📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Senior Manager, SEM
🔹 Company: SeatGeek
🔹 Location: New York, New York
🔹 Job Type: Full-time
🔹 Category: Marketing
🔹 Date Posted: May 28, 2025
🔹 Experience Level: 7+ years, including 2+ years in SEM and people management
🔹 Remote Status: Remote OK
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Leading SEM operations, including planning and rollout of campaigns and automation of workflows
- Collaborating with various teams to drive growth and improve performance targets
- Allocating budget based on business goals and real-time data inputs
- Identifying and driving near-term opportunities in line with business priorities
- Partnering with analytics and engineering to drive longer-term initiatives
- Accelerating collaboration between teams and embedding within workflows
- Formulating a clear roadmap for the SEM program with clear timelines and learning objectives
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strategic mindset, strong analytical skills, and the ability to work cross-functionally to drive growth and improve performance in the SEM channel.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Lead SEM operations, including planning and rollout of campaigns and automation of workflows
✅ Collaborate with various teams (SEM, Engineering, Analytics, MOPs) to prioritize work in line with business priorities
✅ Allocate budget based on business goals and real-time data inputs, improving channel predictability and reactivity
✅ Identify and drive near-term opportunities in line with business priorities and in response to new data/learnings
✅ Partner with analytics and engineering to drive longer-term initiatives that could unlock large growth
✅ Scale wins and learnings quickly by tightening the feedback loop between paid search strategy and automation engineering
✅ Accelerate collaboration between teams by embedding within each team’s workflows and leading discussions in public channels
✅ Formulate a clear roadmap for the SEM program, with clear timelines and learning objectives for each team member
✅ Stay abreast of any new ways of using SEM or new search usages
✅ Drive a culture of operational excellence and continuous improvement in the team and with SEM partners
ASSUMPTION: This role involves a mix of strategic planning, hands-on execution, and cross-functional collaboration to optimize SEM performance and drive growth.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (e.g., Marketing, Business, Statistics, or a related discipline)
Experience: 7+ years of working experience, with at least 2+ years in SEM specifically and 2+ years in people management
Required Skills:
- Proven experience in SEM campaign management and optimization
- Strong analytical skills and data-driven decision-making
- Excellent communication and collaboration skills
- Ability to work independently and manage multiple projects simultaneously
- Familiarity with Google Ads and other SEM platforms
- Experience with budget allocation and performance tracking
- Proven ability to lead and mentor team members
Preferred Skills:
- Experience with automation tools and workflow management
- Familiarity with SQL or other data querying languages
- Experience with A/B testing and experimentation
- Knowledge of the live events industry
ASSUMPTION: Candidates with a strong analytical background, proven SEM experience, and a track record of successful team management will be best suited for this role.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $125,000 - $180,000 USD per year. Actual compensation packages within that range are based on a wide array of factors unique to each candidate, including but not limited to skill set, years and depth of experience, certifications, and specific location.
Benefits:
- Equity stake
- Flexible work environment, allowing you to work as many days a week in the office as you’d like or 100% remotely
- WFH stipend to support your home office setup
- Unlimited PTO
- Up to 16 weeks of fully-paid family leave
- 401(k) matching program
- Student loan support resources
- Health, vision, dental, and life insurance
- Up to $25k towards family building and reproductive health services
- Gender-affirming care support program
- $500 per year for wellness expenses
- Subscriptions to Headspace, Headspace Care, and One Medical
- $120 per month to spend on tickets to live events
- Annual subscription to Spotify, Apple Music, or Amazon Music
Working Hours: Full-time position, with standard business hours expected. However, flexibility is available to accommodate remote work and personal needs.
ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is an estimate based on industry standards for a senior-level SEM role. The benefits listed are subject to change and may vary based on the candidate's location and employment status.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: SeatGeek operates in the live events industry, focusing on transforming the way fans buy and sell tickets to their favorite live events across sports, music, and theater. They aim to be a force for good in live entertainment by bringing a technology-first approach to the entire industry.
Company Size: SeatGeek has 501-1,000 employees, providing a mid-sized company environment with opportunities for growth and collaboration.
Founded: SeatGeek was founded in 2009, with a mission to help the world experience more live events.
Company Description:
- SeatGeek was built in 2009 as the only mobile ticketing marketplace created with fan experience top of mind.
- They transform the way fans buy and sell their tickets to their favorite live events across sports, music, and theater.
- SeatGeek's acquisition of TopTix marks their entrance into the primary market, providing the premier primary ticketing solution on the market.
Company Specialties:
- tickets
- internet and technology
- data analysis
- and sports
- entertainment
- and media
Company Website: http://seatgeek.com
ASSUMPTION: SeatGeek's focus on technology and fan experience sets it apart in the live events industry, providing opportunities for innovative and data-driven marketing strategies.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: This role is a senior-level position, requiring significant experience and expertise in SEM and team management.
Reporting Structure: The Senior Manager, SEM will report directly to the VP of Growth and oversee the SEM team.
Work Arrangement: This role is remote-friendly, allowing for flexible work arrangements and remote work options.
