Director, SEO

Summary

Join DEPT® as their new Director of SEO, where you will lead and execute the end-to-end SEO strategy for a portfolio of enterprise-level clients. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance organic performance, develop SEO roadmaps, and spearhead innovative approaches in AI-powered search. This role demands strategic leadership in defining the SEO vision and roadmap, technical SEO oversight including site architecture optimization, content strategy development, and championing the adoption of emerging SEO and AI-driven search tools. You will also manage and mentor a high-performing SEO team, fostering a culture of continuous learning and collaboration. The position requires 7+ years of hands-on SEO experience at a leading digital agency, with a proven track record of success at the enterprise level. Candidates must be located within 50 miles of San Diego, CA or Los Angeles, CA, although remote work is permitted.

Requirements

• 7+ years of hands-on SEO experience at a leading digital agency, with a track record of success at the enterprise level
• Demonstrated leadership of complex, multi-brand SEO engagements, including full-funnel strategy and execution
• Deep expertise in technical SEO (site performance, crawl/index management, CMS/architecture)
• Proven mastery of content SEO (keyword research, topical authority, content governance, editorial workflows)
• Thought leadership in emerging SEO realms: AI tools, AI-augmented search, Google AI Mode, conversational interfaces, etc
• Exceptional analytical skills: proficiency with GA4, Search Console, BigQuery, Data Studio/Tableau (or equivalent BI tools)
• Strong communication and stakeholder management—ability to present strategic insights to C-suite and client teams

Responsibilities

• Define and own the multi-brand SEO vision and roadmap in alignment with overarching business objectives
• Work with the team to handle SEO planning and resource allocation for weekly sprints and quick turnaround requests
• Collaborate with the client to understand their tracking methodology and develop internal KPIs, dashboards, and executive reports to measure organic performance and ROI
• Audit, prioritize, and optimize large-scale site architectures, crawl budgets, and indexation strategies
• Collaborate with engineering teams to implement site-wide enhancements (e.g., Core Web Vitals, structured data, hreflang, pagination)
• Troubleshoot complex technical issues—JavaScript rendering, canonicalization conflicts, site migrations, CMS integrations
• Develop scalable content programs that support brand positioning, product launches, and seasonal campaigns
• Partner with editorial and UX to refine content briefs, topic clustering, and information architecture
• Leverage data-driven insights (keyword gaps, voice queries, search intent) to inform creative and distribution strategies
• Champion adoption of emerging SEO and AI-driven search tools (AI-augmented writing, Google AI Mode, automated A/B testing)
• Pilot new technology integrations (LLMs, chatbot content, automated schema generators) and shape best practices
• Represent the agency and client at industry events; author whitepapers, speak on panels, and contribute to thought-leadership channels
• Manage and mentor a high-performing team of SEO managers, analysts, and specialists
• Foster a culture of continuous learning, experimentation, and cross-disciplinary knowledge-sharing
• Collaborate with agency leadership to grow service offerings, pitch new business, and upskill internal teams

Benefits

• Healthcare, Dental, and Vision coverage
• 401k plan, plus matching
• PTO
• Paid Company Holidays
• Parental Leave