Careers at Matchstick Social

Location: Charleston, SC (In-office, with work-from-home Fridays)
Reports To: Director of Advertising & Brand Strategy

Matchstick Social is an award-winning, full-service digital marketing agency based in Charleston, SC. Our work spans strategy, branding, websites, content, advertising, and email. We believe great marketing starts with understanding our clients’ businesses, building smart strategies, and caring about the results.

We’re looking for an experienced, analytical, and highly motivated Senior Paid Media Strategist to join our growing team.
This is a hands-on role for someone who knows Google Ads inside and out, loves finding opportunities in the data, and gets genuinely excited about helping businesses grow. You’ll serve as our in-house Google Ads expert while also supporting Meta advertising and campaigns across YouTube, LinkedIn, Reddit, and other platforms when they make sense for our clients.
You’ll work closely with our Director of Advertising & Brand Strategy, Partners, and Account Managers to develop advertising strategies, manage campaigns, analyze performance, and make recommendations that move the needle.

While Google Ads will be your primary focus, this role also includes direct client management for a small portfolio of up to seven advertising-only accounts. For those clients, you’ll lead the relationship, manage their advertising strategy, and serve as their primary point of contact.

We’re looking for someone who is equal parts strategist and executor. Someone who can build a campaign, troubleshoot a tracking issue, explain performance to a client, and identify the next opportunity without waiting to be asked.
If you love paid media, take ownership of your work, and want to be part of a creative team that values great ideas as much as great results, we’d love to meet you.

Key Responsibilities

• Google Ads Strategy & Management
• As our lead Google Ads specialist, you’ll help set the standard for how we approach paid search across the agency.
• Lead Google Ads strategy, campaign management, and optimization across assigned client accounts.
• Develop advertising strategies aligned with each client’s business goals, target audience, and budget.
• Build, launch, manage, and optimize campaigns across Google Search, Performance Max, Display, Demand Gen, YouTube, Shopping, Local, and other relevant campaign types.
• Manage Google Local Services Ads (LSA) for applicable clients, including verification, budget management, lead quality monitoring, and optimization.
• Review every active Google Ads account at least three times per week to monitor performance, budget pacing, campaign delivery, and conversion activity.
• Conduct keyword research, search term analysis, audience refinement, and negative keyword management.
• Test bidding strategies, campaign structures, and targeting approaches to improve performance.
• Monitor Quality Score, impression share, auction insights, and other performance indicators to identify opportunities.
• Regularly assess lead and conversion quality beyond platform metrics, using client feedback and business outcomes to guide campaign optimizations.
• Troubleshoot disapproved ads, policy violations, tracking issues, and other technical concerns.
• Maintain consistent campaign quality and ensure accounts follow Google Ads best practices and Matchstick’s internal standards.
• Stay informed about platform changes and identify opportunities to improve our advertising strategies and processes.

Meta & Multi-Channel Advertising
While Google Ads is your specialty, you’ll also manage paid media across other platforms based on client needs.

• Build, launch, manage, and optimize Meta advertising campaigns across Facebook and Instagram.
• Develop campaign strategies, audience targeting, placements, bidding approaches, and creative testing plans.
• Collaborate with our creative team to identify opportunities for new advertising creative, messaging, and campaign concepts.
• Manage campaigns across additional platforms, including YouTube, LinkedIn, Reddit, and others when appropriate.
• Recommend the right combination of advertising platforms based on each client’s goals, audience, and budget.
• Apply consistent monitoring, optimization, and quality standards across all platforms.
• Troubleshoot ad rejections, account restrictions, Meta Pixel issues, Conversions API concerns, and other platform challenges.
• Proactively identify performance trends, risks, and opportunities, sharing recommendations with Account Managers and leadership.

Advertising Budget Management
We take our clients’ advertising investments seriously, and we expect you to do the same.

• Monitor advertising spend and pacing across all assigned accounts and platforms.
• Identify potential overspending or underspending before it becomes an issue.
• Communicate budget concerns promptly to the appropriate Account Manager.
• Recommend budget adjustments and reallocations based on performance and business priorities.
• Confirm budget changes with the assigned Account Manager before implementation unless otherwise directed.
• Maintain an accurate understanding of monthly advertising investments across your accounts.

