Search Manager - Marketing

Strategic America•West Des Moines, IA

2d•$88,066 - $136,502•Hybrid

About The Position

The Search Manager is responsible for leading and evolving the agency's integrated Search capability, bringing together organic and paid search disciplines to deliver exceptional client outcomes. This role provides strategic leadership for the Search team, develops team members, advances the agency's search offerings, and partners across departments to ensure search is fully integrated into our digital marketing solutions. The Search Manager serves as the agency’s day-to-day subject matter expert across SEO, SEM, local search, and emerging search trends, including AI-driven search experiences. In partnership with the Digital Marketing Director, this role brings forward recommendations, best practices, and service evolution opportunities that help inform the future direction of the agency’s search offering. As a Search Manager, you will... Provide leadership, coaching, performance management, and professional development for the Search team, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, continuous learning, and high performance. Lead the development and execution of integrated search strategies across SEO and SEM that align with client business objectives and maximize measurable results within the broader digital media strategy. Monitor team and client performance through KPIs and reporting, identifying opportunities for optimization and continuous improvement. Oversee operational excellence of the Search team, including resource planning, workload balancing, quality assurance, process improvement, and delivery of client work. Evaluate SEO, SEM, local search, AI-driven search experiences, and emerging technologies; bring forward recommendations that support the evolution of the agency’s Search capability in partnership with the Digital Marketing Director. Partner with other agency teams to ensure integrated marketing strategies and exceptional client experiences. Serve as a senior search advisor for clients, supporting strategic planning, business development, executive presentations, and complex client engagements as needed in partnership with the greater digital and client service teams. Develop and maintain agency standards, methodologies, documentation, training, and best practices related to SEO, SEM, local search, and search analytics. Provide consultation and expertise for organic growth and new business opportunities. Management Responsibilities: Manages and mentors others within the search team, including onboarding, goal-setting, coaching and performance feedback. Provides day-to-day guidance, prioritization and quality review of team deliverables. Identifies development opportunities and supports career growth for direct reports. Helps define and prioritize search team work based on agency and client needs, capacity and impact.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree required
5+ years of progressive experience in digital marketing with significant experience in SEO, SEM, or integrated search marketing.
2+ years of people leadership or team management experience.
Experience developing integrated search strategies that drive measurable business outcomes.
Experience leading client relationships and presenting strategic recommendations to executive-level stakeholders
Advanced knowledge of SEO best practices, technical SEO, local search, and search analytics.
Advanced knowledge of SEM platforms including Google Ads and Microsoft Ads.
Strong understanding of AI search trends and the evolving search landscape.
Familiarity with Google Ads, Google Business Profile, Google Analytics, Google Tag Manager, Search Console, and related digital marketing platforms.
Requires strong organizational, problem-solving, analytical, and listening skills.
Able to work independently as well as collaboratively within all levels of the agency.
Excellent communication skills.
Demonstrated ability to lead, coach and develop others.
Professional work ethic and a team player.
Must demonstrate initiative and proactivity in seeking new opportunities and solutions.
Strong prioritization and decision-making skills in a fast-paced, resource-constrained environment.

Responsibilities

Provide leadership, coaching, performance management, and professional development for the Search team, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, continuous learning, and high performance.
Lead the development and execution of integrated search strategies across SEO and SEM that align with client business objectives and maximize measurable results within the broader digital media strategy.
Monitor team and client performance through KPIs and reporting, identifying opportunities for optimization and continuous improvement.
Oversee operational excellence of the Search team, including resource planning, workload balancing, quality assurance, process improvement, and delivery of client work.
Evaluate SEO, SEM, local search, AI-driven search experiences, and emerging technologies; bring forward recommendations that support the evolution of the agency’s Search capability in partnership with the Digital Marketing Director.
Partner with other agency teams to ensure integrated marketing strategies and exceptional client experiences.
Serve as a senior search advisor for clients, supporting strategic planning, business development, executive presentations, and complex client engagements as needed in partnership with the greater digital and client service teams.
Develop and maintain agency standards, methodologies, documentation, training, and best practices related to SEO, SEM, local search, and search analytics.
Provide consultation and expertise for organic growth and new business opportunities.
Manages and mentors others within the search team, including onboarding, goal-setting, coaching and performance feedback.
Provides day-to-day guidance, prioritization and quality review of team deliverables.
Identifies development opportunities and supports career growth for direct reports.
Helps define and prioritize search team work based on agency and client needs, capacity and impact.