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Lead and develop SEM campaigns for various subscription brands, collaborating with multiple teams
✅ Manage day-to-day SEM operations including keyword strategies, ad copy, and campaign optimization to drive subscriber growth
✅ Own and execute SEM campaigns across Google Ads, Microsoft Ads (Bing), Apple Search Ads to drive new subscriber and app growth
✅ Build and manage budgets and forecasts at the campaign, brand, and platform level
✅ Implement and analyze A/B testing on ad creatives, landing page messaging, offers, and audience segmentation
✅ Monitor and adjust bidding strategies, audience targeting, and campaign structures to optimize for efficiency and scale
✅ Track and report on campaign performance, providing actionable insights and recommendations to key stakeholders
✅ Educate stakeholders with SEM trainings, new best practice documentation, and wider team presentations
✅ Stay informed on industry trends, competitor activity, and search engine algorithm updates
ASSUMPTION: This role involves a high degree of autonomy and requires strong self-motivation and initiative.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business, or a related field
Experience: 3-5+ years of hands-on experience managing SEM/PPC campaigns with a proven track record of driving profitable customer acquisition
Required Skills:
- Expertise in Google Ads, Microsoft Ads (Bing), and Apple Search Ads
- Strong analytical skills with experience in budget forecasting, campaign performance tracking, and LTV-based decision-making
- Experience with A/B testing frameworks, conversion rate optimization (CRO), and landing page optimization strategies
- Proficiency in Google Tag Manager, Mode, major analytics platforms and MMPs like Branch, martech SEM analytics platforms, SEM performance tracking tools, and Google Sheets
- Highly collaborative and comfortable working cross-functionally with creative, analytics, and product teams
- Excellent problem-solving skills with a data-driven mindset and the ability to pivot based on performance insights
- Passion for subscription-based and e-commerce businesses, with a strong understanding of customer acquisition funnels and retention strategies
Preferred Skills:
- Experience with subscription-based or e-commerce businesses
- Familiarity with the mobile app ecosystem
ASSUMPTION: Candidates with experience in subscription publishing, news sites, or similar are strongly preferred.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $90,000 - $110,000 per year
Benefits:
- Employee Benefits Package
- Discretionary Bonus Compensation
Working Hours: 40 hours per week, with flexibility for occasional overtime as needed
ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is based on market research and internal equity considerations. Final offers will be determined based on the candidate's qualifications and experience.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: Condé Nast is a global media company producing the highest quality content with a footprint of more than 1 billion consumers in 32 territories through print, digital, video, and social platforms.
Company Size: Condé Nast has 1,001-5,000 employees, providing a large and diverse work environment.
Founded: Condé Nast was founded in 1909 and has a rich history in the media industry.
Company Description:
- Condé Nast is home to many of the world’s most respected and influential media properties, including Vogue, Vanity Fair, Glamour, Self, GQ, The New Yorker, Condé Nast Traveler/Traveller, Allure, AD, Bon Appétit, and Wired.
- The company produces content across various platforms, including print, digital, video, and social media.
- Condé Nast Entertainment was launched in 2011 to develop film, television, and premium digital video programming.
Company Specialties:
- Publishing
- Fashion
- Luxury
- Digital
- Journalism
- Engineering
- Technology
- Media
- Advertising
- Creative
- Magazines
- Magazine
- Editorial
- Content
- Design
- and Editing
Company Website: http://www.condenast.com
ASSUMPTION: Working at Condé Nast offers opportunities to collaborate with talented professionals in a dynamic and creative environment.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: This role is suitable for experienced professionals seeking a mid-level management position in search engine marketing.
Reporting Structure: The SEM Manager reports directly to the Global Senior Manager of SEO.
Work Arrangement: This is an on-site position based out of Condé Nast's office in New York City.
Growth Opportunities:
- Potential career progression into senior management or leadership roles within the SEO or SEM teams.
- Opportunities to work on high-profile campaigns and collaborate with various teams across the organization.
- Chance to develop expertise in subscription-based and e-commerce businesses.
ASSUMPTION: This role offers opportunities for professional growth and development within the organization.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: Condé Nast's office is located in the iconic 1 World Trade Center building in New York City.
Office Location(s): 1 World Trade Center, New York, NY
Geographic Context:
- New York City is a major global hub for media, fashion, and entertainment industries.
- The office is conveniently located in the heart of Lower Manhattan, offering easy access to public transportation and various amenities.
- The city offers a diverse and vibrant cultural scene, with numerous museums, theaters, and restaurants.
