At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead SEO, AI, and content strategy to drive organic growth and revenue.
- Company: Join Virgin Experience Days, a leader in unique gifting experiences.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days holiday, flexible working, health plans, and more.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of SEO and AI innovation in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership in SEO and content, with technical expertise.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 £ per year.
Location: Bourne End, Buckinghamshire, SL8 5YS (Hybrid – min. 2 days in office)
Reporting to: CCO
About the role
We’re looking for a commercially driven, forward-thinking Head of SEO, AI & Content to lead our organic growth strategy at Virgin Experience Days. This is a pivotal leadership role responsible for defining and delivering a best-in-class organic ecosystem spanning SEO performance, AI-readiness (including LLMs and emerging search behaviours), and high-impact content creation. You will own the strategic direction and take a hands-on role in the execution of how customers discover, engage with, and choose our experiences. You will work cross-functionally with Trading, Commercial, Product, Tech, and Marketing teams to maximise visibility, conversion, and revenue. This role combines high-level strategic leadership with the ability to "roll up the sleeves" and execute - with line management responsibility and full accountability for organic performance, reporting, and measurable commercial impact.
Why we want you
Organic search is a critical revenue driver for our business, and the landscape is evolving rapidly. We need a leader who can:
- Drive Commercial Outcomes: Lead a best-in-class SEO performance cycle with clear, measurable revenue targets.
- Be a Content Visionary: Elevate our copy and visual storytelling, ensuring content drives the full funnel from "inspiration" to "buying."
- Act as an AI Pioneer: Understand how LLMs are changing user intent and prepare us for the next generation of generative search.
- Zoom-In/Zoom-Out: Debate the nuances of Schema markup or edit a high-performing blog post one hour, then pivot to present a long-term commercial roadmap to the C-suite the next.
- Foster Accountability: Create a performance-led culture underpinned by clear KPIs and actionable data storytelling.
What you'll do:
Strategy, Leadership & Commercial Ownership
- Define the Organic Roadmap: Own the strategy across SEO, AI, and content, ensuring it is aligned with business revenue targets and the Virgin brand voice.
- Stakeholder Influence: Act as the senior expert for organic performance, partnering with Trading and Commercial teams to embed SEO thinking into product launches and seasonal trading cycles.
- Team & Agency Development: Lead, develop, and grow a high-performing team of specialists, while managing external agencies to ensure they deliver maximum strategic value.
- Performance & Accountability:
- Organic revenue growth (YoY and vs forecast)
- Traffic growth and search visibility across priority categories
- Conversion performance from organic channels
- Content effectiveness (engagement, conversion, assisted revenue)
- Technical SEO health and site performance improvements
- Progress against AI and LLM readiness roadmap
- Conduct competitor and market analysis to identify growth opportunities and risks
- Drive a culture of continuous testing, learning, and optimisation to improve ROI
E-E-A-T Leadership: Build a long-term "Expertise, Experience, Authoritativeness, and Trust" roadmap to ensure we remain the primary source of truth in the gifting industry.
Technical SEO & Performance
- Technical Health: Partner with Product and Tech teams to lead the technical roadmap (crawlability, indexation, Core Web Vitals, and Schema).
- Data Storytelling: Own the organic reporting suite (GA4, Looker Studio), translating complex data into simple, decision-driving insights for senior stakeholders.
Content & Creative Excellence
- Editorial Vision: Oversee the creation of category, product, and editorial content, ensuring best-in-class copywriting and visual storytelling.
- Direct Execution: Take a hands-on approach to content production where required, ensuring copy is inspirational, authoritative, and optimised for conversion.
- Visual Discovery: Lead a visual content strategy (imagery and video) that optimises for "Discovery" search, Pinterest, and increasingly visual SERPs.
- Efficiency & Scalability: Improve "Time to Market" for content by implementing AI-assisted workflows and sophisticated production processes.
AI & Search Innovation
- Generative Engine Optimization: Define how we optimize for LLMs and AI Overviews, ensuring our brand is cited in conversational search.