Reporting & Performance Analysis

We believe reporting should tell clients more than what happened. It should explain why it happened, what it means for their business, and what we’re doing next.

• Prepare monthly paid media performance reports for assigned accounts across all managed platforms.
• Deliver reporting and analysis to Account Managers ahead of client reporting deadlines.
• Analyze campaign results, identify trends, and develop recommendations for continued improvement.
• Translate advertising metrics into clear, meaningful insights that Account Managers and clients can understand.
• Identify opportunities to improve lead quality, conversion rates, return on ad spend, and overall campaign performance.
• Regularly evaluate ad landing pages and provide actionable recommendations to improve user experience, messaging, and conversion rates.
• Provide additional reporting, analysis, and campaign insights when requested.
• Support Account Managers in answering client questions about advertising performance.
• Recommend adjustments to channel strategy, budget allocation, targeting, and creative based on results.

Analytics, Tracking & Technical Implementation
Strong advertising performance starts with accurate data. You’ll help make sure our tracking is working properly so we can make informed decisions.

• Configure and maintain Google Tag Manager as needed.
• Set up and validate Google Ads conversion actions, Meta Pixel events, and Conversions API tracking.
• Configure GA4 events and troubleshoot analytics concerns when applicable.
• Maintain CallRail integrations and verify call conversion tracking.
• Troubleshoot conversion tracking and attribution issues across advertising platforms.
• Support Google Business Profile and Local Services Ads verification when needed.
• Confirm tracking accuracy before campaigns launch and after relevant website updates.
• Collaborate with our web development team when technical implementation or troubleshooting is required.

Client Account Management
Most of your work will support our Account Managers, but you’ll also directly manage a portfolio of up to seven advertising-only clients.
For these accounts, you’ll own the client relationship in addition to the advertising strategy.

For your directly managed accounts, you’ll:

• Serve as the primary point of contact for all account-related communication.
• Build strong client relationships through proactive communication, honest guidance, and dependable follow-through.
• Lead recurring client meetings to review campaign performance, discuss priorities, and recommend next steps.
• Present advertising results and explain how performance connects to business goals.
• Manage client expectations, ongoing communication, account satisfaction, and renewal conversations.
• Identify opportunities for additional services when they align with client goals.
• Coordinate with the Account Team when additional marketing services are involved.

For accounts managed by our Account Managers, you’ll:

• Serve as the paid media specialist supporting the larger client strategy.
• Collaborate with Account Managers on advertising priorities, performance, and recommendations.
• Participate in client meetings when your strategic or technical expertise is needed.
• Provide clear, timely campaign updates and recommendations that Account Managers can confidently communicate to clients.

Account assignments will be discussed with you in advance, and your direct client management responsibilities will be limited to advertising-only accounts.

New Business & Proposal Support
You’ll also have opportunities to contribute your expertise as we bring new clients into the agency.

• Participate in discovery conversations for prospective advertising clients.
• Review existing advertising accounts to identify strengths, concerns, and opportunities.
• Develop recommended advertising strategies, platform mixes, and budget allocations.
• Provide preliminary performance expectations informed by industry benchmarks and available data.
• Support the development of paid media proposals and recommendations.
• Participate in proposal presentations when additional advertising expertise is helpful.

Team Collaboration
Our best work happens when strategy, advertising, and creative work together.

• Collaborate closely with the Director of Advertising & Brand Strategy on advertising strategy, performance, and departmental standards.
• Partner with Account Managers to align paid media with each client’s broader marketing strategy.
• Work with designers and our creative team to identify advertising asset needs and landing page opportunities.
• Coordinate with developers when campaign performance depends on website functionality or tracking.
• Communicate campaign changes that could affect client messaging, reporting, or strategy.
• Bring ideas to the team that improve campaign performance, client results, and internal processes.
• Share relevant platform updates, new advertising features, and industry developments with the advertising and account teams.

