Search Director

Adelphi Group•New York, NY

7d•$120,000 - $150,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Director of Search defines and leads the organic and AI-search vision for Capital One, helping the brand earn visibility across consumer search, discovery, comparison, and financial decision-making. This strategic and hands-on role translates changes in search into measurable opportunities across SEO, Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), Answer Engine Optimization (AEO), AI Overviews, and large language model experiences. The director develops an integrated strategy based on search behavior, AI trends, competitive intelligence, and business priorities, then turns it into prioritized roadmaps spanning technical, content, brand, and experience considerations. Embedded in Critical Mass's Capital One performance program, the role connects organic and AI-search strategy with paid search, media planning, measurement, content, audience intelligence, and cross-agency work. The director partners with Capital One and agency teams to guide implementation, measure performance, and inform investment decisions. The role also leads and develops the Search team, establishes governance and quality standards, and represents Critical Mass as a senior search thought leader.

Requirements

10+ years of SEO/search experience, including 3+ years leading high-performing teams and senior client relationships.
Deep, hands-on expertise across technical SEO, content strategy, organic search measurement, and enterprise-scale SEO programs.
Demonstrated experience developing and executing GEO/AEO and AI-search strategies across AI Overviews and LLM ecosystems such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, AI Mode, or comparable platforms.
Track record of translating search and AI visibility data into measurable business outcomes, prioritized roadmaps, and investment recommendations.
Strong understanding of factors influencing organic and AI-search visibility, including technical, content, brand/entity authority, structured data, and digital experience considerations.
Experience conducting technical, content, competitive, and AI-search audits and turning findings into actionable recommendations.
Excellent written and verbal communication, executive-level presentation, data storytelling, and facilitation skills.
Strong organizational and project leadership skills, including managing multiple workstreams, stakeholders, dependencies, and deadlines in a matrixed environment.
Experience defining and documenting operating processes, best practices, QA standards, and governance.
Proficiency with enterprise SEO and research tools such as BrightEdge, Ahrefs, Semrush, Screaming Frog, Botify, or comparable platforms.
Proficiency with analytics and visualization tools such as Adobe Analytics, Google Search Console, GA4, Tableau, Looker, Datorama, or comparable platforms.
Experience with GEO/AI-search measurement and monitoring tools such as Profound, BrightEdge AI Catalyst, Bluefish, or comparable platforms.
Strong analytical skills and comfort working with large datasets to identify patterns, diagnose performance, and prioritize opportunities.
Working knowledge of paid search/SEM and ability to develop integrated organic/paid search strategies and workflows, including emerging LLM-search considerations.
Experience partnering with product, engineering, content, UX, brand, analytics, media, and compliance teams to influence implementation without direct ownership.
Proactive, consultative leadership style and judgment to distinguish immediate optimization opportunities from longer-term strategic bets.
Experience testing and applying AI tools to research, analysis, content, optimization, and Search workflows with appropriate quality and governance controls.
Ability to work from either the Chicago or New York office and travel consistently to New York for client meetings, strategic planning, presentations, and key working sessions.

Nice To Haves

Experience operating within a large, complex enterprise; financial services, banking, or another highly regulated category is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Own the vision, strategic roadmap, and prioritized recommendations for Capital One SEO, GEO, and AEO across priority Retail Consumer Bank experiences.
Develop and evolve integrated SEO/GEO strategy using consumer search behavior, AI-search trends, competitive intelligence, business objectives, and performance marketing plans.
Lead technical, content, and AI-search audits and translate findings into recommendations, sequencing, dependencies, and expected business impact.
Guide optimization of Capital One content and digital experiences in partnership with client and agency teams.
Serve as the senior Search lead on the Capital One account leadership team and bring a search-first perspective to strategy, planning, innovation, and investment decisions.
Connect organic search and GEO/AEO insights with paid search, including emerging LLM-search opportunities.
Define the role of search across the performance ecosystem and connect search intelligence with media, audience, creative, content, measurement, and experience teams.
Establish measurement for organic and AI-search visibility, including KPIs, baselines, benchmarks, health ranges, and reporting tied to business objectives.
Monitor traditional search, AI Overviews, LLMs, answer engines, and emerging search behaviors to identify shifts, risks, and opportunities.
Deliver executive-ready performance reporting and strategic updates that turn search and LLM data into recommendations and investment opportunities.
Develop testing and learning roadmaps; evaluate results and scale recommendations.
Partner with Capital One brand, product, technology, analytics, legal/compliance, and marketing stakeholders to ensure recommendations are actionable within enterprise and governance requirements.
Collaborate with Critical Mass media, strategy, analytics, creative, PMO, and other agency or consulting partners to create a connected search approach.
Lead competitive and category analysis across traditional search results and AI/LLM environments.
Define search-driven requirements for technical SEO, structured data, information architecture, internal linking, content quality, accessibility, indexability, page experience, entity signals, and AI-citation readiness.
Translate customer intent and search demand into content and experience opportunities across discovery, consideration, and decision journeys.
Establish processes, quality standards, documentation, and governance for Search deliverables.
Lead, coach, and grow the Search team, maintaining a high bar for strategy, analysis, storytelling, and client delivery.
Represent Critical Mass as a senior search thought leader and bring forward emerging capabilities, platform changes, AI-search implications, and future opportunities.