📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Senior Paid Search Manager
🔹 Company: B&Q
🔹 Location: Hybrid (London, Southampton)
🔹 Job Type: Permanent
🔹 Category: Retail, E-commerce
🔹 Date Posted: July 15, 2025
🔹 Experience Level: 5-10 years
🔹 Remote Status: Hybrid (1-2 days per quarter in office)
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Leading the transition of paid search operations from a global agency to in-house
- Owning the end-to-end strategy and execution of all paid search campaigns
- Optimizing toward both online and in-store revenue
- Managing a team of five paid search specialists
- Collaborating with cross-functional teams to deliver joined-up customer acquisition strategies
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a high level of strategic thinking, team leadership, and stakeholder management skills. Candidates should have a strong background in managing large-scale ecommerce and omnichannel paid search campaigns.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Lead the transition of paid search operations from a global agency to an in-house team
✅ Own the end-to-end strategy and execution of all paid search campaigns (including Performance Max, Search, and Local Inventory Ads)
✅ Optimize toward both online and in-store revenue, leveraging tools such as store visit tracking, store sales direct, and local inventory feeds
✅ Define and manage paid search budgets, KPIs, forecast models, and business plans aligned with commercial goals
✅ Take responsibility for bid strategies, creative testing, audience segmentation, and day-to-day optimisation using SA360 and Google Ads
✅ Promote a culture of test-and-learn, continually iterating to improve campaign performance
✅ Build strong relationships with senior stakeholders to educate and influence on the impact of paid search across the business
✅ Lead a team of high-performing paid search specialists, driving performance through OKRs and continuous professional development
✅ Strong data analysis skills to identify and understand insights and recommend actions to be taken from them
✅ Support in the strategic use of the product feed, using custom labels to drive our google shopping strategy
✅ Use first-party CRM data and segmentation strategies to drive personalisation and efficiency in campaign targeting
✅ Understand advanced attribution strategies, including Data-Driven Attribution (DDA), and provide guidance on platform attribution differences and limitations
✅ Monitor competitor activity and market trends, identifying new opportunities and ensuring we remain at the cutting edge of search
✅ Support the development of a Paid Search Centre of Excellence, helping scale knowledge and best practice across the wider group
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a high level of technical proficiency in paid search platforms and tools, as well as strong analytical and communication skills.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business, or a related field
Experience: 6+ years of paid search experience, with a track record of success managing large-scale ecommerce and omnichannel campaigns
Required Skills:
- Deep understanding of Google Shopping, Performance Max, Local Inventory Ads, and feed-based campaign structures
- Experience running sophisticated test and learn strategies, including running incrementality testing
- Proven capability in omnichannel performance, ROPO measurement, and using store visit/sales data to optimise campaigns
- Strong experience and knowledge of SA360, Google Ads, including advanced campaign management and tagging
- Experience of using first-party CRM data in campaign targeting
- Excellent grasp of attribution methodologies, particularly DDA and platform-level differences
- Data-driven, with high proficiency in tools like Excel, GA4, etc.
- Exceptional communication skills — able to clearly convey complex technical topics to non-technical stakeholders
- Experience managing and developing a high-performing team, setting goals, giving feedback, and nurturing talent
- Strategic thinker who can zoom out to see the bigger picture, but also enjoys getting hands-on in campaign execution
Preferred Skills:
- Experience in in-housing paid search from an agency model or transforming a complex paid media setup
ASSUMPTION: Candidates should have a strong background in paid search, with a proven track record in managing large-scale ecommerce campaigns. Experience in team management and stakeholder communication is essential.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: £70,000 per year
Benefits:
- Pension
- PMI
- ShareSave
- 6.6 weeks holiday
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Shopping Discounts
- Colleague Wellbeing Benefits
Working Hours: Full-time (37.5 hours per week)
ASSUMPTION: The salary range is based on industry standards for senior paid search roles in the UK retail sector. Benefits are subject to change and may vary based on individual circumstances.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: Retail, with a focus on home improvement and garden living
Company Size: 10,001+ employees, providing a large and diverse work environment with ample opportunities for career growth
Founded: 1969, with a rich history in the UK home improvement market
Company Description:
- B&Q is the UK’s leading home improvement and garden living retailer, with over 311 stores throughout the UK and Ireland
- Offers a wide range of products, with over 100,000 available to order online for home delivery or click and collect
- Employs over 21,000 colleagues who provide great home improvement help to customers
- Part of Kingfisher plc, the international home improvement company, operating 2000 stores in 8 countries across Europe
Company Specialties:
- Home improvement
- Garden centre
- Customer Service
- Retail
- Finance
- Human Resources
- Management
- Procurement
- Purchasing & Supply Chain
- Buying
- Marketing & PR
- Digital & ECommerce
- Commercial
- Data analysis
- Diversity & Inclusion
- Visual Merchandising
- Social Media
- Customer insight
Company Website: https://www.diy.com/
ASSUMPTION: B&Q offers a dynamic and collaborative work environment, with a strong focus on customer service and continuous improvement.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: Senior, with significant responsibility for strategy, execution, and team leadership
Reporting Structure: This role reports directly to the Head of Paid Media and leads a team of five paid search specialists
