Performance marketing manager job description.

What does a performance marketing manager do?

 

A performance marketing manager oversees all paid digital marketing activity with a focus on measurable growth. They develop campaign strategies across PPC, paid social, display, and affiliates, and ensure spend is optimised for ROI.

 

Key responsibilities include media planning, audience targeting, testing strategies, performance analysis, and platform budgeting. They often manage external agencies or internal executives.

 

In smaller businesses, the role is highly hands-on. In more established companies, they focus on strategy, performance oversight, and reporting to leadership on acquisition goals.

 

Key responsibilities of a performance marketing manager.

 

Performance marketing managers typically drive growth across paid channels, owning both strategy and day-to-day execution. Their responsibilities include:

• Planning and managing campaigns across paid search, social, display, and programmatic

• Monitoring channel performance and optimising toward CPA, ROAS, or conversion targets

• Developing A/B testing frameworks for creative, copy, and audiences

• Managing paid media budgets, forecasts, and pacing

• Collaborating with creative, content, and product teams to improve campaign impact

• Reporting on performance metrics and generating actionable insights

• Overseeing feed management, pixel tracking, and attribution modelling

• Staying updated on industry trends and platform changes

• Working closely with data and BI teams on revenue attribution

• Coordinating agency partners or in-house teams for campaign execution

This role blends hands-on campaign work with strategic channel ownership and cross-functional collaboration.

 

Skills and requirements for a performance marketing manager.

 

Performance marketing managers oversee acquisition campaigns, testing, and optimisation across channels. Employers typically look for:

• 4–8 years of digital or performance marketing experience

• Strong knowledge of paid media strategy and campaign performance

• Experience managing paid search, paid social, and display channels

• Confidence using GA4, attribution tools, and reporting dashboards

• Ability to lead media planning and channel mix optimisation

• Experience managing budgets, targets, and return on ad spend

• Comfortable briefing creatives and leading A/B testing

• Skilled in performance insights, forecasting, and reporting

• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills

Most performance marketing managers come from PPC or media buying backgrounds and are confident working with both creative and data teams.

 

Average salary for a performance marketing manager.

 

In the UK, the average salary for a performance marketing manager typically ranges from £50,000 to £70,000, depending on revenue impact, channel mix, and leadership duties.

• Mid-level professionals in this role tend to earn between £50,000 and £60,000

• Senior managers, particularly those accountable for multi-million-pound budgets, often earn between £61,000 and £70,000

• Growth-focused companies may offer bonuses based on CAC, ROAS, or pipeline metrics

Roles in B2C ecommerce, B2B SaaS, and paid social agencies tend to offer the most competitive pay.

 

Career progression for a performance marketing manager.

 

A performance marketing manager owns paid digital campaigns and revenue-driving activity. This strategic role leads into senior management or director-level growth positions. A typical route looks like:

 

Performance marketing executive

 

Executes campaigns, optimises bids, and reports on KPIs like CPA and ROAS.

 

Performance marketing manager

 

Leads paid media strategy. Forecasts spend, manages platforms, and mentors others.

 

Head of performance marketing

 

Owns acquisition channels, budget planning, and performance team development.

 

Director of growth / digital marketing

 

Strategically aligns performance with business goals and long-term customer value.

 

Chief revenue officer (CRO) / CMO

 

Manages the full customer acquisition engine and contributes to business-wide growth planning.