- AI-Enhanced Workflows: Leverage AI tools to automate manual SEO tasks and scale content production without sacrificing quality.
- Future-Proofing: Proactively adapt site architecture to thrive in a world of Search Generative Experiences (SGE).
What you'll need:
Experience & Technical Skills
- Senior Leadership: Significant experience leading SEO/Content functions, ideally in high-SKU e-commerce or travel/leisure environments.
- Content Mastery: A "content-first" mindset with proven experience in digital storytelling and managing end-to-end content lifecycles.
- Technical Fluency: Deep expertise in technical SEO (Schema, Site Architecture) and a sophisticated understanding of AI/LLM search algorithms.
- Commercial Gravity: Comfortable owning a revenue target and articulating the ROI of organic investment to non-marketing stakeholders.
- Tool Kit: Expert knowledge of Search Console, Screaming Frog, SEMrush/Ahrefs, GA4, and Looker Studio.
Mindset
- Strategic & Tactical: Able to operate at a high strategic level while remaining happy to execute hands-on tasks to get the job done.
- Collaborative: Ability to break down silos and work seamlessly with Tech, Product, and Trading teams.
- Innovative: Passionate about staying ahead of industry change and driving a culture of continuous testing and learning.
Perks to make work feel less ordinary:
- Time for you: 25 days holiday plus bank holidays, with the option to buy or sell up to 2 days each year.
- Freedom to work your way: 2 days in-office (Tuesdays a mandatory in-office day), Flexi-working hours around our core 10-4, so your day works for you (8.5 hours per day).
- Wellbeing that works: Access to an award-winning employee assistance programme; Health Plan cover (plus family add-ons) with cash back for a variety of health & wellbeing costs; Cycle to Work and Electric Vehicle schemes (post probation).
- Future proofing you (and your finances): Company pension (5% you, 3% us) after 3 months; Discretionary bonus and life assurance after probation.
- Giving back & all the anti-ordinary extras: 2 volunteer days each year; Free breakfast when in the office; Personal re-loadable multi-choice gift card (topped up on your birthday, lifetime milestones and internal celebrations); Yearly £150 experience voucher; Discounts on experiences and across the Virgin Group; Refer a Friend bonus and generous team celebrations throughout the year.
About us
The home of anti-ordinary gifts. The best things in life aren’t things. It’s why we gift the way we do. We’re one of the world’s leading experience gift brands, making it easy to give the unexpected and deepen connections through anti-ordinary gifting. In the UK, you'll know us as Virgin Experience Days - one of the first brands to pioneer the premise that the best gifts can't be boxed, way back in 1988. We kicked things off with track days and flying experiences. Now we're home to more than 5,000 amazing experience gifts - from immersive theatre, to virtual reality, VIP stadium tours, Michelin-starred dining and more. Operating in the US as Virgin Gifts, we're proudly part of the Virgin family, working alongside the likes of Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Hotels, and Virgin Voyages to deliver extraordinary experiences everywhere.
Head of SEO, AI & Content employer: Virgin Experience days
At Virgin Experience Days, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that fosters a dynamic and innovative work culture in Bourne End, Buckinghamshire. With a strong focus on employee well-being, we offer generous benefits such as 25 days of holiday, flexible working arrangements, and access to an award-winning health plan, all while providing ample opportunities for professional growth and development in a collaborative environment. Join us to lead the charge in redefining organic growth strategies and be part of a team that values creativity, accountability, and continuous learning.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of SEO, AI & Content
✨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 Virgin Experience days 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 Virgin Experience days 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 Virgin Experience days 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 Virgin Experience days. Bring your business cards and be prepared to chat about how you can contribute!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of SEO, AI & Content
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 Virgin Experience days. 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 Virgin Experience days:Show us that you’ve done your homework! In your application, briefly mention what you admire about Virgin Experience days’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 Virgin Experience days
✨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 Virgin Experience days 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 Virgin Experience days, 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.
