Associate Discoverability Director, SEO & GEO

VML•Minneapolis, MN

7h•$75,000 - $100,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Associate Discoverability Director, SEO & GEO is a dedicated VML Discoverability consultant who supports strategic client engagements. The role provides advisory guidance across organic search, technical SEO, content discoverability, and AI-search readiness (Generative Engine Optimization). This person leads client planning sessions, workshops, and roadmap development, and partners with stakeholders to align search expertise with client needs. The role focuses on diagnosing, recommending, and guiding; client teams own implementation. Success means clients leave engagements with a clear, prioritized SEO and GEO program they can operationalize. The position leads day-to-day organic search stewardship and strategy for assigned accounts, oversees deliverables and client communications, and helps enterprise clients expand their SEO knowledge and adoption. It also guides and mentors junior staff, contributes to new business activity and practice growth, and maintains current knowledge of changes in search and technology.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree minimum in Marketing, Advertising, Journalism, Business, Technology, English, Linguistics/Language, Communications, Digital/Web/Interactive, Psychology, or a related field.
8 to 10 years of SEO experience, including significant client-facing advisory experience.
Expertise in SEO, including technical SEO.
Working knowledge of GEO and AI-search visibility.
Advanced proficiency in Semrush and familiarity with other organic search tools such as Moz, BrightEdge, and SearchMetrics.
Advanced web analytics and Search Console analysis skills.
Basic HTML and structured data literacy.
Experience with AI platforms such as ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity.
Workshop facilitation, public speaking, presentation, and roadmap development skills.
Proficiency with Excel and Keynote or PowerPoint.
Research skills, time tracking and hours forecasting, and basic project management skills.
Consultation skills, executive presence, and stakeholder management across client, partner, and agency teams.
Strategy, critical thinking, healthy skepticism, prioritization, and the ability to balance competing demands.
Clear scope discipline, collaboration, willingness to educate, patience, and resourcefulness.
Receptiveness to feedback, self-awareness, and attention to detail.
Discretion with confidential client information.
Commitment to lifelong learning and AI exploration.

Nice To Haves

Experience in a consultative or pre-sales role for a SaaS or martech platform.
Track record advising enterprise clients across multiple industries on SEO program design and operationalization.
Hands-on experience with Semrush Enterprise or AI visibility tooling.
Familiarity with Adobe Experience Cloud products.
Relevant certifications, such as Semrush Academy or Google Analytics.

Responsibilities

Supervise execution of standard organic search recommendations for websites at various stages of development, including keyword research, on-page optimization, site audits, competitive analyses, and recommendations for non-website digital assets.
Supervise documentation of client history, processes, contacts, initiatives, past recommendations and projects, and site changes.
Review and provide feedback on direct reports’ monthly organic search performance reports, decks, strategies, and other deliverables.
Deliver effective and persuasive verbal and written presentations to teams and clients.
Help enterprise clients expand their knowledge and use of SEO and drive internal client adoption.
Attend meetings with other company functions as needed for job duties and organizational development.
Stay current on changes in the search and technology industries and advise clients on best search practices.
Participate in new business pitches, RFPs, RFIs, scoping, and new or expanded statements of work.
Identify opportunities, set goals, develop strategic plans, and outline tactical approaches to execution.
Motivate direct reports to achieve strong client results and advance internal team goals.
Lead day-to-day organic search stewardship for assigned accounts and contribute to search strategy planning, tactical execution, and measurement.
Collaborate across departments to present proposals, strategies, and results to clients and to involve appropriate teams at the right points in client work.
Own day-to-day client communication, address issues, and ensure deadlines and quality standards are met.
Navigate dependencies on technology, content creators, and other connections necessary for effective search work.
Leverage automation tools to improve work efficiency.
Review client-facing decks, performance reports, and search strategies.
Use the organic search tools and platforms adopted by the department.
Escalate key issues to the Director as necessary.
Champion advancement initiatives and facilitate positive change management.
Promote collaboration with departments that support organic search growth, including the Innovation Team and Content Systems department.
Represent and advocate for the agency and Organic Search practice within the agency and advertising and search communities.
Produce thought leadership, including points of view and industry news round-ups.
Develop case studies from past work for new business initiatives and to validate client relationships.
Support the department vision and help coordinate internal team and agency initiatives to achieve practice goals.
Manage vendor proposals, relationships, and associated processes.
Participate in awards and recognition application processes.
Guide Connection Managers, Senior Connection Managers, and Connection Supervisors in effective search strategy development and execution, providing feedback and helping deliver client solutions.
Check junior team members’ work to ensure it is high-quality, current, and customized to client needs.
Supervise account strategy and client-facing execution and presentation of deliverables for Connection Managers.
Mentor junior staff, provide positive and critical performance feedback, and support professional development goals.
Contribute to interviewing and hiring junior team members.
Train junior staff on processes, team policy, and job expectations.