Paid Media Specialist (Regulated Industries)
puffrushDenver (CO)
About the role
ABOUT PUFFRUSHPuffRush is a Miami-based startup building an on-demand delivery marketplace connecting adults 21+ with local vape and smoke shop retailers. We're preparing to launch in Miami, with our platform and retail partnerships taking shape. Our ambition is to build a leading marketplace in this category and eventually expand into additional U.S. cities. We're a lean, ambitious founding team looking for people who know how to build, execute, and deliver results. No corporate layers, no unnecessary bureaucracy — just real ownership, direct collaboration, and the opportunity to help shape a startup from day one.
THE OPPORTUNITY: Paid Media Specialist — Regulated Industries
Engagement: Fractional / Independent Contractor / Project-Based
Location: Remote — U.S. or LATAM (Eastern Time overlap required)
We're looking for a hands-on paid media specialist with proven experience acquiring customers for regulated brands in the United States, specifically vape, cannabis, or alcohol. This is not a traditional social media management position or a strategy-only consulting role. We need someone who understands the advertising restrictions associated with regulated products, knows which compliant acquisition channels are available, and can personally build, launch, manage, and optimize campaigns. You'll work directly with PuffRush's founding team to establish our paid acquisition strategy for launch and create a scalable foundation for future growth.
WHAT YOU'LL DO: Phase 1 — Build
Develop a paid customer acquisition strategy for PuffRush's Miami launch. Identify advertising channels and networks that explicitly permit our product category. Establish compliance guidelines for age-restricted marketing, including applicable platform policies and U.S. advertising requirements. Set up campaign infrastructure, conversion tracking, attribution, and performance dashboards. Develop launch campaign concepts, targeting strategies, budgets, and testing plans. Phase 2 — Launch & Optimize Personally execute and manage campaigns across approved advertising channels. Test creatives, audiences, placements, and acquisition strategies. Monitor customer acquisition cost (CAC), conversion rates, and return on ad spend (ROAS), where measurable. Optimize campaigns based on performance and acquisition efficiency. Provide weekly performance reports, insights, and actionable recommendations. Phase 3 — Document & ScaleBuild a documented paid acquisition playbook. Establish repeatable workflows for campaign management and optimization. Prepare the program for potential handover to an internal marketing operator. Identify opportunities to scale acquisition as PuffRush expands.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Recent hands-on paid advertising experience with at least one U.S. vape, cannabis, or alcohol brand within the past 2–3 years. This is mandatory. Proven experience planning, launching, and optimizing paid acquisition campaigns personally. Demonstrated results using compliant advertising channels or regulated-category-friendly ad networks. Strong understanding of U.S. marketing restrictions affecting age-restricted products, including 21+ targeting, age-gating, consent requirements, and state-specific regulations. Experience managing tracking, attribution, budgets, and performance reporting. Ability to work independently and take full ownership of campaign execution. Professional English communication skills. Availability to collaborate with a Miami-based team during overlapping U.S. Eastern Time hours.
NICE TO HAVE:
Experience marketing on-demand delivery platforms or local marketplaces. Familiarity with the Miami market. Bilingual English/Spanish communication skills. Experience scaling early-stage startups from launch through initial customer acquisition. COMPENSATION & ENGAGEMENTThis is an initial fractional, project-based consulting opportunity. Compensation will be determined based on experience, proposed scope, and demonstrated expertise. Depending on launch results and future growth, the engagement may evolve into a longer-term opportunity. HOW TO STAND OUTWe are particularly interested in candidates who can demonstrate real-world experience navigating advertising restrictions in regulated U.S. markets. Please be prepared to discuss the regulated brands you've worked with, the advertising channels you've used, and the measurable results you've achieved. If you've successfully built and operated paid acquisition campaigns for regulated U.S. brands, we'd love to hear from you.
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