At Star Metroland Media, we represent a suite of Canadian-owned online and offline advertising products and over 80 trusted news brands.

More than that, we are where millions of Canadians, across the country, come to read and engage with the local and national stories and opinions that shape their lives. These rich and vibrant communities are hugely valuable to advertisers too.

Our unparalleled 1st party data means we know how to reach real people, with over a thousand audience segments around the country.  That means you can connect with the audiences you want to, in environments they trust, in a way that will have the greatest impact to your marketing goals.

As an SEM Analyst at Star Metroland Media (a division of Torstar), you will be responsible for the end-to-end success of our SEM Accounts. The SEM Analyst will manage campaign build, identify test opportunities and optimizations with the goal of driving sustainable growth for our clients. Reporting to the Performance Media Director, the successful candidate in this role will thrive in a fun, fast-paced environment, with the opportunity to work with some of the top media partners in Canada. This individual must have a strong understanding of Google Ad Words, Google Analytics, Google Merchant Account, etc. Success in this position is measured by account performance and client satisfaction, while providing optimization and analytical insights to the client service team. As a highly motivated, collaborative self-starter you will be responsible for managing deadlines and delivering outstanding results. You are encouraged to bring your expertise and thought leadership to support exciting brands and drive innovation, with the goal of increasing ROI.

Responsibilities

• Perform keyword research and competitive analysis
• Understand and manage SEM audits, budget pacing and changes
• Devise and execute methods to track, report, analyze and improve SEM performance
• Collaborate with Performance Media Director and other in-house marketing teams
• Develop hypotheses and run new A/B tests to optimize campaign objectives; scale winning tests to achieve maximum ROI
• Present and communicate SEM strategies and projects to clients and/or internal stakeholders
• Keep up-to-date with latest SEM trends, strategies and algorithm changes
• Manage campaign set up and execution across all types of search campaigns, including shopping ads
• Leverage and optimize smart-bidding features to maximize client objectives
• Build, manage, and optimize complex performance driven campaigns.
• Provide daily pacing and performance of your campaigns and highlight any areas of concern to the Performance Media Director
• Pull reports, prepare meaningful creative and performance insights and recommendations.  Along with the ability to communicate these effectively in presentations to clients and stakeholders. 
• Monitor the goals and KPIs for a portfolio of clients to ensure on-time and complete delivery of campaigns. 
• Support Performance Media Director with client pitches
• Be an expert in paid media capabilities and action best in class solutions for your clients
• Stay abreast to trends and developments within the digital media landscape
• Ability to strategize and implement complex site tagging and pixeling
• Ability to identify and implement audience targeting and suppression opportunities

• 2+ years of experience working in SEM
• Strong understanding of SEM best practices
• Understanding of SEO best practices
• Passion for SEM and digital marketing
• Ability to create, justify, communicate and implement SEM strategies across teams
• Data-driven and analytical mindset
• Strong attention to detail
• Project management skills
• Experience with tagging, floodlights, pixeling

Desirables

• Certifications: Google Ads, Shopping Ads, Google Analytics
• Experience with and/or understanding of code (e.g., HTML, CSS, JavaScript)
• Experience with and/or understanding of other marketing channels (e.g. Social, SEO, Digital and Traditional Media)

Diversity & Inclusion
Torstar Group of Companies is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion. Torstar is committed to ensuring employment opportunity to qualified applicants without discrimination on the basis of race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, family status or disability or any other factor protected by law.

AODA
Torstar Group of Companies is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free recruitment process ensuring equal access to employment opportunities for candidates, including persons with disabilities. In compliance with Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and Ontario Human Rights Code we will endeavour to provide accommodation to persons with disabilities in the recruitment process upon request. If you are selected for an interview and you require accommodation due to a disability during the recruitment process, please notify the hiring manager upon scheduling the interview of your requirements.

COVID-19
Torstar Corporation remains committed to its employees and to providing a safe workplace.  As of November 30, 2021,  candidates for employment are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and successful candidates must agree to obtain any additional vaccinations or booster dose(s) that may be required. Proof of such vaccination will be required.   We will make accommodation for qualifying medical or religious exemptions.