The Google Ads Strategist (Contractor) will provide specialized digital marketing services to Balsam International on a project basis. This role will manage digital marketing initiatives across Pay-per-Click (PPC) including YouTube, Google, and Bing Ads, and will report directly to the Digital Acquisition Manager. Work Details: This is a 10-month contract with remote flexibility based in Metro Manila, with potential to extend depending on business needs. Important Reminder: Contractor roles are paid hourly and engaged via the Upwork platform, which includes time tracking for logged work hours. Only applicants willing to engage via Upwork may apply. Scope of Work: Campaign Planning, Execution, & Optimization Develop and present campaign plans aligned with agreed project goals and brand objectives Execute and manage campaigns in our PPC account, manage our creatives and conduct promotional changes aligned to our sale calendar Monitor campaign performance against spend, revenue, and brand/company KPIs Conduct ongoing optimizations to maintain performance targets Build and implement channel roadmaps and account initiative tests as scoped Report on digital acquisition metrics including customer acquisition cost (CAC), new customer acquisition & incrementality lift. Accounts Auditing & Monitoring Conduct scheduled account audits and provide written audit reports Monitor accounts to confirm campaigns are running as planned Liaise with vendors and agencies for monitoring and optimization activities within scope Assist with ad hoc invoice audits and media cost allocations as requested Integrated Planning & Cross-Functional Collaboration Develop channel initiatives to support integrated planning goals and present recommendations to client stakeholders Apply customer insights to channel campaign strategies Coordinate with cross-functional counterparts on relevant initiatives Monitor and report on cross-functional initiative progress Support localization needs as required (e.g., coordination with localization teams) Assist with tag implementation and audits for new tools or platforms (e.g., SA360) as scoped Performance Analysis & Reporting Deliver regular performance analysis reports (cadence to be agreed upon project initiation) Prepare and present business review materials including weekly/bi-weekly performance summaries Produce season wrap-up analyses and ad hoc deliverables as specified Flag performance concerns and recommend actionable next steps Monitor and summarize competitive landscape and relevant industry trends Provide heightened monitoring and real-time reporting during peak/holiday seasons as scoped Finance & Budget Management Manage campaign spend in alignment with agreed profitability and KPI goals Maintain and update budget tracking files (Expense Metric, Invoice Tracker, Budgeting files) with accurate data Build revenue projections for assigned channels and implement updates as needed Deliver budget allocation recommendations and digital media mix strategies Provide real-time spend and revenue pacing reports during peak season as scoped Additional Project Deliverables Other deliverables may be added as agreed upon Requirements: Minimum 2 years of hands-on experience in Digital Acquisition or Digital Marketing Highly proficient in MS Excel (complex models, formulas, pivot tables) Strong working knowledge of Google Ads, Facebook/Meta Ads, Google Analytics, and DSPs Experience with AI tools, tracking, and attribution platforms preferred Strong problem-solving and analytical skills; detail-oriented Clear written and verbal communication skills in English Ability to work independently and manage deliverables to agreed timelines Adaptable and willing to learn new tools quickly Status: Contractual, home-based role requiring 8 hours/day, 5 days/week. No employee benefits due to contractual nature. Paid overtime may be required. Contract duration: 10 months (may be shortened or extended depending on business needs). Hourly Rate: USD 6.50 hourly (Non-negotiable)