Manager, Performance Marketing

Job ID 10149552 Location Burbank, California, United States Business Searchlight Pictures Date posted May 08, 2026

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Job Summary:

Searchlight Pictures is a global specialty film and television company that develops, produces, finances and acquires motion pictures and series for both worldwide theatrical and streaming releases. It has its own marketing and distribution operations, and is part of The Walt Disney Studios, a division of The Walt Disney Company. Founded in 1994 as Fox Searchlight Pictures, the company’s titles have grossed over $5 billion worldwide, amassing 52 Academy Awards including five Best Picture winners since 2009:  Slumdog Millionaire, 12 Years a Slave, Birdman, The Shape of Water, and Nomadland; 64 BAFTA Awards; 35 Golden Globe Awards, and 10 Grammy Awards.

The company includes Searchlight Television, the division which develops and produces series for streaming, network, and cable partners, and earned a Primetime Emmy Award for Best Actress for its first production “The Dropout'' from Elizabeth Meriwether, in partnership with Hulu and 20th Studios. Searchlight Television also produced the limited series “La Máquina,” with Gael García Bernal and Diego Luna.

Summary:

The Manager, Performance Marketing leads Searchlight Pictures’ performance marketing across key digital channels, optimizing campaigns through strong measurement, budget guidance, and data-driven audience and bidding strategies in close partnership with media strategy, analytics, and agency teams.

Responsibilities

Work in partnership with the SVP Media Strategy, Analytics and Marketing Planning to execute and optimize performance marketing efforts of Searchlight Pictures paid media across assigned digital channels and campaigns
Implement and optimize established performance measurement frameworks, and KPIs
Provide recommendations and analysis to inform digital media budget allocation decisions
Manage and lead daily communication with media agency performance marketing activation team in order to ensure proper implementation of performance marketing campaigns
Apply approved audience strategies using Disney, platform, and vendor data to improve performance
Working closely with media agency, oversee, manage, and lead the implementation of bid and optimization strategies to drive media performance across digital platforms
Oversee and manage ad tagging and data collection with media agency ad ops teams and ensure proper data governence and legal compliance are achieved
Collaborate with multiple Disney LOBs and within the Disney marketing technology stack to identify opportunities to scale 1P and 2P data use for the purpose of incrementing on performance marketing campaign performance
Leverage cross-Disney business unit best practices, partnership deal opportunities, and technology offerings
Manage the deployment of audiences including Disney, platform, and vendor data including ticketing and exhibition partners
Execute test-and-learn initiatives and analyze results to inform optimization reccommendations across digital channels
Prepare compelling performance reporting and insights for Searchlight leadership and other internal stakeholders’ review and decision-making
Lead social listening efforts to monitor brand sentiment, competitive activity, and emerging trends; translate insights into actionable performance marketing strategies and reporting frameworks
Partner with creative teams to inform asset development and deployment through performance insights, testing frameworks, and audience-level learning
Partner with the media agency ad operations and analytics teams to implement title over title data collection and accurate data flow into our databases
Support key platform and publisher relationships
Maintain organizational knowledge of media technology, buying platforms, and analytical tools
Support internal Searchlight marketing teams as necessary with adhoc projects

Required/basic qualifications

Experience building and delivering digital plans that carry research and planning through to execution
6+ years experience in digital media platforms (Meta, TikTok, X/Twitter, Reddit, Snapchat, Pinterest, Innovid, LiveRamp, Google Ads, Programmatic DSPs)
4+ years experience in theatrical and/or streaming on client, agency and/or vendor side
Deep understanding of marketing and media concepts, principles, and strategies
Experience building and delivering digital plans that carry research and planning through to execution
Skilled in Microsoft Suite, particularly Excel.
Experience with tagging, trafficking, and verification
Outstanding business acumen
Strong analytical skills
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Strong ability to work independently as well as across teams in a diverse, cross-departmental and collaberative environment

Additional preferred qualifications

Passion for entertainment and the specialty/independent film space
Experience working with data analytics tools and dashboards (Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, Datorama, Tableau, Power BI etc.)
Familiarity with DMP logic, segmentation, and implementation across different platforms
Experience driving business goals through data application

The hiring range for this position in Burbank, CA is $115,500 to $154,800 per year. The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate’s geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors. A bonus and/or long-term incentive units may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to the full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered.

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About Searchlight Pictures:

Searchlight Pictures is a specialty film company that both finances and acquires motion pictures. It has its own marketing and distribution operations, and the films are distributed internationally by Twentieth Century Studios.

About The Walt Disney Company:

The Walt Disney Company, together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a leading diversified international family entertainment and media enterprise that includes three core business segments: Disney Entertainment, ESPN, and Disney Experiences. From humble beginnings as a cartoon studio in the 1920s to its preeminent name in the entertainment industry today, Disney proudly continues its legacy of creating world-class stories and experiences for every member of the family. Disney’s stories, characters and experiences reach consumers and guests from every corner of the globe. With operations in more than 40 countries, our employees and cast members work together to create entertainment experiences that are both universally and locally cherished.

This position is with Searchlight Pictures, Inc., which is part of a business we call Searchlight Pictures.

Searchlight Pictures, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, military or veteran status, medical condition, genetic information or disability, or any other basis prohibited by federal, state or local law. Disney champions a business environment where ideas and decisions from all people help us grow, innovate, create the best stories and be relevant in a constantly evolving world.

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