AI Search Strategy Lead (AEO / GEO)

PNC•Pittsburgh, PA

9d•$65,000 - $161,000•Onsite

About The Position

At PNC, our people are our greatest differentiator and competitive advantage in the markets we serve. We are all united in delivering the best experience for our customers. We work together each day to foster an inclusive workplace culture where all of our employees feel respected, valued and have an opportunity to contribute to the company’s success. We are looking to hire an AI Search Strategy Lead within PNC's Marketing organization. The Evolution of Search: From Keywords to Conversations The digital landscape is undergoing its most significant transformation in two decades. For years, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) was defined by the "ten blue links"—a race to rank for specific keywords on a static results page. Today, that paradigm is shifting rapidly toward Answer Engine Optimization (AEO). Users are no longer just searching; they are conversing with Large Language Models (LLMs) and expecting direct, synthesized answers from platforms like Google AI Overviews, ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity. At PNC Bank, we recognize that appearing in these generative environments requires a fundamentally different strategy than traditional search. It requires a deep understanding of entities, structured data, and the probabilistic nature of AI models. We are seeking an AI Search Strategy Lead to pioneer our approach in this emerging field. This is not just a job; it is an opportunity to define how a leading financial institution connects with customers in the age of artificial intelligence. Position Overview: The AI Search Strategy Lead is a pivotal new role situated within the Digital Growth Marketing organization. You will operate adjacent to our established SEO Content and SEO Strategy teams, serving as the bridge between traditional organic search principles and the new frontier of generative AI. While traditional SEO focuses on driving clicks to a webpage, this role focuses on optimizing for the "zero-click" future and ensuring PNC serves as the authoritative source of truth within generative responses. You will be primarily focused on identifying specific tactics and opportunities to help PNC improve our presence in generative answer engines. The ideal candidate possesses a rare hybrid background: 5+ years of experience in technical and content SEO combined with a passion for—and deep understanding of—how LLMs operate, source information, and hallucinate. You understand the nuances between different models (e.g., how Perplexity cites sources versus how ChatGPT synthesizes training data) and can translate that technical knowledge into actionable marketing strategies. Strategic Context: Why AEO Matters in Banking In the financial services sector, trust and accuracy are the currencies we trade in. When a current or prospective customer asks an AI agent, "What are the best mortgage options for a first-time homebuyer?" or "How does a high-yield savings account work?", the answer they receive must be accurate, compliant, and helpful. As the AI Search Strategy Lead, you will ensure that PNC’s financial expertise is correctly interpreted and surfaced by these models. This goes beyond simple keyword optimization; it involves training the digital ecosystem to recognize PNC’s authority. You will navigate the complexity of "YMYL" (Your Money Your Life) topics in an AI-first world, ensuring that our content is structured in a way that LLMs prefer and prioritize. This role requires a strategist who can look at the search landscape not just as it is today, but as it will be six months from now. You will be responsible for future-proofing our organic visibility strategies against the volatility of algorithm updates and the rapid deployment of new AI search features.

Requirements

5+ years of experience in technical and content SEO combined with a passion for—and deep understanding of—how LLMs operate, source information, and hallucinate
Deep experience with platforms such as Conductor, Ahrefs, Semrush, and BrightEdge is essential. You should know how to use these tools not just for keyword volume, but for gap analysis, backlink authority, and SERP feature tracking.
Proficiency in Google Analytics or Adobe Analytics is required to track the downstream impact of your strategies.
Mastery of Google Search Console is expected, particularly for diagnosing crawling, indexing, and structured data issues.
A conceptual understanding of Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), vector search, and tokenization is highly preferred.

Nice To Haves

Familiarize yourself with new technology platforms like Profound and Athena and stay informed on what new capabilities exist in the marketplace that could help accelerate PNC's AEO objectives.
You are an investigator: You enjoy testing queries across different platforms (Gemini vs. ChatGPT vs. Bing Chat) to spot patterns in how they retrieve information.
You are a translator: You can explain complex technical concepts regarding LLMs to non-technical stakeholders in marketing and compliance.
You are adaptable: You understand that the tactic that worked yesterday might be obsolete tomorrow, and you thrive in that state of constant evolution.
You are data-driven yet creative: You rely on data to make decisions but use creativity to solve problems that data tools haven't caught up to yet.

Responsibilities

Optimize AI-Driven Product Recommendations
Competitive Intelligence & Differentiation
Data Quality & Regulatory Compliance
Cross-Functional Strategic Alignment

Benefits

PNC offers a comprehensive range of benefits to help meet your needs now and in the future. Depending on your eligibility, options for full-time employees include: medical/prescription drug coverage (with a Health Savings Account feature), dental and vision options; employee and spouse/child life insurance; short and long-term disability protection; 401(k) with PNC match, pension and stock purchase plans; dependent care reimbursement account; back-up child/elder care; adoption, surrogacy, and doula reimbursement; educational assistance, including select programs fully paid; a robust wellness program with financial incentives.
In addition, PNC generally provides the following paid time off, depending on your eligibility: maternity and/or parental leave; up to 11 paid holidays each year; 9 occasional absence days each year, unless otherwise required by law; between 15 to 25 vacation days each year, depending on career level; and years of service.

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