Location: Chennai & Bangalore Notice Period: Immediate to 60 days Preferred- Global experience & AI technical expertise. Senior Manager – Search Media (COE) The Senior Manager – Search Media will support the strategic direction and performance of Search media — spanning SEM, SEO, AEO/GEO, as part of the Media Center of Excellence (CoE), and in partnership with the corporate web team and other senior stakeholders. This role requires a strategic, hands-on player-coach with deep expertise across paid and organic search, a robust point of view on how SEO (and GEO/AEO) and SEM should work together, and the ability to partner with corporate web and agency partners as strategic contributors. This role will serve as the primary point of contact for our agency partner, who will continue to provide strategic guidance and specialist input. The Senior Manager will ensure SEM execution is planned together SEO as one integrated strategy. Core Responsibilities • Partner to drive end-to-end strategy for SEM and SEO across regions — keyword strategy, audience targeting, budget allocation, and campaign architecture — ensuring both channels are planned jointly rather than in silos, especially for key integrated campaign pages. • Manage the established, steady-state SEM motion — overseeing ongoing updates, optimization, and execution against existing campaign structures, while elevating them with stronger strategic direction. • Help manage and coordinate agency and vendor relationships across Search—working with web leaders to set expectations, review strategic recommendations, track deliverables,



and drive strategic partner priorities QoQ. • Partner to establish agency/vendor scope, fees, and contracts in partnership with procurement, ensuring cost-efficiency as responsibilities shift between in-house teams and external partners. • Build the CoE's AEO/GEO (Answer Engine & Generative Engine Optimization) capability—working with incumbent parties, researching the space, understanding what is in motion, assessing gaps and priorities, and establishing best practices and process going forward. • Act as a direct strategic partner to the Head of Media CoE and web leaders on cross-channel planning, budget strategy, and roadmap priorities. • Guide and upskill the in-house SEM resource, elevating execution with stronger strategic direction and a B2B, integrated-campaign lens. • Use data and performance insights to continuously optimize SEM, SEO, and Programmatic performance, and to develop and track KPIs across all owned channels. • Collaborate closely with Web, Content, Brand & Creative, Field and Service Line marketers, MarTech, and Analytics teams to ensure cohesive, full-funnel campaign execution. • Stay ahead of industry trends, platform changes, and emerging technologies across search,



programmatic, and AI-driven discovery, and translate them into action for the CoE. Candidate Profile • Bachelor’s degree in marketing, Advertising, Communications, or a related field is preferable but not essential. • 15+ years of experience in B2B media strategy, with deep expertise across SEM and SEO, and experience with integrated, full-funnel campaigns. • Proven experience managing external agencies or vendors in a strategic advisory capacity — setting direction, evaluating recommendations, and holding partners to outcomes rather than just overseeing delivery. • Track record of transitioning outsourced functions in-house, including scoping, hiring, or process design. • Comfortable operating in both steady-state and zero-to-one modes — able to run and optimize an established SEM program while also building a new capability (AEO/GEO) from scratch, starting with a pilot before scaling. • Working familiarity with, or strong interest in, AEO/GEO and how generative/AI-driven platforms are changing search and content discovery. • Strong analytical skills, with the ability to interpret performance data to inform strategic decisions and defend recommendations to senior stakeholders. • Excellent leadership, stakeholder management, and cross-functional collaboration skills; comfortable operating as a strategic partner to senior leadership. • Outstanding written and verbal communication and presentation skills. • Hands-on proficiency with SEM/SEO platforms and tools .

📌 Media Marketing - SM Level (Bengaluru)
🏢 People First Consultants
📍 Bengaluru