At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead SEO strategy and drive organic growth for a top home improvement marketplace.
- Company: Join Checkatrade, the UK's leading platform for finding tradespeople.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, bonuses, employee share programme, and wellness support.
- Other info: Dynamic team with opportunities for growth and innovation.
- Why this job: Shape the future of SEO in an AI-driven landscape and make a real impact.
- Qualifications: Experience in SEO, technical skills, and strong communication abilities.
The predicted salary is between 55000 - 65000 € per year.
As our next SEO Lead, you’ll play a key role in helping us build the UK’s go-to home improvement marketplace. Organic search is one of our most important growth channels, and this role sits right at the heart of it. Reporting into the Head of SEO, you’ll be a critical partner in shaping our SEO strategy - not just executing it - working across technical, content, and off-site authority while helping define how Checkatrade shows up in the next generation of AI-driven search.
If you’re energised by a landscape that’s shifting fast, this is your chance to help shape what comes next. Here’s what you’ll actually spend your time on:
- Owning SEO roadmaps across technical, on-page content, and off-site authority - turning strategy into shipped improvements that move the needle on organic growth.
- Shaping how Checkatrade shows up in AI-driven search environments - from Google AI Overviews to ChatGPT and Perplexity - building new GEO/AEO capabilities alongside the existing ones.
- Running structured experiments: forming hypotheses, testing, documenting outcomes, and sharing learnings with the team rather than moving straight to the next thing.
- Working closely with product and engineering to identify, prioritise, and implement technical SEO improvements - from crawl budget and Core Web Vitals to schema and indexation.
- Building with AI - using agentic workflows to automate content briefs, bulk analysis, reporting, and technical triage, and raising the bar for how we use AI across SEO and Marketing.
- Communicating performance clearly to senior stakeholders and cross-functional partners - translating what’s working (and what isn’t) into decisions that drive the business forward.
It’s not about ticking every box. You’ll do well here if you bring:
- A solid background in SEO at scale - hands-on technical experience with crawl budget, Core Web Vitals, internal linking, indexation, and schema, alongside a strong grasp of on-page content strategy and search intent.
- Confidence with SEO tooling day-to-day - Screaming Frog, Ahrefs or SEMrush, and Google Search Console - plus strong writing skills grounded in EEAT, Google’s Search Quality Rater Guidelines, and modern search best practices.
- A working understanding of GEO/AEO and how content is surfaced in generative search environments, with curiosity (or eagerness to go deeper) in agentic AI workflows and automation.
- Clear, confident communication across technical and non-technical audiences - comfortable holding your own in product and engineering conversations and presenting to senior stakeholders.
We believe great work deserves great rewards. Here’s just a taste:
- Competitive salary + annual bonus or commission (role dependent)
- Employee Share Programme
- Health, well-being and learning support
- Gym membership, Smart Tech Scheme and Cycle Scheme
- Birthday/Special day leave
- Buy & sell holiday scheme
- 1 week’s paid charity leave and much more!
How we’ll get to know each other:
- Screening call with one of our Talent Acquisition Partners
- 1st stage interview with our Head of SEO
- 2nd stage: 1-hour panel interview
- Final stage: case study
Need adjustments? Let your Talent Partner know, we’re happy to help.
At the moment, this role isn’t open to visa sponsorship applications.
Want to join our Talent Community and be one of the first to know about our vacancies? Register your interest on our Registration Form.
If this sounds like the place where you can do your best work, we’d love to hear from you, even if you don’t tick every box.
About us: We’re Checkatrade – the UK’s leading platform for finding a tradesperson. With more than 50,000 trades listed and over 6 million reviews, we help homeowners get jobs done right and help tradespeople grow their business. We’re growing fast, with big plans to become the go-to brand for home improvements. If you care about great work, take pride in the details, and want to make an impact, you’ll fit right in.
SEO Lead employer: Checkatrade
Checkatrade is an exceptional employer that prioritises employee growth and well-being, offering a competitive salary alongside an annual bonus, health support, and unique benefits like a buy & sell holiday scheme and paid charity leave. Our dynamic work culture fosters collaboration and innovation, particularly in the fast-evolving field of SEO, where you will have the opportunity to shape strategies that influence the future of AI-driven search. Join us in our mission to become the UK's leading home improvement marketplace, where your contributions will be valued and rewarded.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land SEO Lead
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in the industry, attend SEO meetups, and connect with potential colleagues on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a personal project or case study that highlights your SEO expertise. This could be a blog, a website, or even a detailed analysis of a competitor's strategy. It’s a great way to demonstrate your hands-on experience and creativity.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your technical knowledge and being ready to discuss your past successes. Think about how you can translate your experiences into actionable insights for Checkatrade’s growth. Confidence is key!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team at Checkatrade.
We think you need these skills to ace SEO Lead
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the SEO Lead role. Highlight your relevant experience in technical SEO, content strategy, and any tools you've used like Screaming Frog or Ahrefs. We want to see how you can contribute to our growth!
Show Off Your Skills:Don’t just list your skills; demonstrate them! Use specific examples from your past work that showcase your hands-on experience with SEO strategies and tools. This will help us understand how you can hit the ground running.
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. We appreciate straightforward communication, especially when it comes to complex topics like SEO. Make it easy for us to see your value!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Checkatrade
✨Know Your SEO Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your technical SEO knowledge, especially around crawl budget, Core Web Vitals, and schema. Be ready to discuss how you've applied these concepts in past roles and how they can drive organic growth for Checkatrade.
✨Showcase Your Tool Proficiency
Familiarise yourself with SEO tools like Screaming Frog, Ahrefs, and Google Search Console. During the interview, be prepared to share specific examples of how you've used these tools to improve SEO performance and what insights you've gained from them.
✨Communicate Clearly
Practice explaining complex SEO concepts in simple terms. You'll need to communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical audiences, so think about how you can present your ideas clearly and confidently, especially when discussing strategies with senior stakeholders.
✨Be Ready for AI Discussions
Since this role involves shaping how Checkatrade appears in AI-driven search environments, come prepared with your thoughts on generative search and agentic AI workflows. Show your curiosity and eagerness to explore how AI can enhance SEO strategies.
