Paid Search Manager

It starts with YES

At Optus, we have an ambitious goal to be Australia's most loved everyday brand.

The Paid Search Manager plays a key role in leading and optimising Optus's Search Engine Marketing (SEM) platforms, overseeing the full SEM budget and managing strategic partnerships, particularly with Google. As the platform owner, the role focuses on driving innovation through testing and deploying new technologies, ensuring alignment with Optus's commercial goals. This includes leveraging joint business plans and piloting alpha and beta initiatives to keep Optus at the forefront of search marketing.

This role is responsible for implementing a unified 'one search' strategy to drive cost efficiency and campaign effectiveness. The Paid Search Manager will also support capability building by training internal teams to run SEM campaigns independently, while ensuring SEM is fully integrated within Optus's broader digital marketing strategy to maximise return on investment.

What you'll be doing:

• Develop and lead SEM strategy aligned with marketing goals, manage budgets, and optimise spend based on performance data.
• Lead alpha/beta testing and develop custom solutions with Google to drive innovation and competitive advantage.
• Implement a unified "one search" strategy across SEM and SEO, collaborating with internal teams to align with broader digital marketing efforts.
• Upskill internal teams to manage SEM end-to-end, educate the wider marketing team, and integrate generative AI insights into practice.
• Oversee daily SEM operations, conduct A/B testing, monitor KPIs, and drive performance improvements using analytics and AI tools.
• Deliver performance insights, drive strategic SEM growth opportunities, and support process improvement, market expansion, and industry innovation.

What makes you perfect for the role?

• 6 years + hands-on experience managing high-scale SEM campaigns across Google Ads, with a strong focus on ROI and cost efficiency
• Skilled in bidding strategies, keyword management, audience targeting, creative testing, and conversion optimisation.
• Proven experience managing and optimising large-scale SEM budgets to drive commercial growth.
• Strong data analysis skills using GA4 to extract insights and guide strategic decisions.
• Knowledge of tracking pixels, tagging, and platform integrations for accurate performance measurement.
• Experienced with SEM automation tools and scripts to streamline processes and reduce manual tasks.
• Effective cross-functional collaborator with the ability to present complex insights clearly to stakeholders.

Perks we love at Optus

• 3 days in the office, 2 days remote - with flexible hours to suit
• Inclusive gender neutral paid parental leave, up to 16 weeks for the primary care giver.
• Optus employees have access to resources, webinars and support via the 'Parents at Work portal'.
• Own your own growth by accessing an extensive online and facilitator led learning catalogue.
• Connect at work through our employee-led volunteer groups: Culture Connect, Elevate Women, Disability Network, Express Yourself (LGBTQIA+), United Veterans, Yarn Network, Wellbeing Network and Young Professionals.
• Vibrant campus life, variety of facilities including restaurants, cafes, gymnasium, GP, and post office.
• Free Optus bus from Macquarie University Metro Station (every 6-8 minutes); morning and afternoon

Keen to see what it's really like to work at Optus? Search #OptusLife on LinkedIn to go behind the scenes

At Optus, we are strengthened by others and that means valuing diversity and saying 'yes' to embracing individual differences. We are committed to ensuring that our application process provides an equal employment opportunity to all job seekers, including individuals from diverse gender, cultural and linguistic backgrounds, individuals with a disability, individuals identifying as being part of the LGBTQIA+ community, individuals who may have served in the armed forces or who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.

For more information on Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging at Optus, please visit