Work Schedule: The work schedule is typically Monday to Friday, with occasional flexibility for remote work or overtime as needed.
ASSUMPTION: Working in New York City offers unique opportunities to engage with the local media and entertainment industry.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Online application review
- Phone or video screen with the hiring manager
- In-person or virtual interview with the hiring manager and other team members
- Final interview with the Global Senior Manager of SEO
Key Assessment Areas:
- Technical skills in SEM and PPC campaign management
- Analytical and problem-solving abilities
- Collaboration and communication skills
- Cultural fit with Condé Nast's values and work environment
Application Tips:
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills for this role.
- Be prepared to discuss live campaigns that demonstrate your SEM ability and provide specific examples of your achievements.
- Research Condé Nast's portfolio of media properties and be ready to discuss how your skills and experience align with their brands.
ATS Keywords: SEM, PPC, Google Ads, Bing Ads, Apple Search Ads, keyword optimization, ad copywriting, A/B testing, conversion rate optimization, landing page optimization, budget forecasting, analytics, customer acquisition, retention strategies
ASSUMPTION: Applicants should focus on demonstrating their technical expertise and cultural fit with Condé Nast's values during the interview process.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Google Ads
- Microsoft Ads (Bing)
- Apple Search Ads
- Google Tag Manager
- Mode
- Major analytics platforms and MMPs like Branch
- Martech SEM analytics platforms
- SEM performance tracking tools
- Google Sheets
ASSUMPTION: Familiarity with these tools and technologies is essential for success in this role.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Quality: We strive for excellence in everything we do.
- Innovation: We embrace change and continuously seek new ways to improve.
- Collaboration: We work together to achieve our goals.
- Diversity: We celebrate and value the unique perspectives and backgrounds of our employees.
- Integrity: We act with honesty and integrity in all our interactions.
Work Style:
- Data-driven: We make decisions based on data and analytics.
- Creative: We encourage innovation and creativity in our approach to problem-solving.
- Adaptable: We are open to feedback and willing to adjust our strategies as needed.
Self-Assessment Questions:
- Do you have a proven track record of driving profitable customer acquisition through SEM/PPC campaigns?
- Are you comfortable working collaboratively with various teams to achieve shared goals?
- Do you have a strong data-driven mindset and the ability to pivot based on performance insights?
ASSUMPTION: Candidates who align with Condé Nast's values and work style are more likely to succeed in this role.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Managing multiple campaigns across various brands and platforms simultaneously.
- Keeping up with the fast-paced and ever-evolving search engine marketing landscape.
- Balancing the need for efficiency and scale with the desire to maximize conversions and minimize CPA.
- Collaborating effectively with cross-functional teams to ensure consistent messaging and customer experience across channels.
ASSUMPTION: These challenges require strong organizational skills, adaptability, and the ability to work effectively in a dynamic environment.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- Compared to other SEM Manager roles, this position places a stronger emphasis on driving profitable subscriber acquisition for subscription-based and e-commerce businesses.
- Condé Nast's portfolio of media properties offers unique opportunities to work on high-profile campaigns and collaborate with various teams across the organization.
- This role may offer more growth opportunities within the SEO or SEM teams, as well as the chance to develop expertise in subscription-based and e-commerce businesses.
ASSUMPTION: Applicants should consider their career goals and preferences when comparing this role to similar positions in the industry.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing and executing a comprehensive SEM strategy for a new subscription-based product launch.
- Optimizing campaigns to improve conversion rates and reduce CPA for an existing e-commerce brand.
- Collaborating with creative and analytics teams to A/B test ad creatives, landing page messaging, and offers to maximize campaign performance.
ASSUMPTION: These sample projects illustrate the types of initiatives the SEM Manager might undertake to drive subscriber growth and improve campaign efficiency.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- Can you describe the team structure and how this role fits within the broader SEO and SEM strategy?
- What are the key priorities for this role in the first 30, 60, and 90 days?
- How does Condé Nast support the professional development and growth of its SEM team members?
- What are the most challenging aspects of working in the SEM team, and how have previous team members addressed them?
- How does Condé Nast approach collaboration and communication between different teams and departments?
ASSUMPTION: Asking these questions can help applicants better understand the role, the team, and the company culture.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through this link
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills for this role.
- Prepare examples of your SEM campaigns and be ready to discuss your approach to keyword optimization, ad copywriting, and campaign optimization.
- Research Condé Nast's portfolio of media properties and be ready to discuss how your skills and experience align with their brands.
- Follow up with the hiring manager one week after submitting your application to express your continued interest in the role.
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