Growth Opportunities:
- Potential to grow into a leadership role within the SEM team or expand into other marketing channels
- Opportunities to work on high-impact projects and drive significant growth for the company
- Chance to learn from and collaborate with experienced team members and industry experts
ASSUMPTION: This role offers significant growth potential for the right candidate, with opportunities to make a meaningful impact on the company's success.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: SeatGeek has offices in New York, NY, and other locations worldwide, with a flexible work environment that allows employees to work remotely as needed.
Office Location(s): New York, NY
Geographic Context:
- New York City offers a vibrant and diverse cultural scene, with numerous live events and entertainment options
- The city is well-connected by public transportation, making it easy to commute to the office or explore the city
- New York City is a major hub for the live events industry, providing ample opportunities for networking and professional growth
Work Schedule: Standard business hours are expected, with flexibility available for remote work and personal needs.
ASSUMPTION: The flexible work environment and remote-friendly culture at SeatGeek provide employees with the opportunity to balance work and personal life effectively.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Online application submission
- Phone or video screen with the hiring manager
- In-depth interview with the SEM team and other stakeholders
- Final interview with the VP of Growth
- Background check and offer extension
Key Assessment Areas:
- SEM campaign management and optimization skills
- Analytical and data-driven decision-making abilities
- Communication and collaboration skills
- Leadership and team management capabilities
- Cultural fit and alignment with SeatGeek's values
Application Tips:
- Highlight your SEM experience and achievements in your resume and cover letter
- Demonstrate your analytical skills and data-driven approach in your application materials
- Showcase your leadership and team management abilities through examples from your past experiences
- Tailor your application to emphasize your fit with SeatGeek's company culture and values
ATS Keywords: SEM, campaign management, optimization, budget allocation, performance tracking, team leadership, data analysis, Google Ads, marketing strategy
ASSUMPTION: The interview process at SeatGeek is designed to assess the candidate's technical skills, cultural fit, and alignment with the company's mission and values.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Google Ads
- Google Analytics
- Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets
- Automation tools (e.g., Zapier, IFTTT)
- Data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI)
- Project management tools (e.g., Asana, Trello)
ASSUMPTION: The tools and technologies listed are commonly used in SEM roles and may vary based on the specific needs and preferences of the SeatGeek team.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Fan-first approach
- Data-driven decision-making
- Continuous learning and improvement
- Collaboration and teamwork
- Innovation and creativity
Work Style:
- Flexible and remote-friendly work environment
- Data-driven and analytical approach
- Collaborative and cross-functional teamwork
- Fast-paced and dynamic work culture
- Focus on continuous learning and professional development
Self-Assessment Questions:
- Do you have a strong fan-first mindset and a passion for improving the live events experience?
- Are you comfortable working in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and adapting to change?
- Do you thrive in a collaborative, cross-functional team setting and enjoy working with diverse stakeholders?
- Are you committed to continuous learning and professional development?
ASSUMPTION: SeatGeek values candidates who are passionate about live events, data-driven, collaborative, and committed to continuous learning and improvement.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Managing a team remotely and ensuring consistent performance and engagement
- Balancing the need for short-term results with long-term strategic planning
- Keeping up with the latest trends and best practices in SEM and the live events industry
- Navigating a fast-paced, dynamic work environment and adapting to change
ASSUMPTION: These challenges are common in senior-level SEM roles and can be overcome with strong leadership, strategic planning, and a commitment to continuous learning and improvement.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- This role differs from other SEM manager roles in its focus on the live events industry and the need to balance short-term results with long-term strategic planning
- SeatGeek's data-driven and fan-first approach sets it apart from other companies in the live events industry
- Career path comparison: This role offers opportunities for growth into leadership roles within the SEM team or expansion into other marketing channels
ASSUMPTION: This role offers unique opportunities and challenges compared to similar roles in the industry, with a focus on the live events industry and a data-driven, fan-first approach.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing and executing a comprehensive SEM strategy to drive ticket sales for a major sporting event
- Optimizing SEM campaigns to improve ROI and maximize ticket sales for a broad range of live events
- Collaborating with data science and engineering teams to develop predictive models for lifetime value bidding and other advanced SEM strategies
ASSUMPTION: These sample projects illustrate the range of responsibilities and opportunities available in this role, from strategic planning and execution to collaboration with cross-functional teams.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- What are the biggest challenges facing the SEM team currently, and how can this role help address them?
- How does the SEM team collaborate with other departments, such as product, finance, and data science?
- What opportunities are there for growth and professional development within the SEM team and the company as a whole?
- How does SeatGeek support work-life balance, particularly for remote employees?
- What are the key priorities for the SEM team in the first 30, 60, and 90 days in this role?
ASSUMPTION: These questions are designed to help candidates better understand the role, the team, and the company, and to assess their fit with the organization's culture and values.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through this link
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your SEM experience, achievements, and alignment with SeatGeek's values
- Prepare examples of your SEM campaign management and optimization skills, as well as your leadership and team management abilities
- Follow up with the hiring manager one week after submitting your application to express your interest and reiterate your qualifications
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