Day in the Life
A day in this role might look like…

You start your morning reviewing campaign performance across your Google Ads accounts, checking spend pacing, conversions, and any issues that need attention. You notice one client’s cost per lead is climbing, so you dig into search terms, review recent changes, and make a few adjustments. Before moving on, you send the Account Manager a quick update explaining what you’re seeing and what you’re doing about it.

From there, you meet with our Director of Advertising & Brand Strategy to discuss a new client opportunity. You review their current advertising efforts, talk through potential platforms, and help develop a recommended budget and campaign approach.

Later, you’re working with one of our designers on new Meta advertising creative, troubleshooting a conversion tracking issue with a developer, and reviewing campaign results to prepare for an upcoming client meeting.

In the afternoon, you lead a performance call with one of your advertising-only clients. You walk them through what’s working, what needs improvement, and what you’re recommending for the coming month. You know their business well enough to explain the results without hiding behind a dashboard.

Before wrapping up, you check in on your remaining accounts, update campaign notes in ClickUp, and share a few recommendations with the Account Team.

No two days at Matchstick look exactly the same. You’ll move between advertising strategy, campaign optimization, technical problem-solving, creative collaboration, and client communication, all while keeping the bigger goal in mind: helping our clients grow.

What We’re Looking For
We’re looking for someone who takes ownership, thinks strategically, and genuinely cares about the work they produce.
You’re proactive. You don’t wait for an Account Manager or client to notice a problem. You monitor your accounts, identify opportunities, and communicate what you’re seeing before anyone has to ask.
You’re solutions-oriented. When something isn’t working, you don’t just flag the issue. You investigate, develop a recommendation, and take the appropriate next steps.
You’re analytical and curious. You enjoy getting into the data, testing new approaches, and understanding why campaigns perform the way they do. Even when results are strong, you’re looking for ways to make them better.
You understand business, not just advertising. You want to know what your clients sell, who their customers are, what makes a qualified lead, when demand changes, and what success actually looks like for their business.
You’re detail-oriented. You understand that a small mistake in tracking, budget settings, or campaign structure can have a real impact. You check your work and hold yourself to a high standard.
You’re a strong communicator. You can explain complex advertising concepts in simple terms, lead a client conversation, and collaborate with teammates across different departments.
You’re dependable. You manage your time, meet deadlines, keep your work organized, and follow through on commitments without needing constant reminders.
You’re a team player. You enjoy working alongside creative, strategic people and believe good ideas can come from anyone on the team.

Most importantly, you care about the people and businesses behind the campaigns. We want our clients to feel like they have an in-house marketing department, not an outside vendor, and you’ll play an important role in delivering that experience.

Qualifications

• Professional experience managing Google Ads campaigns across multiple client accounts, preferably in an agency setting.
• Advanced, hands-on knowledge of Google Ads, including Search, Performance Max, Display, Demand Gen, YouTube, Shopping, and other relevant campaign types.
• Experience managing Google Local Services Ads is strongly preferred.
• Hands-on experience building, launching, managing, and optimizing Meta advertising campaigns.
• Familiarity with additional paid media platforms, including YouTube, LinkedIn, and Reddit, is a plus.
• Demonstrated ability to manage advertising budgets, evaluate campaign performance, and make data-driven optimization decisions.
• Strong understanding of Google Ads conversion tracking, Google Tag Manager, GA4, Meta Pixel, and Conversions API.
• Experience with CallRail and call conversion tracking.
• Ability to troubleshoot campaign performance, tracking issues, and platform-related concerns.
• Experience developing paid media strategies based on business objectives, audience behavior, and performance data.
• Strong reporting and analytical skills, including the ability to translate performance data into clear recommendations.
• Experience communicating directly with clients and presenting advertising results.
• Ability to manage multiple accounts, deadlines, budgets, and priorities in a fast-paced agency environment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Experience collaborating with Account Managers, designers, developers, and other marketing specialists.
• Comfortable using project management and communication tools such as ClickUp, Gmail, and Google Chat.
• Must be able to work in person at our Charleston office Monday through Thursday, with the option to work from home on Fridays.
• Advanced Google Ads expertise is essential for this role. Candidates should be prepared to discuss campaigns they have personally built and managed, including strategy, budgets, performance, tracking, and optimization decisions.

