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- Tasks: Lead global Search strategies, including SEO, SEM, and AI-driven optimisation.
- Company: Join a forward-thinking agency at the forefront of digital marketing.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working options, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Shape the future of search and drive impactful results for top-tier clients.
- Qualifications: 10+ years in Search with proven leadership and strategic skills.
- Other info: One-year contract with potential for significant career advancement.
The predicted salary is between 90000 - 120000 ÂŁ per year.
As VP of Search, you’ll set the vision and direction for our global Search practice—leading best-in-class SEO, SEM, and Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) strategies across a diverse portfolio of clients and regions. You are the global leader and point of contact for Search within the agency, responsible for practice leadership, quality standards, capability growth, and operational excellence. You’ll translate the evolving search landscape—including AI-powered discovery (AI Overviews, LLMs, and “answer engines”)—into actionable strategies, scalable frameworks, and measurable business outcomes. You balance executive-level client counsel with hands-on strategic depth, while building and sustaining a high-performing global team through strategic talent planning, staffing, and resourcing. You’ll play a pivotal role in expanding our Search services and capabilities and helping our clients achieve top-tier performance. You define what great looks like, ensure we deliver it consistently, and evolve our offering to keep CM at the forefront of the industry.
You Will:
- Practice leadership & operations
- Serve as the discipline lead and global point of contact for the Search practice—representing CM’s Search capabilities across agency leadership, cross-functional partners, and the broader Omnicom network.
- Define and lead the agency-wide vision for best-in-class SEO, SEM, and GEO—developing strategic POVs, frameworks, and standardized processes across regions and accounts.
- Act as a strategic thought leader, innovator, and champion for the role of search across the modern digital ecosystem.
- Spearhead and deliver educational Search presentations, developing internal slideware to keep other disciplines updated on search news, trends, best practices, and “what it means for your clients” opportunities.
- Own staffing strategy and resourcing across the global Search practice and client portfolio, partnering with Operations and account leaders to forecast needs, allocate talent, and address coverage gaps proactively.
- Lead administrative and operational oversight for the discipline (e.g., capacity planning, utilization, role mix, and scalable delivery models, performance reviews, capability roadmaps).
Client leadership & business growth
- Act as the executive Search lead for priority accounts, guiding senior stakeholders and ensuring Search programs align to business objectives, scope and measurable outcomes.
- Lead the creation, definition, execution, and optimization of holistic search strategies (SEO + SEM + GEO), including multi-year roadmaps.
- Proactively drive new business growth—shaping offerings, scoping work, mapping pricing/LOEs, supporting new business pitches, and identifying organic growth opportunities.
- Communicate complex search concepts and performance narratives in a concise, compelling, executive-ready manner, transforming search data insights into strategic opportunities.
Innovation, AI search & future-proofing
- Lead and implement AI Search Optimization / GEO strategies, ensuring clients are discoverable across AI Overviews and LLMs (ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, AI Mode, etc.).
- Build frameworks and processes to systematically track and improve search performance, including GEO visibility metrics, attribution impacts, and content/technical readiness.
- Keep the agency ahead of search shifts (AI/ML automation, SERP changes, visual/voice/social search) and translate those shifts into new service offerings.
Strategy & execution
- Utilize cross-channel search data to understand user intent, shape content strategy, and identify business opportunities.
- Advise on technical website development to maximize indexability and visibility, including JavaScript SEO and accessibility considerations for both users and LLM crawlers.
- Define search-driven guidelines and requirements for content, page speed, accessibility, structured data, site architecture, URL structure, metadata, internal linking, sitemaps, etc.
- Conduct regular SEO/SEM/GEO audits and competitive analyses, translating insights into prioritized, executable roadmaps.
- Deliver actionable performance insights and strategic recommendations through clear, visually compelling reports—communicating complex concepts in a concise and easy-to-understand manner.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to incorporate SEO strategies and best practices.
- Optimize social search channels (e.g., YouTube, TikTok) to maximize brand and content visibility across the digital landscape.
- Define success metrics and translate SEO/SEM/GEO results to business objectives.
You Have:
- 10–15+ years of Search experience, including 5+ years leading high-performing Search teams across multiple accounts.
