SEO Manager (6-month FTC) in London

SEO Manager (6-month FTC) in London

London Temporary 35000 - 45000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
The PHA Group

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead SEO strategies and optimise content for diverse clients, enhancing organic visibility.
  • Company: Join a dynamic communications agency dedicated to making a positive impact through innovative strategies.
  • Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, healthcare cashback, wellness initiatives, and generous annual leave.
  • Other info: Collaborative environment with opportunities for professional growth and development.
  • Why this job: Be at the forefront of SEO and AI trends, shaping the future of digital discovery.
  • Qualifications: Passion for SEO, creativity, and analytical skills are essential.

The predicted salary is between 35000 - 45000 £ per year.

About PHA

PHA is an earned-first integrated communications agency with offices in London, Manchester, Leeds, New York and Boston.

We believe communication can make the world a better place.

It matters.

But with constant disruption, fragmentation and growing complexity, earning attention and inspiring action is harder than ever.

PHA is built to solve for this.

We nurture, grow and protect brands & reputations for a portfolio of consumer, corporate, technology, B2B, and health clients in the UK and internationally.

We bring clarity to a fast, chaotic, complex world, challenging convention and delivering fresh thinking.

Our agile multidisciplined teams create dynamic campaigns across earned, social, digital and paid media - engaging audiences wherever they are, always.

We lead with strategy and deliver a full suite of creative services and production capabilities, generating impact at every step of the audience journey from awareness through to conversion.

Working as one to solve any client challenge, we bring the best of PHA to drive impact that multiplies.

When unboxed minds meet unboxed ambition communications don’t blend in – they break out.

We’re built to make it matter .

Introduction to the role

We are looking for an SEO Manager to join our Digital team on a six-month fixed-term contract .

This role is ideal for someone with a passion for creating and optimising high-quality content that drives organic visibility across both traditional search engines and emerging AI-powered search experiences.

Working across a diverse portfolio of clients, you will lead the planning, optimisation and delivery of content strategies that improve search performance, strengthen topical authority and support wider integrated PR and digital campaigns.

You'll combine analytical thinking with creativity, using SEO insights, content audits and audience research to identify opportunities that generate measurable commercial impact.

As search continues to evolve, you'll also have a working understanding of Generative Engine Optimisation (GEO), recognising how content structure, authority signals, and machine-readable content influence visibility within AI-generated search results.

You won't be expected to be a GEO specialist, but you'll be curious about emerging search behaviours and keen to help clients prepare for the future of organic discovery.

You'll work closely with our SEO, PR, Content and Digital teams to develop recommendations, produce content briefs, audit existing websites, monitor performance and continually identify opportunities to improve visibility, engagement and conversions.

  • Core Responsibilities
  • Develop and maintain positive relationships with clients as the trusted day-to-day account lead (based on size of account), taking ownership of client meetings, regular updates and reporting.
  • Start to, then confidently develop strong client management through detailed, clear communication, counsel and strategic recommendations.
  • Oversee the delivery of full-funnel SEO campaigns with the highest level of attention to detail.
  • Lead content audits, keyword research and competitor analysis to identify opportunities to improve organic visibility, user experience, topical authority and overall client performance.
  • Develop SEO content strategies, keyword frameworks, editorial plans and detailed content briefs aligned to user intent, search demand and commercial objectives.
  • Optimise new and existing website content by applying SEO best practice across content, on-page optimisation, internal linking, metadata, schema opportunities and information architecture to improve search performance.
  • Use industry-standard SEO and analytics tools to measure performance, identify opportunities and provide data-driven recommendations, keeping up to date with developments in AI-powered search and AI-assisted discovery.
  • Work collaboratively with PR, Content and other specialist teams to maximise the organic impact of integrated campaigns, earned media and thought leadership content across both traditional search and AI-assisted discovery.
  • Start to run the day-to-day management of client accounts, leading juniors across the team with the support of the account lead, including:
  • Setting and adhering to agreed timelines.
  • Management of weekly and monthly reporting.
  • Monitoring and exceeding KPIs.
  • Ideation to keep client activity fresh and engaging.
  • Checks to ensure high-quality client-facing documents.
  • Start to, then confidently manage budgets.
  • Build awareness of and contribute to contract renewals to achieve a high client retention rate.
  • Stay Curious
  • Complete proactive analysis using relevant tools to spot trends, challenges, and opportunities to benefit clients, the team, and the wider company.
  • Develop a sophisticated and in-depth knowledge of industries relevant to your clients, and use research skills to lead planning and campaign strategies, draft in-depth content, and upsell projects.
  • Attend role-specific training and participate in agencywide activities and initiatives to build relationships with colleagues.
  • Use AI tools responsibly to support creativity, efficiency, insight, and high-quality output, applying professional judgment to ensure all work remains accurate, ethical, and aligned with client and company standards.
  • Stay Human
  • Start to, then confidently demonstrate consistent and effective upward management to account leads, sharing successes and flagging issues/challenges at the earliest opportunity, whilst also starting to identify and suggest possible solutions.
  • Stay Ahead
  • Start to contribute to your practice/specialism’s new business strategy, including identifying and understanding new prospect opportunities, working with Sales & Marketing, and continuing where relevant to proposal preparation and pitch involvement.
  • Develop commercial awareness, with a focus on understanding client contract breaks, and growing the commercial value of your client portfolio through upselling.