Work Arrangement: Hybrid, with 1-2 days per quarter in either the London or Southampton office
Growth Opportunities:
- Potential to expand the in-house paid search team and take on additional responsibilities
- Opportunities to collaborate with cross-functional teams and gain exposure to other areas of the business
- Access to training and development resources to support continuous learning and career growth
ASSUMPTION: This role offers significant opportunities for career growth and development within the paid search and broader digital marketing fields.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: Hybrid, with offices in London and Southampton
Office Location(s): London, Southampton
Geographic Context:
- London: A vibrant and multicultural city with a thriving digital marketing scene
- Southampton: A coastal city with a lower cost of living and a strong focus on customer service
Work Schedule: Full-time, with flexible working arrangements available
ASSUMPTION: The hybrid work arrangement offers a good balance between in-office collaboration and remote work flexibility.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Online application and CV submission
- Phone or video screening with the hiring manager
- In-depth technical interview with the paid search team
- Final interview with the Head of Paid Media
Key Assessment Areas:
- Paid search expertise and technical skills
- Strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities
- Team leadership and management skills
- Communication and stakeholder management skills
Application Tips:
- Highlight your experience in managing large-scale ecommerce paid search campaigns
- Demonstrate your ability to lead a team and drive performance through OKRs
- Showcase your strong data analysis skills and ability to derive insights from data
- Prepare examples of your test-and-learn approach to campaign optimisation
ATS Keywords: Paid Search, Ecommerce, PPC, Google Ads, SA360, Test and Learn, Omnichannel, Attribution, CRM Data, Team Leadership, Stakeholder Management
ASSUMPTION: The interview process will focus on assessing the candidate's technical proficiency, strategic thinking, and team leadership skills, as well as their cultural fit with the B&Q team.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Google Ads
- SA360
- GA4
- Excel
- CRM platform (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot)
ASSUMPTION: Candidates should have a strong proficiency in Google Ads and SA360, as well as experience with data analysis tools like GA4 and Excel.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Customer obsessed
- Collaborative
- Respectful
- Inclusive
- Bold
Work Style:
- Data-driven
- Agile
- Innovative
- Collaborative
- Customer-focused
Self-Assessment Questions:
- Do you have a strong customer focus and a passion for delivering exceptional results?
- Are you comfortable working in a collaborative and agile environment?
- Do you thrive in a data-driven culture and enjoy using data to inform decision-making?
- Are you able to work independently and take initiative when faced with new challenges?
ASSUMPTION: B&Q values a customer-obsessed, collaborative, and data-driven work culture. Candidates should be able to demonstrate a strong fit with these values and work styles.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Managing a team through a significant transition from an agency model to in-house operations
- Balancing the need for short-term performance with long-term strategic goals
- Navigating a large and complex organisation with multiple stakeholders
- Keeping up with the rapidly evolving paid search landscape and new platform features
ASSUMPTION: These challenges require strong leadership, strategic thinking, and excellent communication skills to overcome.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- This role is unique in its focus on in-housing paid search operations and leading a team through a significant transition
- Compared to other senior paid search roles, this position offers a broader scope of responsibilities and the opportunity to shape the future of paid search at B&Q
- Career progression opportunities may include expanding the in-house paid search team or taking on additional responsibilities within the broader digital marketing function
ASSUMPTION: This role offers a unique opportunity to make a significant impact on B&Q's paid search operations and drive revenue growth across both digital and physical retail channels.
📝 Sample Projects
- Leading the transition of paid search operations from a global agency to an in-house team, including the recruitment and onboarding of new team members
- Developing and implementing a sophisticated test-and-learn strategy to improve campaign performance and drive revenue growth
- Collaborating with cross-functional teams to deliver joined-up customer acquisition strategies, including SEO, CRM, Analytics, and Merchandising
ASSUMPTION: These projects require strong leadership, strategic thinking, and excellent communication skills to deliver successful outcomes.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- Can you describe the current state of B&Q's paid search operations and the vision for the in-house team?
- How does this role fit into the broader digital marketing strategy at B&Q, and what are the key priorities for the first 90 days?
- What are the biggest challenges facing the paid search team, and how can this role help address them?
- How does B&Q support the professional development and growth of its paid search team members?
- What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this role, and how will success be measured?
ASSUMPTION: These questions will help candidates better understand the role, the team, and the broader organisational context, as well as assess the company's commitment to supporting their professional growth and development.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through the following link: https://careers-bandq.icims.com/jobs/117740/senior-paid-search-manager/job
- Tailor your CV and cover letter to highlight your relevant paid search experience, team leadership skills, and cultural fit with B&Q
- Prepare examples of your test-and-learn approach to campaign optimisation and data-driven decision-making
- Follow up with the hiring manager one week after submitting your application to express your interest in the role
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