- Experience managing department-level staffing, resourcing and operations.
- Strong communication and data storytelling skills (written and verbal), with confidence presenting to executive clients and agency leadership.
- Deep expertise in SEO (technical + content + UX + measurement) and experience overseeing SEM strategy or managing large-budget paid search campaigns.
- Experience integrating paid and organic search strategies and workflows to reduce costs while maximizing key business outcomes.
- Proven track record of driving measurable performance improvements.
- Strong organizational and project management skills, with experience leading multiple workstreams, teams, and deadlines simultaneously.
- Experience with global brands and international SEO (multi-region, multi-language sites).
- Experience managing SEO strategies for large-scale website migrations and redesigns.
- Experience with GEO and AI search optimization for both AI Overviews and LLMs (ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, AI Mode, etc.).
- Experience defining and documenting cross-disciplinary internal processes, playbooks, and best practices to improve search implementation and deliverable quality.
- Deep understanding of search algorithms and ranking factors across modern search ecosystems (traditional search, social search & AI search).
- Proficiency in 3rd party SEO/SEM tools such as SEMrush, BrightEdge, Ahrefs, Screaming Frog, and similar platforms.
- Proficiency in analytics and visualization tools such as Google Analytics, Looker Studio (Data Studio), Adobe Analytics, Google Search Console, Tableau, etc.
- Experience with GEO/AI search tracking tools such as Profound, BlueFish, BrightEdge AI Catalyst, or similar solutions.
- Strong analytical skills, with the ability to interpret data, identify trends, and make data-driven decisions.
- Strong Excel skills (pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, large datasets) and experience analyzing and reporting on performance data.
- Experience developing and executing search-driven content strategies that improve visibility, traffic, engagement, and conversion.
- Experience testing and leveraging AI to improve search workflows, efficiencies, and quality.
- A proactive, self-starter attitude and a passion for staying current in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.
VP, Search in Scotland employer: Critical Mass
Contact Detail:
Critical Mass Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land VP, Search in Scotland
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry and let them know you're on the lookout for opportunities. A personal recommendation can go a long way in landing that VP role.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your expertise! Prepare a portfolio or case studies showcasing your past successes in SEO, SEM, and GEO strategies. This will help you stand out during interviews and demonstrate your hands-on experience.
✨Tip Number 3
Stay updated on trends! Keep an eye on the latest developments in AI search and digital marketing. Being able to discuss current trends and how they impact search strategies will impress potential employers.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! We love seeing candidates who take the initiative. Make sure to submit your application directly on our site to ensure it gets the attention it deserves.
We think you need these skills to ace VP, Search in Scotland
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to reflect the specific skills and experiences that align with the VP of Search role. Highlight your expertise in SEO, SEM, and AI search strategies to show us you’re the perfect fit!
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: As a global leader, we want to see how you've successfully led teams and projects in the past. Share examples of how you've driven performance improvements and fostered talent growth within your teams.
Communicate Clearly: Your written communication skills are crucial for this role. Use clear, concise language to convey complex ideas and strategies in your application. Remember, we love data storytelling, so don’t shy away from including metrics that demonstrate your impact!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to submit your application through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it’s super easy to do!
How to prepare for a job interview at Critical Mass
✨Know Your Search Stuff
Make sure you’re up to speed with the latest trends in SEO, SEM, and GEO. Brush up on AI-powered search strategies and be ready to discuss how they can impact business outcomes. This shows you’re not just familiar with the basics but are also a thought leader in the evolving search landscape.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a VP, you’ll need to demonstrate your ability to lead high-performing teams. Prepare examples of how you’ve successfully managed staffing strategies and operational excellence in previous roles. Highlight your experience in building and sustaining teams that deliver top-tier performance.
✨Communicate Clearly and Confidently
You’ll be presenting complex search concepts to executive clients, so practice articulating your ideas in a concise and compelling manner. Use data storytelling techniques to transform insights into actionable strategies. This will help you stand out as a strategic thinker.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that ask how you would handle specific challenges in the search domain. Think about scenarios involving multi-region SEO strategies or integrating AI into search workflows. Having clear, structured responses will show your problem-solving skills and readiness for the role.