At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive SEO and AI optimisation to boost online visibility for a prestigious institution.
- Company: Join a leading higher education institution with a focus on digital innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid working, and potential for permanent role.
- Other info: Exciting opportunity for career growth in a dynamic digital team.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of SEO and AI, making a real impact in digital discovery.
- Qualifications: Hands-on SEO experience and strong collaboration skills required.
The predicted salary is between 35000 - 38000 £ per year.
Forward Role are excited to be partnering with a prestigious higher education institution, as they look to recruit an SEO & AI Optimisation Specialist to join their in-house digital team. This is a genuinely exciting, long term contract at the cutting edge of where search and AI are heading, and a real opportunity to make a visible, measurable impact on how a well-known institution is discovered online. There is potential for this role to be made permanent.
This is a hands‑on delivery role sitting at the heart of the digital team, acting as the operational bridge between strategy and execution. Working closely with an external agency, you'll take audit findings and strategic recommendations and turn them into real outcomes — spanning technical SEO, content optimisation, and authority development. Crucially, this role also covers AI optimisation — how the institution appears in AI‑generated responses and summaries. That's still a relatively new space, and this is a brilliant opportunity to get ahead of the curve and own it.
What the role involves:
- Implementing SEO and AI optimisation recommendations from agency audits and action plans
- Improving rankings and visibility for priority course, subject, and destination‑related searches
- Optimising technical SEO including site structure, crawlability, performance, and metadata
- Identifying and delivering content improvements aligned to search intent
- Enhancing how the institution is represented in AI‑generated answers and summaries
- Optimising content for clarity, authority, and answerability across the website
- Supporting activity to improve domain authority and strengthen the backlink profile
- Acting as the key link between the agency, web, content, and marketing teams
- Monitoring the impact of changes on search rankings, traffic, and AI platform visibility
- Supporting faster implementation of high‑impact changes during critical recruitment periods such as Clearing
What we're looking for:
Essential:
- Solid hands‑on SEO experience, covering both technical and content‑led optimisation
- Understanding of how AI platforms surface and cite content, and how to optimise for them
- Experience working within a CMS to deploy website updates
- Ability to translate strategic recommendations into practical, delivered outcomes
- Strong collaboration and stakeholder management skills
- A data‑driven approach to performance monitoring and continuous improvement
Nice to have:
- Experience working in higher education or a similarly complex organisation
- Familiarity with tools such as GA4, Google Search Console, and SEO platforms
- Experience working alongside or managing external agencies
- Knowledge of backlink development and domain authority building
SEO AIO Specialist 12 month FTC Hybrid in Stoke-on-Trent employer: Forwardrole
Join a prestigious higher education institution as an SEO & AI Optimisation Specialist, where you will be at the forefront of digital innovation in Stoke. With a collaborative work culture that values creativity and impact, this role offers excellent opportunities for professional growth and the chance to make a significant difference in how the institution is discovered online. Enjoy a hybrid working model, competitive salary, and the potential for a permanent position, all while contributing to a mission-driven environment focused on educational excellence.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land SEO AIO Specialist 12 month FTC Hybrid in Stoke-on-Trent
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, especially those already working in SEO or AI roles. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about job openings and even referrals.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio showcasing your SEO projects and any AI optimisation work you've done. This will give potential employers a clear idea of what you can bring to the table.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on the latest trends in SEO and AI. Be ready to discuss how you can implement strategies that align with their goals, especially in a higher education context.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! We make it easy for you to find and apply for roles that match your skills. Plus, it shows you're serious about joining the team!
We think you need these skills to ace SEO AIO Specialist 12 month FTC Hybrid in Stoke-on-Trent
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV speaks directly to the role of SEO & AI Optimisation Specialist. Highlight your hands-on SEO experience and any relevant projects that showcase your skills in both technical and content-led optimisation.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're excited about this role and how your background aligns with the needs of the institution. Don’t forget to mention your understanding of AI platforms and how they relate to SEO.
Showcase Your Data Skills:Since this role requires a data-driven approach, be sure to include examples of how you've used data to monitor performance and drive improvements in past roles. This will show us that you can make measurable impacts!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and keep track of all the amazing candidates like you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Forwardrole
✨Know Your SEO Basics
Make sure you brush up on your technical and content-led SEO knowledge. Be ready to discuss specific strategies you've implemented in the past, especially those that improved rankings or visibility. This role is all about turning strategy into action, so having concrete examples will really help you stand out.
✨Familiarise Yourself with AI Optimisation
Since this position involves AI optimisation, it’s crucial to understand how AI platforms work. Do some research on how content is surfaced and cited by these platforms. Being able to talk about your insights and ideas on optimising for AI-generated responses will show you're ahead of the curve.
✨Showcase Your Collaboration Skills
This role requires strong collaboration with various teams and external agencies. Prepare examples of how you've successfully worked with others in the past, particularly in a digital context. Highlighting your stakeholder management skills will demonstrate that you can be the key link between different departments.
✨Be Data-Driven
The job description emphasises a data-driven approach, so come prepared with examples of how you've used data to monitor performance and drive improvements. Discuss any tools you’ve used, like GA4 or Google Search Console, and how they helped you make informed decisions in your previous roles.
