Director, SEO, Chicago

Director, SEO

4 Days Old

We strongly encourage people of color, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and non-binary people, veterans, parents, and individuals with disabilities to apply. As an equal opportunity employer Walker Sands is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion and welcomes everyone to our team.

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Walker Sands is seeking a Director, SEO to lead and evolve our SEO and GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) capabilities. This role is responsible for driving strategic outcomes for a portfolio of medium to large clients while elevating the agency's broader digital marketing performance. The ideal candidate is a seasoned leader with a strong track record of success in SEO, content strategy, and integrated marketing who thrives on translating complex search challenges into actionable, revenue-driving solutions.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership + Client Oversight

Serve as the strategic lead on SEO and GEO initiatives across key client accounts, setting vision, frameworks, and success metrics that align with business goals.
Lead high-level client conversations with CMOs, VPs, and senior stakeholders, effectively articulating the role of SEO in broader marketing ecosystems.
Own and evolve the agency's approach to GEO and AI-influenced search trends, identifying opportunities to innovate and differentiate.
Collaborate with senior leaders across departments to integrate SEO into broader marketing programs (paid, content, PR, demand gen, analytics).
Oversee the development and execution of sophisticated SEO/GEO strategies including technical audits, content gap analysis, competitive assessments, and performance tracking.
Guide the team in using data to craft compelling narratives and insight-driven recommendations that influence executive-level client decision-making.
Serve as a trusted advisor to key clients, developing long-term partnerships grounded in results, thought leadership, and accountability.

Team Leadership & Development

Manage and mentor a growing team of SEO strategists, senior specialists, and interns, fostering a culture of excellence, innovation, and continuous learning.
Develop career growth plans and support skill development through coaching, feedback, and training initiatives.
Champion operational improvements to enhance workflow efficiencies, team bandwidth, and cross-functional collaboration.
Lead cross-functional collaboration with content, creative, analytics, and account teams to deliver integrated and high-performing SEO programs.
Stay ahead of SEO and AI-driven search trends to inform internal education, service line evolution, and client advisories.

Qualifications

5-7+ years of full-time SEO experience, including client-facing roles within an agency or consulting environment.
Proven success managing SEO programs for mid-market to enterprise-level clients.
Experience leading and developing high-performing teams, with a track record of driving measurable business impact.
Deep expertise in SEO and GEO best practices, tools, and analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Google Search Console, SEMrush, Screaming Frog, generative AI tools, etc.).
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to simplify complex concepts for executive audiences.
Adept at managing multiple client engagements simultaneously, with strong project management and prioritization skills.
Experience working within and across project management tools and systems (e.g., Asana, Monday.com, Jira).
Google Analytics Certification preferred.

What You'll Bring

A visionary approach to how SEO is evolving in the age of AI, automation, and generative content.
A collaborative and influential leadership style that uplifts others while pushing for performance.
A growth mindset rooted in experimentation, learning, and continuous improvement.

Compensation + Benefits:

We strive for salary range transparency in our hiring process. This is a major step towards not only complying with regulations where required, but also to make sure pay equity and DEI are top of mind during the hiring process. Base salary is only a part of the total rewards package - this role will also be eligible for a bonus based on company performance, as well as benefits. Below is the starting salary for this role:
Starting Salary: $100,000 - 104,500 a year
- Placement on the salary scale will be determined by various factors, such as, but not limited to, relevant qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, seniority, geographic location, performance, education, business or organizational requirements and internal equity.
- Starting salaries are not inclusive of a full range of compensation for this role and are instead meant to reflect the expected beginning salary for a new hire. Merit-based increases can be earned after time in role.
Total Rewards Package:
- Health Coverage: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans, plus mental health resources, pet insurance, fertility benefits, and more.
- Retirement Savings: Employer-matched 401(k) and access to financial planning services.
- Flexible PTO: Take time as needed for vacations, mental health, or personal days. Includes 8 paid holidays, half-day summer Fridays, and a week off between Christmas and New Year.
- Hybrid Work: Mix of in-office and remote work, with tools to stay connected across teams.
- Milestone Sabbatical: Celebrate five years with a two-week sabbatical and a $2,000 gift.
- Family Support: Generous paid leave for new parents and caregivers, plus policies for pregnancy loss, adoption challenges, and more.
- Growth Opportunities: Clear career paths, mentorship programs, and learning events to help you grow professionally.
- Culture: Our agency values our supportive, collaborative culture where we work hard to achieve the best outcomes for clients. Read more on our website here!

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Location:: Chicago
Job Type:: FullTime

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