Director Search Engine Optimization

Shaw Search Partners is proud to lead the retained search for a high-growth global digital marketplace to identify a Director, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) AI Optimization (AIO) to play a key role in growing organic traffic and conversions. This role will focus on AI-powered search, emerging AI engines, and social discovery platforms, building a best-in-class organic program and positioning the company as a top organic destination across the U.S. and international markets.

This role will be responsible for proactively researching, understanding, and communicating emerging trends in AI-driven search and discovery, driving strategy and aggressive testing plans, and executing, measuring, and optimizing SEO and organic initiatives to ensure the company remains on the leading edge. The role partners closely with a team of SEO specialists, engineers, Editorial, Product, Marketing, and Analytics teams.

Responsibilities

Strategy Development: Define and size opportunities, strategic priorities, and roadmap to drive organic growth across AI search and social/discovery platforms, based on emerging trends, current performance, and data insights; includes informing the Editorial Content team’s roadmap and prioritization.

Execution: Oversee execution and optimization of performance-oriented campaigns and initiatives across AI search (e.g., Google AI Overviews, ChatGPT) and social platforms (e.g., Reddit, X, Meta, YouTube) to drive organic visits and conversions.

Conversion Optimization: Continuously optimize landing page conversion rates across the customer journey, from content and research experiences to conversion-oriented pages.

Testing and Measurement: Analyze marketing data and metrics to measure the effectiveness of SEO and AI-driven initiatives, including A/B testing, reporting, and performance analysis; communicate results and data-driven insights to key stakeholders.

Reporting & Forecasting: Monitor SEO and AI organic performance across all markets, reporting regularly to executive leadership on trends, performance, and impact. Lead organic traffic forecasting efforts in partnership with Performance Marketing and Marketing Analytics.

Resource Management: Define and manage budget needs, tools, and engineering resource allocation to support SEO/AIO initiatives.

Cross-functional Collaboration: Lead internal communications and collaborate with Engineering, Product, Editorial Content, Analytics, and Marketing teams to align efforts with business goals and ensure prioritization of key initiatives.

Qualifications

SEO/AI Knowledge: 8 years of professional experience in SEO, preferably in-house and enterprise-level, with a strong understanding of SEO principles, strategies, and emerging AI search trends and LLM-driven discovery.

Strategic Thinking: Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills to identify opportunities and priorities with clear business context.

Team Management: Experience leading teams, particularly across content, product, and/or engineering functions.

Communication Skills: Ability to synthesize and communicate complex insights, results, and recommendations to senior stakeholders and executive leadership.

Data Analytics: Passion for data and experimentation, with proficiency in tools such as Google Analytics, Looker, and SEO platforms to drive performance insights.

Adaptability: Ability to operate in a fast-paced environment and adapt to rapidly evolving search technologies and priorities.

Cross-Functional Collaboration: Proven ability to work effectively across technical and marketing teams to drive execution.

Attention to Detail: High level of precision in tracking performance, managing initiatives, and ensuring execution quality.

*This is a hybrid role and requires 3 days/week onsite in the Boston office.

*Relocation support may be offered.