SEO Account Director (9M FTC) in London

About Us

At Assembly, our mission is to find the change that fuels growth. We apply this principle to the work we do with our clients and to how we engage with our people. We’re a modern global agency bringing together media, data, technology and talent to make brands perform. Our business is purpose driven. In March 2022, we were named Ad Age’s first ever Purpose-Led Agency of the Year, recognised for our mission to leave the world better than we found it. This year we became B Corp certified, the result of a two-year journey. We’re proud to have created a culture where diversity of thought, experience, and background are valued, within an environment that fosters continuous learning, adaptability, and a shared passion for meaningful impact.

When you join Assembly, you become part of an award-winning global community of digitally led experts, home to 1,500 talented people across 25 offices globally. Together we create unique data, technology and media solutions that enable faster and smarter problem solving within an inspired, collaborative workplace. Assembly is poised for its next chapter of growth. We’re a meritocratic, high-performance business with a progressive outlook and a growth mindset in all that we do. To realise our potential we need some new skills and thinking. The core DNA of Assembly lies in digital performance marketing. New and existing clients are asking us to extend this expertise across all media, connecting traditional channels with digital methods of execution, measurement and automation.

At Assembly we ask our people to embody three core values:

• Show Up: actively contribute to a space of personal and collective growth
• Make Change: embrace obstacles as opportunities, taking intentional steps to drive positive change
• Win Well: approach success with integrity, responsibility, and a commitment to collaboration, understanding that the journey is as important as the destination.

We look forward to meeting you and to discussing how we can grow together.

Overview

Reporting to our Head of SEO, we are looking for a passionate and strategic SEO Account Director (Maternity Cover) to lead some of the worlds most recognised luxury brands and ecommerce sites. We’re looking for an experienced SEO account director with 2+ years of account director experience, who’s able to step in during a mat leave and really hit the ground running. As a leader within the team, you’ll own a portfolio of high-profile clients and oversee a team of SEO managers and executives. You’ll set the standard for industry leading SEO, innovation and commercial responsibility, as well as working across new business and with a wide range of channels.

Responsibilities

• Strategic ownership of a pod of large-scale SEO accounts, delivering high value work, across content, technical and digital PR, as well as ensuring client satisfaction
• Build trust with clients who are nervous about there being a change in the team and put their minds at ease with your interpersonal skills
• Drive existing SEO roadmaps and help us achieve our KPIs aligned to client business goals. You’ll ensure all deliverables are on track and driving towards business goals
• Champion Innovation within your accounts and the wider SEO team - bringing ideas and new ways of thinking to the table, from AI to the future of Search
• Internal & External Stakeholder Management, providing leadership and direction to clients, team members, and cross-agency collaborators.
• Lead New Business Pitches in partnership with the Head of SEO, and our growth and strategy teams. From SEO-specific proposals to cross-channel pitches, you’ll manage the process end-to-end, from briefing junior members of the team, commercial modelling, and participating in pitch presentations
• Forecasting using benchmark data, client data and reasonable logic using your enhanced excel skills
• Collaborate with other teams and channels within the agency, creating cross channel reporting, testing and integrated strategies
• Staying ahead of the curve with the industry and what’s happening in the search landscape and algorithm updates
• Team Leadership & Development — manage and mentor a team of SEO managers and execs, providing strategic direction, performance feedback, and career development opportunities.

Required Skills

• Minimum 4+ years' experience in SEO, with minimum 2+ years agency and account director experience, ideally within a leading digital or integrated agency.
• Proven track record of leading large scale international SEO strategies for luxury ecommerce sites
• Understanding of key pillars of SEO: Technical, on-site content, off-site tactics including digital PR and outreach, Google Merchant Centre, and Search on Social
• Experience in leading a team of specialists
• Client facing skills, able to manage senior stakeholders
• Commercially minded, understanding budgets, being able to put together scopes of works and contributing to team revenue
• Familiarity with tools like Semrush, Screaming Frog, GA4, GSC, Adobe etc
• International SEO experience
• Experience in working with different channels

Equal Opportunities

Assembly is an advocate for equal opportunity in the workplace. We are committed to ensuring equal opportunities regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability and gender identity. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know.