Associate SEO Director

Hearst•New York, NY

19d•$104,000 - $135,000•Hybrid

About The Position

We’re a professional services company at the intersection of marketing and technology — partnering with ambitious brands to solve complex challenges, accelerate growth, and drive performance. Our integrated teams combine strategic insight, creative execution, data fluency, and technical expertise. We believe our biggest asset is our combination of different backgrounds, cultures, and disciplines that come together to form iCrossing community. What we do starts with our people. We are part of the Hearst Corporation, the world’s leading media, entertainment, and content company, which gives us access to the most valuable data and insights, talent and audiences. Your Impact As an Associate Director of SEO, you will lead and develop our SEO strategy to drive organic growth and ensure the success of our clients' digital marketing campaigns. You will be responsible for collaborating with other practices, managing high-profile client accounts, and developing more junior SEO team members. Your role will involve strategic planning, execution, and continuous optimization of SEO practices to enhance our clients' online visibility and performance. This role requires a deep understanding of SEO best practices, analytics, and the ability to stay ahead of industry trends. The Associate Director, alongside other senior leaders, will integrate SEO offerings into new business pursuits. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of successful SEO engagements, excellent leadership skills, and the ability to work collaboratively with cross functional teams to realize outcomes for clients. This is a full-time role and requires 2 days per week in the office.

Requirements

7+ years’ experience with SEO for agencies or brands
Experience developing junior SEO practitioners with demonstrated leadership skills
Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, computer science, information technology, or related field strongly preferred
Extensive understanding of SEO principles, best practices, and industry trends
Strong analytical skills; ability to draw conclusions from data and take action accordingly
Results driven with strong business acumen
Strong Web analytics experience across key platforms like Google Analytics & Adobe Analytics
Fundamental understanding of technical SEO; experience with HTML, CSS, JavaScript and web design technologies
Experience in new business process; including prospect discovery, sales pitches, and roadmap development
Possess strong storytelling and presentation capabilities.
Ability to pivot quickly and work in a rapidly changing environment and adapt as necessary
Highly organized with excellent analytical, time management, problem-solving and project management abilities
Proven ability to manage multiple projects and clients simultaneously.
Highly proficient with Microsoft Office; advanced Excel and PowerPoint skills a plus
Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
Strong mathematical, analytical and writing skills
Able to work well in a team environment and have a positive attitude

Responsibilities

Strategic Planning and Client management Develop and implement comprehensive SEO focused strategies that align with clients' business goals.
Conduct in-depth findability research, competitive analysis, and market trends to inform strategy.
Serve as the primary point of contact for key client accounts, ensuring satisfaction and success of engagements focused on SEO.
Present SEO strategies, reports, and results that connect with broader business objectives in a clear and compelling manner.
Execution, Optimization, Reporting and Analysis Oversee the execution of comprehensive SEO programs, including technical SEO, content optimization, link building, and adjacent services (ie. content creation, CMS enhancements, landing pages, and digital analytics).
Utilize advanced SEO tools and analytics platforms including iCrossing proprietary toolset to monitor, analyze, and report on campaign performance.
Identify opportunities for optimization and growth, and implement changes to improve and expand SEO focused engagements.
Develop and deliver comprehensive SEO, SERP, and Discoverability reports, including performance metrics, insights, and actionable recommendations.
Use data-driven analysis to measure the success of SEO focused initiatives and inform future strategies.
Leadership, Team Management & Collaboration Mentor and develop more junior SEO professionals, fostering a culture of continuous learning and innovation.
Bring SEO leadership to cross functional teams with resources from Business Solutions and Transformation Strategy, Experience Design & Content Solutions, Media and Digital Solutions, to deliver cohesive and effective digital marketing strategies.
Stay up-to-date with the latest related market trends including but not limited to search engine algorithm updates, the impacts of new technology, and industry best practices.
New Business & Marketing support Create demand for iCrossing services through developing industry POVs and thought leadership papers
Craft compelling client case studies to support marketing influenced leads
Lead New Business proposal content and oral presentations focused on SEO and related services
Develop new integrated go-to-market sales plays that incorporate SEO and other iCrossing offerings into broader business strategies for clients.