Benefits

  • Hybrid working policy, enabling you to work flexibly from home and one of our offices – minimum requirement of 12 office days per month
  • Flexible start and finish times; 8am-5pm / 8:30am-5:30pm / 9am-6pm, as well as an early finish on Fridays between 3:30pm and 4:30pm
  • Healthcare cashback scheme worth up to £2,000 annually for dental, optical, physio, chiro, osteo, and GP charges
  • £30 monthly phone allowance
  • Annual railcard reimbursement
  • Weekly Wellness Hour, annual Wellness Day, and accompanying £50 voucher
  • Annual Development Day for volunteering/charity work, and Birthday leave
  • 23 days’ annual leave which increases by one day every year from your second anniversary (capped at 31 days)
  • 10% new business bonus and £500 recruitment referral bonus schemes
  • Potential to be nominated for a £500 WOW bonus for exceptional performance
  • Monthly companywide awards with a chance to win £50 or £100 for outstanding work
  • Employee Assistance Programme with access to six virtual or face-to-face counselling sessions as well as ad hoc mental health, financial, and legal support
  • Dedicated Culture Committee responsible for arranging a number of activities and initiatives across sport, social, wellness, sustainability, charity, and EDI, as well as a regular Culture Club
  • Dedicated training team responsible for developing employees at all levels across the business through an extensive programme of external trainers, internal specialists, and industry experts, complimented by the PHA Aspire Mentoring Programme

SEO Manager (6-month FTC) in London employer: The PHA Group

The PHA Group is an exceptional employer located in the vibrant Greater London area, offering a dynamic work environment that fosters creativity and collaboration. Employees benefit from a hybrid working model, a healthcare cashback scheme, and additional annual leave based on tenure, all while engaging in meaningful work that enhances their professional growth. Join a team that values strong relationships and high-quality results, making it a rewarding place to advance your career in crisis communications.

The PHA Group

Contact Details:

The PHA Group Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land SEO Manager (6-month FTC) in London

Dive into Local Events

Get involved with local marketing and communications events! These are great places to meet people from the industry, learn about temporary roles, and even uncover hidden job leads. Check out local networking events or marketing conferences that might be happening in your area.

Show Off Your Work

Create a standout digital portfolio showcasing your previous campaigns, writing samples, or projects. Share this on social media and professional groups relevant to marketing-communications. This public visibility can often attract interest from potential employers, especially for those temporary gigs!

Utilise Online Job Boards

Focus on job boards specific to marketing and communications. Sites like MarketingJobs.com or even LinkedIn can have temp roles that aren’t always advertised on the usual job sites. Keep your eyes peeled and apply through our website—temp roles can come up unexpectedly, and you want to be first in line!

Tap into Your Uni's Resources

If you're still at university, don't forget to lean on your career services for temporary marketing roles. They often have connections to firms looking for interns or temporary staff who can jump in at short notice. Plus, networking with your professors can lead to some valuable opportunities—always worth a chat!

We think you need these skills to ace SEO Manager (6-month FTC) in London

SEO Strategy Development
Content Optimisation
Keyword Research
Competitor Analysis
Client Management
Analytical Skills
Data-Driven Decision Making

Some tips for your application 🫡

Highlight Your Experience with Campaigns:In marketing-communications, it’s all about showcasing your ability to create impactful campaigns. Make sure to include any relevant projects you’ve worked on in your CV, detailing your role, the strategies used, and the results achieved. We're looking for candidates who can demonstrate their creativity and analytical skills!

Tailor Your Writing Samples:For a temporary role, we want to see your versatility and adaptability in communication. Include a couple of writing samples that align with our brand voice or reflect your ability to engage various audiences. This gives us a taste of what you can bring to the team at The PHA Group from day one!

Show Off Your Digital Savvy:Digital marketing is a big part of marketing-communications, so make sure your application reflects your understanding of social media, SEO, and content marketing. Feel free to throw in any certificates you've earned in these areas—it shows your initiative and dedication to learning the latest trends!

Express Your Enthusiasm for the Short-Term Role:In your cover letter, focus on why you’re interested in this temporary position at The PHA Group specifically. Share what you hope to learn during your time with us and how you can contribute to our ongoing projects. We're all about passion and potential, so let that shine through!

How to prepare for a job interview at The PHA Group

Showcase Your Creative Portfolio

As a candidate for a temporary marketing-communications role at The PHA Group, your portfolio will speak volumes. Bring along samples of your best work—think campaigns you've managed, social media content, and any visuals. Be ready to talk through your creative process and the impact your work had on previous projects.

Understand the Latest Trends

We know the marketing-communications field moves at lightning speed. Make sure you brush up on the latest trends—such as digital storytelling or the effectiveness of influencer partnerships. Being able to discuss these trends during your interview will show The PHA Group you're not just up-to-date but also eager to innovate.

Highlight Your Adaptability

Since this is a temporary position, emphasise your ability to adapt quickly and work on short timelines. Share examples from your past where you had to pivot a strategy or campaign swiftly to meet changing demands. This will reassure The PHA Group that you’re ready to hit the ground running.

Ready Your Communication Strategy

Be prepared for questions that assess your communication skills. You might get asked to pitch a marketing idea on the spot or create a quick content plan. This is your chance to shine and show how your unique perspective can solve problems for The PHA Group, so think on your feet and don't hesitate to showcase your creativity!