Search and Discovery Lead in Leeds

Hybrid (3 days in the office) | UK (Liverpool / Leeds) | Full‑time

At Velstar, we help ambitious eCommerce brands grow through smarter digital performance. Search and discovery sit at the heart of that, and we’re looking for a Search and Discovery Lead to own how this discipline shows up for our clients and across the agency.

This is a senior, hands‑on role for someone who lives and breathes modern search, from SEO foundations to AI‑driven discovery and social‑first platforms, and who wants to lead by example rather than line management.

The role

Reporting to the Group Operations Director, you’ll take ownership of search and discovery delivery for a portfolio of key clients, acting as their senior day‑to‑day partner. You’ll set the standard for quality, clarity and commercial impact, while helping Velstar stay ahead of how people actually discover, research and buy products today.

While this isn’t a formal people management role, it carries real leadership responsibility, mentoring others, influencing delivery standards, and shaping Velstar’s point of view on the future of search and discovery.

What you’ll be doing

• Owning delivery for key search and discovery clients, with a clear focus on commercial outcomes
• Leading audits, strategy, optimisation and reporting across SEO, AI‑driven search, GEO and social discovery
• Translating complex performance data into clear, confident narratives clients can understand and act on
• Diagnosing performance issues quickly and prioritising activity where it will have the biggest impact
• Setting the benchmark for delivery quality through your own hands‑on work
• Acting as a senior escalation point for complex technical or strategic challenges
• Mentoring and supporting team members through guidance, feedback and shared problem‑solving
• Contributing subject‑matter expertise to pitches, proposals and client planning
• Owning and evolving Velstar’s perspective on modern search and discovery as the landscape changes

What we’re looking for

You’re an experienced search specialist who combines deep technical expertise with strong commercial awareness. You’re confident owning outcomes, leading senior client conversations, and helping others raise their game through example rather than hierarchy.

You’ll likely have:

• Proven experience delivering search‑led growth for eCommerce clients
• Deep SEO expertise, alongside a strong understanding of AI‑driven search, GEO and social discovery
• Confidence working with senior client stakeholders and owning strategic direction
• A clear commercial mindset - ROI, value and impact guide your decisions
• Experience mentoring or influencing delivery standards without formal line management
• The ability to deliver fast, focused audits and reporting that drive action

Nice to have:

• Shopify experience (Velstar is a Platinum Shopify Partner)
• Strong working knowledge of GA4, Google Search Console and merchandising considerations

Why Velstar?

• Hybrid working (minimum 3 days per week in our Liverpool or Leeds office)
• A senior, high‑impact role with real influence over a core growth discipline
• The opportunity to shape how modern search and discovery is delivered at scale
• A collaborative, delivery‑focused culture that values clarity, pace and results
• Exposure to ambitious mid‑market brands investing seriously in performance

If you’re excited by where search and discovery is heading and want a role where you can help define what “good” looks like, we’d love to hear from you.