How To Hire a Senior SEM Manager
Complete with job descriptions, skill profiles, and interview templates. Use this Senior SEM Manager hiring guide to help you make the right decisions, fast.
Senior SEM Manager Recruitment Guide
What does a Senior SEM Manager do?
A Senior SEM Manager is the lead developer of search engine marketing tests and regularly reports on the impacts and results of search engine marketing programs as well as strategic recommendations that improve the overall SEM performance and results.
The Senior SEM Manager leads and oversees the day-to-day SEM processes for various marketing search engine campaigns and implements new or revised keywords, copy, bid, landing pages, and other related SEM approaches and strategies.
Day to day tasks of a Senior SEM Manager
- Using Segment, Amplitude, Google Analytics, Tag Manager & other SEM tools/integrations.
- Develop and implement Google and Facebook/Instagram ad campaign
- Create, insert, optimize and manage tracking ensuring clean data can be analyzed from GA, Google Ads, Facebook Pixel, and other tracking sources
- Strategically plan, budget, execute and measure paid search marketing strategy on a national and/or global scale.
- SEM reporting, budgeting & forecasting.
- Manage and develop the search marketing team (or contractors) to hit agreed KPIs.
Senior SEM Manager definition
A Senior SEM Manager is tasked with the monitoring of SEM campaigns. They perform advanced research and analysis on search performance metrics such as quality score and competitive analyses after which they make recommendations on tracking and data improvements.
HIRING PROCESS
Senior SEM Manager Hiring Process
Build the ideal candidate profile
Skills needed for a Senior SEM Manager
A Senior SEM Manager must be data focussed and understanding running end to end campaigns, utilizing in depth marketing analysis metrics.
- Marketing Analytics
- SEM
- Campaign Management
Pro Tip
For senior roles, you’re likely to receive a larger number of applications than you would for a junior position. Ensure you provide details about what it’s like to work for your company, and what your company values are so applicants know whether your company is the right fit for them.
WRITE A JOB DESCRIPTION BASED ON SKILLS
How to write a Senior SEM Manager job description
Once you’ve determined the skills required for the role, you can write the job description to advertise for your position. Here’s what to include in your Senior SEM Manager job description:
Job Title: What position are you hiring for?
Summary: What makes your company unique? What would it be like to work for you?
Responsibilities: An overview of the role’s day-to-day activities, and how the position contributes to the organization
Requirements: Skills a candidate must have to perform the job successfully
Benefits: Details of compensation, benefits, and any perks on offer
Pro Tip
In building your candidate profile, remember you’ve already identified what skills are needed to succeed in the role. Here’s where to list your “must-have” skills and maybe a couple of “nice-to-have” skills. For example, a Senior SEM Manager must understand the metrics behind website optimization, and it would be nice to have affiliate marketing experience.
SELECTING THE IDEAL CANDIDATE
Sample skill tests for a Senior SEM Manager
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Question 1
SEM
Question Type: Audio
What is SEM’s role in an integrated, multifunctional marketing plan?
Question 2
Campaign Management
Question Type: Video
Describe a situation where you have used tested and proved hypotheses to recommend performance optimizations.
Question 3
Marketing Analytics
Question Type: Text
Below are the stats from the previous month and halfway through the current month for a SaaS company that you are working with. What high-level conclusions can you draw from this data, and what would be an achievable number of new customers for the full month?
INTERVIEW TOP PERFORMERS
How to interview a Senior SEM Manager
Once your Vervoe skills assessment has surfaced the most qualified people for your open role, you can focus on interviewing these candidates. The interview should focus on any skills that require development that were highlighted from the skills assessment.
Now you know that candidates can do the job, the interview becomes more of a relationship building exercise where you can get to know the candidate on a more personal level, understand their motivations, and how they would fit in with the team.
Making An Offer
How much does it cost to hire a Senior SEM Manager?
The US average for a Senior SEM Manager according to Indeed amounts to $70,571. According to ZipRecruiter, the majority of Senior SEM Manager salaries currently range between $56,000 (25th percentile) to $82,000 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $101,000 annually across the US.
Senior SEM Manager Salary United States
Senior SEM Manager salaries in the United States range from $48,933 – $66,754 (USD). SEM Manager salaries in the U.S will vary depending on the location and scope of the role.
Source: Salary.com
Senior SEM Manager Salary United Kingdom
SEM Manager salaries in the United Kingdom range from £27,500 – £80,000 (GBP). SEM Manager salaries in the UK will vary depending on the location and scope of the role.
Source: Hays UK Salary Guide 2020
Senior SEM Manager Salary Australia
SEM Manager salaries in Australia range from $94,000 – $111,000 (AUD). SEM Manager salaries in Australia will vary depending on the location and scope of the role.
Source: Glassdoor
