Senior Vice President, Paid Media

Walker Sands • Chicago, IL

13d • $150,000 - $210,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

We strongly encourage people of color, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and non-binary people, veterans, parents and individuals with disabilities to apply. As an equal opportunity employer Walker Sands is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion and welcomes everyone to our team. In your application, please feel free to note which pronouns you use (For example – she/her/hers, he/him/his, they/them/theirs, etc). If you need reasonable accommodation at any point in the application or interview process, please let us know. We’re looking for a proven Senior Vice President, Paid Media to lead the next evolution of our paid media practice at Walker Sands. This senior leadership role blends strategic acumen, innovation and leadership, tasked with driving measurable business outcomes for B2B’s most ambitious brands and redefining what paid media can achieve in an integrated, data-driven marketing ecosystem. You’ll guide a team of expert strategists and channel specialists to design and execute full-funnel programs that connect awareness to revenue. You’ll also elevate the agency’s thought leadership in performance marketing, helping us set the standard for how creativity, analytics and technology converge to deliver growth in the attention economy. As a key member of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT), you’ll be accountable not only for the work, but also for championing your team and its culture. You’ll embody our agency values of Learn, Support and Do, while helping shape the vision and future of integrated marketing at Walker Sands.

Requirements

• You’re data-driven and audience-obsessed. You understand how to turn insights into strategy and strategy into measurable results.
• You’re a builder. You thrive on scaling new ideas, new systems and new teams — and you bring operational rigor to the process.
• You believe in team over ego. You create a culture where collaboration and curiosity fuel better work.
• You crave feedback and continuous improvement. You see every campaign as an opportunity to learn and refine.
• You pursue excellence. You hold high standards for strategy, execution and client partnership.
• You value people. You lead with empathy, invest in your team’s growth and build an environment that reflects our values of inclusivity, respect and belonging.
• 12–15+ years leading agency paid media and/or performance marketing teams, working with B2B and technology clients.
• Proven success designing and executing multi-channel paid programs with multi-million dollar paid budgets.
• Deep understanding of marketing automation, CRM, ABM, SEO/GEO and conversion optimization — and how they intersect with paid strategy.
• Experience with and proficiency in key marketing and analytics platforms, including GA4, Looker Studio, Google Ads, LinkedIn Ads, Tableau, 6sense, Demandbase, and major DSPs such as Basis, The Trade Desk, DV360 and StackAdapt.
• Strong track record of new business success through strategy, storytelling and consultative selling.
• Experience managing and scaling teams in fast-paced, integrated environments.
• Exceptional communication and executive presence — able to inspire trust, influence stakeholders and present with confidence.

Responsibilities

• Define and lead a bold vision for the agency’s paid media practice — connecting brand and demand strategies across search, social, display, programmatic, video and other emerging platforms.
• Champion offering innovation, integrating new technologies, tools and channels (including AI and GEO) to keep the agency at the forefront of performance marketing.
• Inspire conceptual excellence grounded in data and audience insight, balancing precision targeting with powerful storytelling.
• Set the standard for outcome-based paid media that educates, engages and converts — transforming enterprise B2B brands into category leaders.
• Fuel paid media growth. Partner with the Growth team and other agency leaders to shape integrated strategies that win new business and expand client relationships.
• Scope, price, and sell high-impact engagements across paid media, ABM and integrated digital marketing.
• Serve as a senior strategic advisor for executive clients, helping them connect marketing performance to business outcomes.
• Serve as a thought leader and evangelist for modern, insight-led paid media that powers the full buyer journey.
• Lead strategy on high-value client programs, ensuring channel integration and cross-functional collaboration with PR, Creative, Content, Organic Social Media, SEO/GEO and Marketing Operations.
• Translate complex data and market dynamics into actionable insights and measurable results.
• Partner with analytics and strategy teams to develop robust measurement frameworks that connect upstream metrics (impressions, clicks, visits) with downstream outcomes (engagements, downloads, form fills), ensuring clear visibility into performance and business impact.
• Build enduring relationships with senior marketing leaders at clients, earning trust through strategic counsel and business impact.
• Partner with internal experts to design innovative pilots and test-and-learn initiatives that drive continuous performance improvement.
• Build, mentor and inspire a high-performing team of paid media strategists and specialists.
• Establish smart systems, workflows and frameworks to scale excellence and consistency.
• Champion an inclusive team culture rooted in growth, learning and accountability.
• Develop career pathways and foster continuous education in emerging paid trends, AI applications and analytics.
• Align team efforts with agency goals, ensuring paid media delivers measurable client and business value.
• Travel and spend time in person with our teams in Chicago and Boston, in particular.
• Shape the agency’s overall direction, bringing paid media expertise to executive decisions on service innovation and market positioning.
• Represent Walker Sands at industry events, conferences and thought leadership opportunities.
• Partner with fellow SLT members to drive operational efficiency, financial performance and organizational health.
• Own and manage the Paid Media P&L, ensuring disciplined financial decision-making across revenue forecasting, staffing, pricing and profitability to meet agency and department growth goals.
• Grow the agency’s reputation as a leader in data-driven, creative, and outcome-driven B2B marketing.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans, plus mental health resources, pet insurance, fertility benefits, and more.
• Employer-matched 401(k) and access to financial planning services.
• Take time as needed for vacations, mental health, or personal days. Includes 8 paid holidays, half-day summer Fridays, and a week off between Christmas and New Year.
• Mix of in-office and remote work, with tools to stay connected across teams.
• Celebrate five years with a two-week sabbatical and a $2,000 gift.
• Generous paid leave for new parents and caregivers, plus policies for pregnancy loss, adoption challenges, and more.
• Clear career paths, mentorship programs, and learning events to help you grow professionally.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive
• Education Level: No Education Listed