Manager, SEO (Global Alcohol & Spirits)

PHD is a global communications planning and media buying agency network delivering smart strategic thinking and creative innovation for the world’s leading brands. Brilliant media thinking is in our DNA. A culture of thought-leadership, creativity and innovation has seen us grow from a challenger agency in the UK, to a global leader with over 6,000 employees in over 100 offices worldwide. We combine the latest industry insight with the best creative minds to produce planning innovation and create award-winning work for some of the world’s largest advertisers. Finding a better way is our ethos and sums up how we approach everything – from a new client brief to the way we work.

We are looking for a highly skilled SEO Manager to lead the development and execution of advanced SEO initiatives while managing key client relationships day-to-day. This role is critical in strengthening our technical SEO capabilities and ensuring our clients stay ahead in an evolving search landscape that now includes AI-driven search.

About The Role

• Develop and manage SEO campaigns for enterprise clients, focusing on both technical excellence and strategic growth.
• Build scalable SEO workflows and project management processes to ensure timely delivery of technical audits, optimizations, and reporting.
• Perform comprehensive technical site audits (crawl/indexation, load speed, Core Web Vitals, structured data, canonicalization, internal linking, XML sitemaps, robots.txt, redirects, migrations).
• Oversee on-site and structural optimizations to align with best practices and maximize indexability and rankings.
• Conduct keyword research, competitor and SERP analysis, and content gap analysis to uncover both quick wins and long-term opportunities.
• Identify and guide new content opportunities that expand client visibility across traditional search engines and emerging AI-driven discovery channels.
• Own SEO reporting and performance analysis; turn complex data into clear insights and actionable recommendations.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Paid Media, Content, and Analytics teams to deliver integrated search strategies.
• Supervise and mentor SEO Associates, providing hands-on technical guidance and career development.
• Research and evangelize new trends, tools, and technologies (including AI-powered SEO automation and GEO strategies).
• Develop and implement GEO strategies to optimize brand visibility in large language models (ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, etc.) and future AI-powered search engines.
• Develop case studies and POVs, research new trends and technologies within the SEO space to educate clients and internal teams.
  
  

About You

• You are a self-starter, confident in your abilities, with a passion for problem-solving and a drive to stay ahead of industry shifts.
• Strategic thinker with strong project management skills and the ability to simplify complex SEO concepts for stakeholders.
• Collaborative, adaptable, and comfortable working under pressure.
• Passionate about mentoring team members and building best-in-class SEO practices.
• Excited about the future of search; from AI-driven search engines to emerging generative discovery platforms.
  
  

What We’re Looking For

• 3 years of tactical and strategic SEO experience in agency or in-house environments.
• Possess a BS/BA in Marketing, Advertising, Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Statistics or MIS/related technical degree.
• Strong background in technical SEO: crawl budget management, Core Web Vitals, structured data, canonicalization, URL structures, migrations, and resolving indexing challenges.
• Experience conducting and implementing enterprise-level technical SEO audits.
• Proficiency with leading SEO and analytics tools (e.g., Screaming Frog, SEMrush, Ahrefs, Search Console, GA4, etc.).
• Strong understanding of emerging AI search experiences, GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) and the evolving role of LLMs in search.
• Excellent written/verbal communication and client-facing skills.
• Previous management experience preferred.
  
  

What You Can Expect

• A role where you can help define our strategic offering and shape the future of our agency’s search strategy.
• A collaborative, supportive, and inclusive environment where your ideas are encouraged and valued.
• The opportunity to experiment, innovate, and help brands navigate the future of organic search.
  
  

This is the pay range the Company believes it will pay for this position at the time of this posting. Consistent with applicable law, compensation will be determined based on relevant experience, other job-related qualifications/skills, and geographic location (to account for comparative cost of living). The Company reserves the right to modify this pay range at any time. For this role, benefits include: health insurance, vision insurance, dental insurance, 401(k), Healthcare Flexible Spending Account, Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account, vacation days, sick days, personal days, paid parental leave, paid medical leave, and STD/LTD insurance benefits.

Compensation Range

$50,000—$95,000 USD

This role is hybrid, requiring three (3) days per week in the office. The remaining two (2) days may be worked remotely. Specific in-office days will be discussed during the interview process, with flexibility to align with team needs. Please note that the number or required in-office days may be adjusted over time, potentially increasing the number of required in-office days based on business needs.

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