Associate Director/lead Organic Search

Associate Director/lead Organic Search

Full-Time 58500 - 71500 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead strategic Organic Media initiatives and drive client success through innovative strategies.
  • Company: Join a dynamic team at Rise at Seven, a leader in Organic Media.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, generous holiday allowance, flexible working, and unique perks.
  • Other info: Collaborative culture focused on continuous improvement and innovation.
  • Why this job: Shape the future of search and make a real impact on client growth.
  • Qualifications: 6+ years in SEO or digital marketing with strong leadership skills.

The predicted salary is between 58500 - 71500 £ per year.

We create category leaders. And you can't lead a category if you're invisible when people search.

Organic Media Leads engineer that leadership through discovery. This is a senior strategic role — leading clients to discovery, and leading the Rise at Seven team to success.

As an Associate director of Organic/Lead, you'll own a portfolio of accounts in a client-centric role, ensuring our Organic Media strategies translate into measurable commercial success.

You'll act as the senior strategist on your accounts, working with a team of strategists, creators and analysts to build multi-channel content plans that make our clients the most discoverable brands in their category — with search-first insight at the heart of everything.

You're a performance strategist at heart.

You take channel plans and turn them into visions that drive commercial value and industry impact— revenue and category leadership.

You talk about money, category opportunity, and growth, not just rankings.

You'll be the senior strategic partner your clients can't imagine working without — challenging thinking, spotting opportunities before they do, raising standards, and helping shape the future of Rise's Organic Media proposition.

At Rise, we separate Demand from Discovery.

This role ensures our Discovery strategies continually evolve to maximise visibility, authority and commercial performance — while identifying the biggest opportunities for growth.

What does good look like?

An indispensable strategic leader.

You drive client relationships, performance and account growth.

You anticipate opportunities before the client asks, regularly identify upsell opportunities and influence budget decisions.

You bring every channel together into one cohesive strategy, and you're seen by both the client and internal teams as the strategic authority on the account.

Losing you would materially impact the client relationship and performance.

  • Key Objectives
  • Own the commercial success of your Organic Media client portfolio.
  • Ensure Organic Media strategies deliver measurable business growth.
  • Build long-term client relationships as a trusted strategic partner.
  • Identify opportunities to grow client investment and expand our services.
  • Develop and mentor Senior Organic Media Strategists.
  • Continuously evolve our Organic Media proposition and strategic frameworks.
  • Maintain exceptional quality across every Organic Media strategy.

Key Responsibilities

  • Client Leadership
  • Act as the senior strategic lead across your client portfolio.
  • Build trusted relationships with senior stakeholders.
  • Lead monthly strategic planning, Quarterly Business Reviews and annual/long term strategic planning.
  • Ensure every client has a clear growth roadmap aligned to commercial objectives.
  • Challenge strategies to ensure we're investing in the highest-impact opportunities
  • Unite SEO, social search, Digital PR and content into one cohesive Organic Media strategy per client — not siloed channel plans.
  • Commercial Growth
  • Develop client growth plans that identify opportunities across SEO, Social, Digital PR and wider Rise services to expand new channels - working the the CS team to open doors for budget and opps
  • Spot upsell opportunities within current services based on impact for category leadership
  • Monitor and report on portfolio performance, ensuring strategies deliver measurable outcomes working with analysts and performance leads
  • Turn executional accounts into strategic, and strategic accounts into partnerships.
  • Strategic & storytelling
  • Personally lead strategies on a number of accounts whilst Reviewing and elevating Organic Media strategies within your portfolio before presentation to clients.
  • Create industry leading content and search journeys and channels plans that that drive discovery in the category
  • Lead defend, grow, innovate plans - based on commercial impact and windows of opportunity in the industry
  • Conduct cultural and strategic quality assurance to ensure recommendations are relevant, locally appropriate and aligned with brand tone.
  • Share strategic industry insight and best practice across the Organic Media team hosting lunch and learn sessions with Rise staff and clients
  • Team Leadership
  • Help develop a team of Organic Media Strategists and creators - training, setting process, feedback and quality assurance
  • Coach team members through strategy development, client leadership and presentation skills.
  • Support resource planning, prioritisation and workload management.
  • Foster a culture of collaboration, curiosity and continuous improvement.
  • Proposition Development
  • Help evolve Rise's Organic Media methodology and strategic frameworks.
  • Identify new opportunities created by changing search behaviours, AI platforms and emerging technologies.
  • Contribute to external thought leadership, internal training and agency-wide innovation.

About You

  • You're an experienced strategic leader who combines commercial thinking with exceptional client management.
  • You enjoy helping clients solve complex business challenges, not just marketing problems.
  • You're passionate about developing people and raising the standard of strategic thinking.
  • You understand how SEO, Social and Digital PR work together to drive commercial growth.
  • You're confident in influencing senior stakeholders and leading high-value client relationships.
  • You're excited by the future of search and the role Organic Media will play in shaping it.

