Senior Paid Media Manager

Title: Senior Paid Media Manager Location: Chicago, IL

Summary

We are seeking a Senior Paid Media Manager to lead the execution and optimization of our paid acquisition strategy across key channels. This role will be responsible for managing and scaling performance marketing campaigns while partnering closely with the Director of Growth to test and expand into new acquisition channels.

The ideal candidate is both analytical and hands-on, capable of executing campaigns while building structured experimentation frameworks to improve customer acquisition efficiency and scale.

This role will collaborate closely with teams across Lifecycle Marketing, Analytics, Product, and Creative to drive measurable growth and improve the performance of the customer acquisition funnel.
Key Responsibilities

Paid Acquisition Management

• Own day-to-day execution and optimization of paid acquisition campaigns across key channels including:
• Google Search.
• Performance Max.
• YouTube.
• Paid Social.
• Continuously optimize campaigns to improve CPL, CAC, ROAS, and conversion performance.
• Manage budget allocation across channels based on performance and marginal return.
• Partner with internal analytics teams to ensure campaign performance is accurately measured and reported.

Channel Expansion & Partner Management

• Work closely with the Director of Growth to identify and test new acquisition channels.
• Manage relationships and onboarding for emerging advertising partners such as:
• Reddit.
• Connected TV (CTV).
• New performance marketing platforms.
• Coordinate with external partners to launch pilots and evaluate performance.
• Analyze early results and provide recommendations on scaling or optimizing new channels.

Experimentation & Performance Optimization

• Design and execute structured experimentation frameworks to improve acquisition performance.
• Run tests across:
• Audiences.
• Creative.
• Messaging.
• Landing pages.
• Funnel steps.
• Partner with the Growth Director and Analytics team to implement incrementality testing, holdout experiments, and attribution analysis.
• Translate testing insights into actionable improvements across campaigns and funnel performance.

Creative & Messaging Testing

• Partner with creative teams to develop and test new advertising concepts.
• Build systematic testing plans for:
• New messaging angles.
• Video creative.
• Ad formats.
• Audience segmentation.
• Identify winning creative and scale successful concepts across channels.

Funnel Optimization

• Collaborate with Product, Growth, and Lifecycle teams to improve conversion performance across the acquisition funnel.
• Identify friction points in the user journey and recommend improvements to increase conversion rates.
• Work closely with internal teams to test landing page and funnel optimizations that improve acquisition efficiency.

Performance Reporting & Insights

• Monitor campaign performance and deliver clear reporting on acquisition metrics including:
• CAC.
• Conversion rate.
• ROAS.
• Volume growth.
• Incremental lift vs. simple last-click attribution.
• Provide insights and recommendations to the Director of Growth to inform channel investment decisions.
• Maintain a strong data-driven approach to campaign optimization and decision-making.

Required Qualifications and Key Competencies

• 5 + years of experience in performance marketing, paid acquisition, or growth marketing.
• Demonstrated experience managing multi-channel paid acquisition campaigns.
• Strong analytical mindset with experience interpreting performance data and running structured experiments.
• Experience working with advertising platforms such as Google Ads, YouTube, Meta, or other performance channels.
• Familiarity with emerging acquisition channels such as Reddit, CTV, or programmatic platforms.
• Experience working cross-functionally with analytics, product, and marketing teams.
• Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, experimentation-driven environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in fintech, trading platforms, financial education, or regulated industries.
• Experience with Paid Search.
• Experience scaling paid acquisition programs with large budgets.
• Familiarity with attribution models, incrementality testing, and marketing analytics.
• Experience working with lifecycle marketing and CRM teams to improve acquisition and retention performance.

Company Culture & Perks

• Topstep is an engaging working environment that ranges from fully remote to hybrid. We foster a culture of collaboration by keeping cameras on during meetings and maintaining a robust Slack environment for communication.
• Seven Company-paid Holidays and generous Family Leave. Paid time off is front-loaded.
• Competitive 401(k) matching, health, dental, and vision insurance are offered for full-time employees.
• Vacations are encouraged with a bonus for taking 5 consecutive days. Topstep offers a food and groceries budget and contributes towards health and wellness.

New Hire Base Salary Range 

• $135,000 - $150,000.
• The compensation offered will take into account the internal compensation structure and may vary depending on the candidate's geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience, among other factors.
• This position is eligible for a performance-based bonus as provided by the plan terms and governing documents.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Topstep is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where all employees and applicants are valued. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status, in compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.

Interested in the role? Apply today with your resume!

Notice of Use of Artificial Intelligence in Recruitment and Hiring: Notice Pursuant to 775 ILCS 5/2-102(L). Topstep LLC uses artificial intelligence ("AI") in connection with its recruitment and hiring process. Examples include, but are not limited to, AI tools used to improve job descriptions, generate interview questions, draft communications, assist with scheduling, and source candidates, as well as AI features built into third-party platforms such as LinkedIn, Indeed, and Glassdoor. Topstep will not use AI that has the effect of subjecting employees or applicants to discrimination on the basis of any protected class under the Illinois Human Rights Act.

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