Search Engine Optimization Manager

Overview

Fortnum & Mason is seeking an Interim Head of SEO & PPC to lead our organic and paid search strategy during a maternity cover period. This role will be responsible for ensuring our websites (both domestic and international) remain highly visible and authoritative across Google, Bing and emerging LLM-driven search experiences, while also delivering best-in-class paid search performance in partnership with our external PPC agency. The successful candidate will combine strategic leadership, hands-on expertise, and excellent stakeholder management to drive performance across one of the most iconic luxury retail brands in the world.

Role logistics & responsibilities

• Contract: Interim maternity cover
• Duration: 6 months
• Start: Mid-February
• End: September
• Location: London / Hybrid

SEO & GEO strategy

• Own and lead the SEO and GEO strategy for fortnumandmason.com and eu.fortnumandmason.com
• Ensure strong visibility across Google and Bing
• Leverage AI-driven search experiences (LLMs, AI Overviews, conversational search)
• Drive technical, on-page, content and authority optimisation
• Partner closely with Content, brand and editorial teams, and product and engineering teams
• Work with our external SEO agency
• Champion structured data, entity optimisation, content authority and E-E-A-T principles
• Monitor and respond to algorithm and LLM landscape changes

Paid Search (PPC) Leader

• Act as senior internal owner of PPC across all markets
• Lead and challenge our external PPC agency to deliver best-in-class campaign strategy
• Strong ROI, ROAS and incremental value
• Continuous testing and optimisation
• Oversee brand and non-brand search
• Maximise seasonal and gifting peaks (e.g. Mother’s Day and Easter)
• Ensure paid activity complements SEO and brand position

Commercial & Strategic Accountability

• Set clear performance targets and KPIs across SEO and PPC
• Own performance reporting and insight generation
• Ensure search supports key trading moments and gifting occasions
• Balance growth with brand protection and premium position
• Experience leading SEO at scale, ideally for a premium or content-rich brand
• Strong understanding of GEO / LLM visibility and the evolving search landscape
• Hands-on PPC expertise, with experience leading agencies
• Strong commercial mindset and ability to tie activity to revenue outcomes
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills
• Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, seasonal retail environment

Why Join Fortnum & Mason

• Competitive salary
• A generous store and restaurant discount of up to 40%
• 25 days holidays (excluding bank holidays) and an extra day off for your birthday
• A fantastic subsidised staff restaurant which uses Fortnum’s ingredients
• A range of opportunities to develop and grow personally and professionally
• Excellent pension scheme

At Fortnum’s, we offer more than just a job; we provide the chance to be part of a storied legacy while driving modern, meaningful change. If you’re an international trading expert, with a passion for luxury and creativity, we’d love to hear from you! We are committed to developing your career and nurturing your talent, regardless of age; disability; gender reassignment; marriage and civil partnership; pregnancy and maternity; race; religion or belief; sex; sexual orientation. We respect and embrace each other’s differences, to create a truly inclusive environment.