Skills & Experience

  • 6+ years' experience in SEO, content strategy or integrated digital marketing.
  • Proven experience leading strategic client relationships.
  • Strong commercial awareness with experience identifying growth opportunities.
  • Experience managing and developing strategy teams.
  • Deep understanding of Search Journeys, audience behaviour and Organic Media strategy.
  • Strong knowledge of AI Search, LLM visibility and the evolving search landscape.
  • Excellent presentation, communication and stakeholder management skills.
  • Success in this Role

Within 12 months you will have

  • Built a portfolio of clients achieving measurable commercial growth through Organic Media.
  • Developed high-performing Senior Organic Media Strategists capable of leading client strategy independently.
  • Increased client investment through strategic growth planning and opportunity identification.
  • Raised the quality and consistency of Organic Media strategy across the agency.
  • Helped shape the continued evolution of Rise's Organic Media proposition.
  • What We Can Offer You
  • Generous holiday allowance + public holidays
  • Holiday loyalty scheme
  • Free mortgage advice through our in-house advisor
  • Work from anywhere for up to one month a year
  • Your birthday off
  • Christmas and New Year office shutdown
  • Access to private medical
  • Enhanced maternity and paternity leave
  • Flexible and hybrid working
  • Bucket list scheme — one life experience on us
  • Equal Opportunities

At Rise at Seven we celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

We welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates regardless of race, religious beliefs, age, sex, sexual orientation, or disability.

Associate Director/lead Organic Search employer: Rise At Seven

Rise at Seven is an exceptional employer that fosters a vibrant and inclusive work culture, perfect for those looking to thrive in the dynamic field of Digital PR. With a strong focus on employee growth, we offer flexible working arrangements, a competitive salary, and unique benefits like a bucket list scheme to help you achieve your dreams. Join us in a collaborative environment where your creativity and ambition can shine while working with diverse clients across various industries.

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Contact Details:

Rise At Seven Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Associate Director/lead Organic Search

Show Your Creative Side

In marketing communications, standing out is key. Get creative with your application! Consider designing a mini-campaign or pitch that highlights your skills and understanding of the brand. Tailor it for Rise At Seven and show them what you can bring to the table.

Engage in Marketing Communities

Get involved in local or online marketing communications groups. Check out platforms like Meetup for events and workshops. Networking here can lead to hidden job openings and valuable insights into the industry trends—this is where we often discover what companies like Rise At Seven are looking for.

Leverage Social Media

Use platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter to showcase your passion for marketing communications. Share insights, articles, and your own content that resonates with the industry. Tagging or interacting with Rise At Seven on these platforms can catch the eye of recruiters and show you're genuinely interested in them.

Attend Industry Events

Keep an eye out for marketing conferences and workshops. These are great places to meet potential employers face-to-face and make connections that could land you a full-time role at Rise At Seven. Bring your business cards and be prepared to chat about how you can contribute!

We think you need these skills to ace Associate Director/lead Organic Search

SEO
Content Strategy
Integrated Digital Marketing
Client Management
Commercial Awareness
Strategic Planning
Stakeholder Management

Some tips for your application 🫡

Craft an Impactful Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Focus on your passion for marketing communications and how your previous experiences can benefit Rise At Seven. Make sure to mention specific campaigns or projects you’ve worked on that showcase your creativity and strategic thinking.

Showcase Your Writing Skills:As you're diving into a marketing communications role, your writing ability is crucial. Include samples of your work, like blog posts, press releases, or social media campaigns in your application. This lets us see your style and how you engage with different audiences.

Tailor Your CV to Marketing:Your CV should highlight relevant marketing skills and experiences! Include specific tools or platforms you’ve used, like Google Analytics or social media management software. Mention any certifications or workshops related to marketing that you've completed – they can give you an edge!

Demonstrate Your Understanding of Rise At Seven:Show us that you’ve done your homework! In your application, briefly mention what you admire about Rise At Seven’s marketing approach or any recent campaigns that caught your attention. This can reveal your enthusiasm for the role and your genuine interest in joining our team!

How to prepare for a job interview at Rise At Seven

Showcase Your Creative Campaigns

Get ready to flaunt your portfolio! Include examples of previous marketing campaigns you've worked on, especially those that showcase your creativity and strategy. Recruiters at Rise At Seven will be keen to see how you conceptualise and execute campaigns, so highlight any measurable outcomes to back up your claims.

Know Your Digital Tools Inside Out

If you’re heading into a marketing-communications role, make sure you're comfortable discussing key digital marketing tools like Google Analytics, HubSpot, or Hootsuite. Expect some technical questions about how you've used these tools in the past, as they'll want to gauge your hands-on experience and how you analyse data to drive marketing decisions.

Be Ready for Scenario-Based Questions

At Rise At Seven, they may throw some scenario-based questions your way, aimed at testing your problem-solving skills in real-life marketing situations. Think through potential challenges you’ve faced, how you navigated them, and be prepared to discuss your thought process and outcome.

Demonstrate Your Passion for Marketing

As you’re applying for a full-time position, show that you're not just looking for a job, but a career in marketing. Talk about the latest trends in marketing communications, your favourite campaigns, and why they inspire you. Your enthusiasm can really make you stand out and demonstrate that you’re committed to growing within the field.