Performance Marketing Manager, Consumer Lending

Role Summary:We're looking for a paid media lead with a history of success in SEM, youtube, and display, to drive customer acquisition across multiple financial services verticals. Experience driving marketing results with Claude or Chat GPT is highly desirable.This is both a hands-on and strategic role: you'll build the roadmap, launch and optimize campaigns , and partner with analytics, business, creative, and engineering to continuously drive value for our customers and business. Success here requires strong data/creative/ monetization skills, a high degree of initiative, and a vision for paid marketing tactics and experiences in the age of AI.This role reports to the Managing Director.Where you can make an impact:Strategy & Campaign OwnershipOwn paid marketing strategy, execution, and performance across multiple verticals, aligning campaigns to each vertical's growth targets, funnel dynamics, and audience needsBuild campaign structures across SEM, youtube, display, Open AI, and other platforms as neededSet objectives, bidding strategy, audience approach, budget allocation, and conversion events per campaignManage campaigns end-to-end: setup, QA, pacing, troubleshooting, optimizationBuild testing plans for new verticals, bidding strategies, conversion events, creative angles, and funnel experiencesAI UtilizationUse AI tools to enhance and accelerate traditional marketing functionsUse AI as your own personal agency - building high quality creative, data insights, and landing pages, etc to overcome blockers and limited resourcesCombine your own deep understanding of paid marketing with AI tools for novel and innovative purposes.Optimization & PerformanceMonitor marketing performance and diagnose CTR, CVR, and Revenue and monetization issues, data/tracking issues, funnel friction, monetization problems, and/or lead quality.Make budget and pacing calls based on performance trends and business prioritiesStay current on platform, algorithm, privacy, and ad product changesReporting & Stakeholder CommunicationOwn recurring performance reporting — results, trends, learnings, risks, next stepsTranslate platform performance into business impact for vertical leads and leadershipCommunicate tracking issues, data discrepancies, and testing results clearly and proactivelyData, Tracking & MeasurementPartner with data, analytics, and engineering teams to define measurement needs and map new conversion eventsTroubleshoot discrepancies between platform and backend data (attribution, event firing, duplicates, timing)Help build measurement frameworks that optimize toward lead quality and business outcomes, not just volumeCreative StrategyLead creative strategy across verticals: messaging angles, hooks, scripts, static/video/UGC conceptsWrite creative briefs covering business goal, audience, value prop, and key claimsReview assets for clarity and platform fit; give feedback through concept, script, and production stagesBuild creative testing roadmaps and turn results into next-round recommendationsLanding Page & Funnel StrategyEvaluate landing pages and funnels for message match, conversion flow, and drop-offRecommend and support tests across landing pages, advertorials, lead forms, quizzes, and pre-qualification flowsEnsure creative, landing pages, and tracking are aligned before launchPlatform Partnerships & Competitive ResearchManage relationships with platform reps; evaluate their recommendations against NerdWallet's goals and data qualityTrack competitor creative, offers, and funnel approaches; feed insights back into strategyYour experience:5+ years of paid search experience, ideally in lead generation.Proven track record of utilizing AI tools (such as Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini) to accelerate marketing functions, gain data insights, and optimize creative processes.Forward-thinking vision regarding how and where to market in the age of AI and video, demonstrating the ability to craft tactics for finding consumers as search behaviors shift beyond standard search engines.Demonstrated experience in video marketing, with a track record of driving performance through short-form video content, emerging ad formats, and platforms like YouTube to capture audiences outside of traditional Google Ads.Bachelor's degree in marketing, business, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.Proven track record scaling paid search (7 figures in monthly spend preferred) while maintaining or improving CPA/CAC and ROAS.Experience managing toward lead gen, revenue, ROAS, CPA/CAC, or funnel-based goals.Ability to build paid media strategy from the ground up — structure, testing, measurement, creative, optimization.Strong analytical skills, comfortable with both platform and backend business data.Experience troubleshooting tracking, attribution, or reporting discrepancies.Experience writing creative briefs and giving feedback to creative teams or external partners.Strong project management skills across multiple concurrent verticals and workstreams.Clear, confident communicator who can translate data into recommendations for non-technical audiences.Preferred Qualifications:Experience and success outside of Google or BingExperience in financial services (insurance, lending, wealth, banking, investing, mortgage, home equity, or other regulated categories)Experience with lead gen funnels, prequalification/quiz flows, marketplace models, or affiliate/partner revenue modelsExperience optimizing toward backend events — funded loans, booked appointments, matched leadsExperience with server-side tracking and conversion signal qualityExperience with UGC creative, creator partnerships, or video production workflowsComfort working with legal, compliance, or brand review processes in regulated industriesWhat Success Looks Like:Campaigns launch with clean setup, strong creative, accurate tracking, and aligned stakeholdersNew revenue streams outside of traditional SEM are discovered and scaledCreative & LP testing is structured, insight-driven, and tied to business outcomesTracking issues are caught early and resolved in partnership with data teamsStakeholders have a clear read on performance, risk, and next steps at all timesNew verticals have a clear, de-risked path to testing and scaling paid socialWhere:This role will be remote (based in the U.S.).We believe great work can be done anywhere. No matter where you are based, NerdWallet offers benefits and perks to support the physical, financial, and emotional well being of you and your family.What we offer:Work Hard, Stay Balanced (Life’s a series of balancing acts, eh?)Industry-leading medical, dental, and vision health care plans for employees and their dependentsRejuvenation Policy – Flexible Vacation Time Off + 11 holidays + holiday company shutdownNew Parent Leave for employees with a newborn child or a child placed with them for adoption or foster careMental health supportPaid sabbatical after 5 years for Nerds to recharge, gain knowledge, and pursue their interestsHealth and Dependent Care FSA and HSA Plan with monthly NerdWallet contributionMonthly Wellness Stipend, Cell Phone Stipend, and Wifi Stipend (Only remote Nerds are eligible for the Wifi Stipend)Work from home equipment stipend and co-working space subsidy (Only remote Nerds are eligible for these stipends)Have Some Fun! (Nerds are fun, too)Nerd-led group initiatives – Employee Resource Groups for Parents, Diversity, and Inclusion, Women, LGBTQIA, and other communitiesHackathons and team events across all teams and departmentsCompany-wide events like NerdLove (employee appreciation) and our annual Charity Auction Our Nerds love to make an impact by paying it forward – Take 8 hours of volunteer time off per quarter and donate to your favorite causes with a company matchPlan for your future (And when you retire on your island, remember the little people)401K with 4% company matchBe the first to test and benefit from our new financial products and toolsFinancial wellness, guidance, and unlimited access to a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) through NorthstarDisability and Life Insurance with employer-paid premiumsIf you are based in California, we encourage you to read this important information for California residents linked here.NerdWallet is committed to pursuing and hiring a diverse workforce and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We prohibit discrimination and harassment on the basis of any characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law, so all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment.  NerdWallet will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act and the San Francisco Fair Chance Act, which requires this notice, as well as the Los Angeles Fair Chance Act, which requires this notice.NerdWallet participates in the Department of Homeland Security U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services E-Verify program for all US locations. For more information, please see:E-Verify Participation Poster (English+Spanish/Español)Right to Work Poster (English) / (Spanish/Español) #LI-Remote#LI-4