Senior Paid Media Manager Freelance

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, which manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Senior Paid Media Manager – Freelance based in United Kingdom.

We are looking for an experienced Senior Paid Media Manager to lead the planning, execution, and optimisation of performance-driven campaigns across a diverse client portfolio. Working closely with the Director of Paid Strategy, you will take ownership of paid media performance across TikTok and Meta, with YouTube also playing a role in the channel mix. You will manage substantial budgets, turn campaign data into actionable insights, and present clear recommendations directly to clients. As a senior member of the team, you will establish best practices for testing, reporting, and campaign quality while mentoring a junior team member. You will also collaborate with strategy and creative teams to ensure paid amplification and creator-led campaigns work together effectively. Your contribution will help strengthen client outcomes through faster, more informed optimisation decisions.

Accountabilities:

• Lead the planning, activation, management, and optimisation of paid campaigns across TikTok and Meta, with YouTube as an additional channel.

• Manage the full campaign lifecycle, from media planning and budget allocation to performance analysis and post-campaign reporting.

• Develop and oversee structured test-and-learn programmes, using hypotheses, experiments, and measurable results to continuously improve campaign performance.

• Manage paid media budgets exceeding $1 million, making informed investment decisions and providing clear justification for spend allocation.

• Present campaign performance to clients through regular reporting, actionable insights, and data-driven recommendations.

• Mentor a Paid Media Executive and establish consistent team standards, including reporting templates, naming conventions, quality assurance, and campaign management practices.

• Collaborate with strategy and creative production teams to integrate paid media with creator-led campaigns.

• Monitor platform developments and channel trends, translating changes into practical recommendations for campaign strategy.

Requirements:

• At least 5 years of experience in digital paid media, either in-house or agency-side.

• Extensive hands-on experience managing and optimising campaigns across TikTok and Meta.

• Proven experience managing paid media budgets of $1 million or more and being accountable for campaign outcomes.

• Demonstrated ability to improve performance through independent analysis, with concrete examples of successful optimisation decisions.

• Strong proficiency in Excel, excellent numerical skills, and confidence in validating data and calculations.

• Experience using AI tools in daily workflows, with familiarity with Claude considered an advantage.

• Strong analytical judgement and the ability to make, communicate, and defend decisions that influence client performance.

• Exceptional attention to detail, particularly in reporting accuracy, budget tracking, and campaign administration.

• Excellent communication and client-facing skills, with the ability to collaborate across countries and time zones.

Nice to have:

• Experience mentoring or managing junior paid media professionals.

• Previous involvement in creator partnerships or creator-led paid social campaigns.

• Familiarity with SQL or business intelligence tools for independent performance analysis.

Benefits:

• Fully remote working arrangement.

• Full-time freelance opportunity.

• Salary details shared transparently upfront during the recruitment process.

• Clear recruitment stages, with feedback provided within five working days after each stage.

• Support and reasonable adjustments available for candidates who need accommodations during the interview process.