Head of SEO

We are looking for a Head of SEO who is passionate about building teams as much as building strategies. You will lead, inspire, and develop our SEO specialists while setting clear direction and standards that deliver outstanding results for our clients. You will oversee the entire SEO department and lead our four pillars: Strategy, Content, Technical SEO, and Digital PR. Your primary goal is to deliver world-class search strategies that enhance client visibility and drive measurable results. You will be responsible for the operational and commercial success of the department. In collaboration with the SLT Directors and other heads of department, you will create cohesive strategies that maximise client success. This role involves driving innovation, maintaining service excellence across all SEO disciplines, and representing the agency as a thought leader.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Departmental Leadership: Lead the SEO department and mentor the Pillar Leads (Strategy, Tech, Content, PR) to deliver best-in-class services. Develop and refine processes to ensure consistent quality and efficiency across all client PODs and empower Pillar Leads to contribute and create such processes. Build and implement training programmes to keep the team’s expertise cutting-edge, encourage self-learning, and impart your own expertise regularly. Inspire your team and others with your knowledge, passion, and leadership skills. Strive to empower collaboration, critical thinking, and bring your team on the journey together.
• Strategic Vision & Collaboration: Work closely with other Digital Marketing HODs to align SEO strategies with broader marketing objectives. Collaborate with the Digital Marketing SLT to ensure the SEO service is strategically sound, commercially viable, and deliverable. Champion innovation. Ensure SEO strategies evolve with market trends (such as AI Search and E-E-A-T) and client needs. Encourage cross-departmental collaboration to create integrated and impactful client campaigns and tackle inter-departmental alignment challenges to deliver truly multi-channel strategy.
• Service Excellence (The 4 Pillars): Strategy & PR — oversee the commercial direction of client campaigns and the growth of our Digital PR offering. Create a culture of ownership for strategists and empower them as portfolio owners, focusing on client performance, delivery and retention. Integrate and expand the PR function as a critical pillar for future success. Technical & Content: Ensure Technical and Content output is scalable, accurate, and adheres to high-quality guidelines while being efficient and tailored to client commercials.
• Integration: Ensure all four pillars work cohesively within the POD structure to prevent silos and encourage collaboration across the four pillars.
• Client Engagement & Advocacy: Lead on SEO strategies for key client pitches, high-value renewals, and escalations while tailoring solutions to unique client goals. Act as the senior point of contact for our most strategic accounts to ensure client confidence in our delivery; represent the pinnacle of ownership for the SEO service.
• Market Leadership & Innovation: Represent the agency at industry events, vodcasts, panels, and through expert commentary. Monitor competitors and market developments (e.g., Google Core Updates) to ensure our services remain market-leading.
• Accountability & Growth: Take responsibility for the growth of the SEO business area and drive measurable improvements in client performance and retention. Develop close working relationships with other key growth departments to achieve growth. Attend Quarterly Business Reviews to report on departmental performance, innovation, and future plans.
• Department KPI's: Align departmental goals to overarching business objectives and ensure this filters down to Pillar Leads and the wider team.
• Documentation & Transparency: Ensure documentation on commercial performance is kept up to date and that the wider team understands department performance and improvement needs.
• Staff Development: Conduct regular 1-to-1s with Pillar Leads, host team days, and conduct relevant appraisals with constructive feedback; ensure staff have time to develop and grow.

Requirements

• Extensive experience in SEO with a deep understanding of all four pillars: Strategy, Content, Technical SEO, and Outreach/PR.
• Proven ability to deliver successful SEO strategies that align with client and/or agency goals.
• Senior leadership experience with a history of managing managers (Pillar Leads) and fostering collaboration in a matrix or POD structure.
• A track record of driving innovation and integrating emerging trends (such as AI or SGE) into strategies.
• Analytical expertise with a results-oriented mindset.
• Strong communication skills with experience in client-facing and external representation roles.
• Ability to listen, inspire, and bring others together to achieve objectives.

Core Competences, Skills And Personal Attributes

• Strategic Vision and Leadership: Ability to shape and communicate a clear strategic vision for clients and internal teams, aligning initiatives with market opportunities and client goals.
• Effective Line Management: Strong leadership and mentoring skills; fosters collaboration, innovation, and growth; provides clear direction and feedback.
• Collaboration and Influencing: Thrives in cross-functional environments and drives alignment across teams.
• Industry Expertise and Insight: Deep understanding of eCommerce and SEO; identifies trends and opportunities.
• Commercial Acumen: Understands client pain points and industry challenges to drive measurable success.
• Innovation and Creativity: Pioneers new approaches, tools, and technologies to elevate client solutions and offerings.
• Effective Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication; translates complex concepts into actionable insights.
• Presentation and Representation: Comfortable in public-facing roles; demonstrates thought leadership and professionalism.

Benefits

• Competitive basic salary with strong progression options.
• Unlimited paid holidays.
• Hybrid working.
• Medicash Cash Plan with wide coverage; cash back up to £995 per year.
• Employee Assistance Programme for mental health support and wellbeing resources.
• Dog-friendly workspaces in Stockton on Tees and Manchester.
• High-performance MacBook.
• VS Perks and various employee discounts.
• Free daily breakfast, fruit, drinks, and protein shakes.
• Weekly free brunch and lunch.
• Friday afternoon drinks.
• Pension, cycle to work, and EV car schemes.

Our Values

• We champion our clients. We believe in every retailer's potential to succeed online and celebrate milestones with them.
• We are one team. Collaboration within our teams and with our clients helps us achieve more.
• We create change. The future of eCommerce is evolving; we lead where others see uncertainty.
• We Care About What Matters. We are committed to making the world a little brighter for our people, community, and planet.

So if you think you’ve got what it takes to join one of the UK’s leading eCommerce agencies, we’d love to hear from you.