Hire a performance marketer
Performance marketing managers run paid search, paid social and other paid channels to acquire customers at a profitable cost. Here's when you need one and how to hire well.
When to hire a performance marketing manager
- Paid channels work but nobody is testing creative or scaling spend
- CAC is rising and you don't know why
- You're about to raise budgets and need someone accountable for efficiency
What it costs
We don't have enough published salaries for this role yet to give a range.
- Job post
- Free
- AI Talent Agent
- $399 per role
- Concierge recruiting
- $6,000 flat
Recruiting agencies typically charge 20–25% of first-year salary.
How competitive it is
46 paid acquisition roles are open on HeyMarketers right now, 24% of them remote. Companies hiring include Brex, Duolingo, Faire, Gusto, Inc., HelloFresh. Good candidates have options, so move quickly and publish your pay range.
Tools other employers ask for: TikTok (28%), Generative AI (28%), Google Ads (11%), ChatGPT (9%), Meta Ads (7%).
What to look for
- Spend levels and CAC results comparable to yours
- A creative testing process they can describe
- Scepticism about platform-reported numbers and a way to test incrementality
- Hands-on platform knowledge, not just agency management
Red flags
- Talks only about ROAS from the platform dashboard
- No experience at your spend level or channel mix
- Can't explain how they'd set up tracking
Questions to ask
How do you know a channel's results are incremental?
Listen for: Holdout or geo tests, and scepticism of platform attribution.
CAC has risen 30% in a month. How do you diagnose it?
Listen for: Checking tracking, creative fatigue, auction changes and the funnel after the click.
How do you structure creative testing?
Listen for: Testing concepts, not tiny variations, and a steady cadence.
When would you use an agency versus doing it in-house?
Listen for: Trade-offs of cost, control and expertise.
See all performance marketing manager interview questions · Job description template
The first 90 days
- Tracking audited and fixed
- A weekly creative testing cadence
- Budget plan and targets by channel
Full-time, fractional or freelance?
Full-time once paid is a large share of acquisition. Freelancers and agencies are common for smaller budgets; a fractional lead can manage the agency for you.
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a performance marketer?
Hiring through HeyMarketers: posting a job is free, the AI Talent Agent is $399 per role, and Concierge recruiting is a flat $6,000 per full-time hire, compared with the 20–25% of first-year salary agencies typically charge.
Should I hire a full-time or fractional performance marketing manager?
Full-time once paid is a large share of acquisition. Freelancers and agencies are common for smaller budgets; a fractional lead can manage the agency for you.
How long does it take to hire?
With Concierge you get a shortlist of three screened candidates within 10 business days. Job posts and the AI Talent Agent depend on the role and how quickly you review candidates.
Are you a performance marketing manager yourself? Read the career guide.