How We Work
At Matchstick, we give our team members room to take ownership of their work. In return, we expect strong communication, accountability, and attention to detail.

That means keeping tasks and campaign notes updated in ClickUp, responding to internal requests promptly, and communicating through Gmail and Google Chat.

If a campaign isn’t performing, a budget is pacing incorrectly, or tracking breaks, we expect you to speak up right away. Account Managers should hear about important changes from you before they appear in a monthly report or become a client concern.

We also believe in asking questions, sharing ideas, and being honest when something needs attention. Nobody knows everything, and we don’t expect you to. We do expect you to take initiative, find answers, and bring recommendations to the table.

For client communication, we use Gmail, Slack when applicable, video meetings, and phone calls. Our approach is simple: be responsive, be prepared, communicate clearly, and follow through.

We care about getting the details right, whether that’s a conversion action, a budget adjustment, or a report going out to a client. We also want you to enjoy the work, contribute ideas, and feel comfortable collaborating with the people around you.

What Success Looks Like
You’ll know you’re succeeding in this role when:

• Your campaigns are performing. You’re consistently optimizing toward client KPIs and making thoughtful decisions based on performance.
• You’re our go-to Google Ads expert. You help set the standard for Google advertising across Matchstick, and the team trusts your knowledge and recommendations.
• You know your clients’ businesses. You understand their goals, customers, competitors, and markets well enough to make smart strategic decisions.
• You’re communicating proactively. Account Managers and clients know what’s happening, what you’re recommending, and what comes next.
• You’re thinking beyond one platform. You understand how different advertising channels can work together and recommend the right mix for each client.
• Budgets are managed responsibly. Spending stays on track, and potential concerns are identified and communicated early.
• Your reporting provides real value. Clients and Account Managers receive accurate data, useful analysis, and clear recommendations.
• Your tracking is accurate. Campaigns launch with proper conversion tracking, and technical issues are resolved quickly.
• You’re someone the team can count on. You meet deadlines, communicate clearly, take ownership, and contribute ideas that make our work better.
• Your clients trust you. For the accounts you manage directly, clients see you as a strategic partner who understands their business and cares about their success.

What This Role Does Not Include
We believe in giving our team members clear responsibilities and the support they need to do their best work.
While you’ll collaborate with several departments, this position does not include:

• Designing advertising creative. You’ll provide strategic direction and creative recommendations, while our design team produces the assets.
• Managing organic social media accounts.
• Serving as the primary Account Manager for full-service marketing clients.
• Managing website development projects.
• Leading SEO or organic content strategy outside of paid media landing page recommendations.

Your focus will remain on paid media strategy, campaign performance, technical implementation, and the advertising-only client relationships assigned to you.

Perks & Benefits

• ICHRA
• SIMPLE IRA eligibility after one year of employment
• Paid time off and family leave
• Phone stipend or company phone option
• Bonus opportunities
• Work-from-home Fridays
• Summer Friday hours
• Quarterly team activities
• Office snacks and occasional team lunches
• Professional development support

Compensation
$68,000-78,000 annually, plus bonus opportunities
Bonus eligibility, criteria, and payouts are subject to company policies and annual review.

Why Matchstick?
We’re a team of creative thinkers, strategic problem-solvers, and genuinely good people who care about the work we do and the businesses we support.
We work with clients across a wide range of industries, which means there’s always something new to learn, a different challenge to solve, and an opportunity to put your skills to work.
We value people who bring ideas to the table, take ownership of their work, and aren’t afraid to challenge the status quo when there’s a better way to do something.
You’ll have the opportunity to make a real impact on our clients’ businesses, help shape our advertising strategies, and grow alongside a team that values creativity, collaboration, accountability, and a little fun along the way.
If you’re passionate about paid media, love a good spreadsheet as much as a great campaign, and want to work with people who genuinely enjoy what they do, we want to meet you.

Interested? Apply here.

Matchstick Social is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate based on age, disability, sex, race, religion or belief, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, or sexual orientation.