Senior Manager, SEM

Our mission is to make higher education accessible and affordable for everyone. We empower students with financial support and supercharge their ability to pay down their debt, so they can get on the right financial track, fast. We build tools that help people feel in control of their financial future, including: Private student loans - low rates, people-first service, and flexible payments. Student loan refinancing - break free from high-interest rates or monthly payments. Scholarships - access to thousands of scholarships to help students pay less. Earnies are committed to helping students live their best lives, free from the stress of student debt. If you’re as passionate as we are about our mission, read more below, and let’s build something great together! The Senior Manager, Search Engine Marketing - position will report to our Head of Paid Media As the Senior Manager, SEM, you will: Play a pivotal role in driving customer acquisition and revenue growth through paid search, with visibility into social, display, and video campaigns while expertly balancing company efficiency metrics. Be responsible for leading the strategy, execution, and optimization of our SEM efforts across multiple platforms, and for working closely with the Head of Paid Media to expertly funnel consumers through the marketing journey. Conduct keyword research, competitive analysis, and audience targeting to identify growth opportunities and mitigate risks. Collaborate closely with analytics, product, and brand creative teams to ensure cohesive campaign execution and performance measurement. Monitor, analyze, and report on campaign performance, providing actionable insights and recommendations to stakeholders. Your Impact: Develop and execute a comprehensive SEM strategy aligned with growth objectives and efficiency targets. Manage, optimize, and scale SEM campaigns across Google, Bing, and other platforms to maximize ROI and achieve KPIs. Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to articulate complex strategies and insights to both technical and non-technical stakeholders. Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, results-oriented environment with a high degree of autonomy. About You: 6+ years of hands-on experience in Search Engine Marketing, social and display, with a proven track record of driving successful campaigns tied to ROAS. Expert knowledge of SA360, Google Ads, Bing Ads, and other Search platforms; Programmatic trading desks and other Digital platforms Strong analytical skills using Google Sheets and/or Excel (experience writing SQL queries a bonus), with the ability to interpret data, identify trends, and make data-driven decisions. Experience in managing large-scale SEM campaigns with a focus on both growth and efficiency. Proficient in budget management, forecasting, and ROI analysis Strong collaboration skills and ability to work cross-functionally on behalf of the larger mission of an organization Willingness to travel to the Oakland office monthly to collaborate with other Earnies. Even Better: Previous experience in Consumer Lending and/or in the financial technology (FinTech) industry Knowledge of emerging trends and best practices in digital marketing and paid media specifically within the FinTech sector Where: This role will be based in the San Francisco Bay Area. While you’ll enjoy the flexibility of remote work, we also love to see our Earnies face-to-face! We ask you to join us at our Oakland office for 3 consecutive days a month for team collaboration and some fun. It's a chance to connect, share ideas, and maybe even grab some coffee together! #LI-EG1 A little about our pay philosophy: We take pride in compensating our employees fairly and equitably. We are showcasing a range of your potential base salary. The successful candidate’s starting pay will also be determined based on job-related qualifications, internal compensation, and budget. This range may be modified in the future. Pay Range $150,000—$170,000 USD Earnest believes in enabling our employees to live their best lives. We offer a variety of perks and competitive benefits, including: Health, Dental, & Vision benefits plus savings plans Mac computers + work-from-home stipend to set up your home office Monthly internet and phone reimbursement Employee Stock Purchase Plan Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) 401(k) plan to help you save for retirement plus a company match Robust tuition reimbursement program $1,000 travel perk on each Earnie-versary to anywhere in the world Competitive days of annual PTO Competitive parental leave What makes an “Earnie” culture: Drivers – Drivers are satisfied by making things happen, not coming along for the ride. They feel a strong sense of ownership for their projects and teams and demand high standards from themselves and others. Humility – Humble team players check their egos and consider the team’s needs above their own. They are self-aware of their strengths and opportunities for improvement. Growth Mindset – People with a growth mindset approach challenges and failures as learning opportunities. They seek feedback to improve, give feedback to others, and genuinely want to perform well. At Earnest, we are committed to building an environment where our employees feel included, valued, and heard. Our belief is that a strong commitment to diversity, inclusion, equity, and belonging enables us to move forward with our mission. We are dedicated to adding new perspectives to the team and encourage anyone to apply if your experience is close to what we are looking for. Earnest provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, disability or genetics. Qualified applicants with criminal histories will be considered for the position in a manner consistent with the Fair Chance Ordinance.