Director, Paid Search

What we’re looking for

SurveyMonkey is seeking an experienced, strategic, and results-oriented Director of Search to lead our global Search engine optimization (SEO) and Search engine marketing (SEM) channels. You will develop and execute a unified, holistic Search strategy that drives sustainable traffic, conversions, and revenue growth across both paid and organic channels.

You will lead the Search team and serve as the primary bridge between our technical, product, paid, and data teams. You will be leading a high-impact function with the resources and executive visibility to define the future of Search at SurveyMonkey.

What you’ll be working on

• Develop and champion a unified, multi-year global Search strategy that maximizes traffic & conversions across both SEO and SEM, ensuring the channels work synergistically to achieve ambitious growth targets.
• Develop a clear, competitive POV and actionable strategy on how SurveyMonkey will achieve high visibility and conversion rates within the evolving Generative Experience Optimization (GEO) and Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) landscape.
• Own the global Search budget and forecasting models, ensuring the efficient allocation of multi-million dollar spend across paid channels (e.g., Google Ads, Bing) while balancing investment in organic growth initiatives.
• Serve as the cross-functional leader connecting Growth, Product, Engineering, Content, and Data Science teams to prioritize and align on the technical roadmap and reporting requirements (e.g., optimizing landing pages and UX for search performance).
• Oversee the end-to-end strategy for all Search efforts, including technical SEO implementation, keyword strategy, ad copy/content optimization, bid management, and content structuring designed for optimal consumption by Large Language Models (LLMs) and generative AI outputs.
• Drive a culture of continuous testing and optimization (A/B testing) across all campaigns and assets. Ensure performance excellence by leading keyword research and competitive analysis.
• Partner closely with the Data team to enhance attribution models and ensure the accuracy of paid signal data (tying into critical Growth data initiatives like SA360), helping us secure the most competitive pricing and get the most out of every agreement.
• Stay abreast of Search engine algorithm changes, industry trends, competitive landscape, and new technologies (e.g., LLM-driven search, AEO, GEO, etc).
• Lead, mentor, and grow the Search team, fostering collaboration and shared learning between the SEO and SEM disciplines.
• Provide strategic direction to the functional channel leads, ensuring optimized daily performance and campaign alignment.
• Manage search marketing budgets and tools, directing vendor and platform relationships (e.g., Google) to drive strategic objectives and deliver maximum value.

We’d love to hear from people with

• 7+ years of experience in Search marketing; 3+ years in a senior leadership role overseeing both SEO and SEM functions, in a high-growth B2B and SaaS environment.
• Track record of driving significant, measurable growth in organic traffic and managing multi-million dollar global SEM budgets, driving conversions.
• Experience in building, managing, and mentoring entire Search teams.
• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Business, or related field (Master’s preferred).
• Understanding of the interdependencies between technical SEO, content, paid strategy, and the rapidly evolving landscape of Generative Experience Optimization (GEO), Answer Engine Optimization (AEO), and Large Language Models (LLMs).
• Excellent ability to communicate complex technical requirements, channel performance, and holistic Search strategy to non-technical stakeholders and executive leadership.
• Strong understanding of web development technologies, site architecture, and the technical requirements for large-scale, enterprise-level SEO.
• Highly proficient in data analysis and using data signals (like SA360) to drive precise budget allocation and strategic channel optimization. Expert in SEO tools (e.g. Ahrefs, Screaming Frog) and analytics (Google Analytics/GA4, Search Console).

The base pay provided for this position ranges from $177,395 / year - $240,005 / year depending on the geographic market and assuming a full-time schedule. Actual base pay is based on a number of factors including market location, job-related knowledge, education or training, skills, and experience.

Bonuses and commissions may also be offered as part of the total compensation package, in addition to a competitive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance; 401(k) retirement plan; flexible spending & health savings account; paid holidays; paid time off; employee assistance program; and other company benefits.

SurveyMonkey believes in-person collaboration is valuable for building relationships, fostering community, and enhancing our speed and execution. While this role is remote, it may require in-person participation. You will be encouraged to attend company events throughout the year. These events will take place at a designated SurveyMonkey office or location.

#LI-remote