AI and SEO Marketing Manager - London

AI and SEO Marketing Manager - London

London Full-Time 55000 - 60000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
Whitbread - Head Office

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead the evolution of SEO and AI search strategies at Premier Inn.
  • Company: Join Premier Inn, a beloved UK brand, in a hybrid working environment.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, bonuses, and a supportive team culture.
  • Other info: Be part of a top employer focused on innovation and continuous improvement.
  • Why this job: Shape the future of search and impact millions of customers daily.
  • Qualifications: Experience in SEO, AI search, and strong communication skills required.

The predicted salary is between 55000 - 60000 £ per year.

Salary: £55,000 -£60,000 dependant on skills & experiences, bonus and benefits.

Location: Holborn, hybrid working 3 days in the office, 2 days working from home/another location.

Team: Performance Marketing

Be at the forefront of how Premier Inn shows up across Search & AI. As consumer search behaviour evolves faster than ever, from traditional SEO to the rise of AI search agents like Gemini, ChatGPT, Perplexity and others, Premier Inn is investing in a future focused specialist who can lead us into this new era. This is an exciting and influential role that combines deep SEO expertise with the emerging world of AI driven search, LLM optimisation, technical performance, and PR/social visibility. You’ll play a pivotal role in how millions of people discover, engage with, and choose Premier Inn every day.

If you're passionate about the future of search, understand how platforms like ChatGPT, Google, Gemini and Boolean integrations surface brand information, and want to shape how a household UK brand shows up across all these ecosystems, we’d love to hear from you.

What you’ll be doing:

  • Lead the evolution of Search at Premier Inn. You’ll define and drive the roadmap for both SEO and AI search across our Commercial, Marketing, Content, Brand and Technology teams.
  • Own SEO & AI strategy across the entire business. From technical SEO and site architecture to AI search visibility, schema markup, digital PR and content optimisation - you’ll guide Premier Inn’s end to end organic performance programme.
  • Become the internal expert on AI search performance. You’ll understand how LLMs retrieve and prioritise information and how Premier Inn can appear more accurately and prominently in AI generated answers.
  • Influence senior stakeholders. With large cross functional teams and a complex, matrixed organisation, your ability to influence, educate and inspire will be crucial.
  • Lead tools, tech and measurement. You’ll own the tools and platforms that track our SEO and AI search performance, working closely with Technology and Data to ensure accuracy, insight and continual improvement.
  • Coach and develop talent. You'll line manage one direct report (SEO Executive) and manage the relationship with our specialist SEO agencies, ensuring both are delivering at a high standard and continually improving.

Some of your key responsibilities:

  • Define the SEO & AI search strategy and roadmap.
  • Lead technical and on page optimisation.
  • Manage SEO agencies and key search/AI technology partnerships.
  • Drive performance reporting and insight, including dashboards.
  • Optimise for LLM powered search agents (ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity etc.).

What you’ll bring:

  • Experience in SEO, AI search or organic performance.
  • Strong technical SEO capabilities and comfort shaping complex programmes.
  • A clear view on the future of AI search and how brands can win.
  • Experience in large, matrixed organisations with a major online consumer presence.
  • Excellent communication and influencing skills at all levels.
  • Experience managing agencies, tools, budgets and direct reports.
  • A passion for innovation, experimentation and emerging search technology.

Why this role is special:

This isn’t just another SEO role. It’s a chance to lead one of the UK’s most loved brands into the next generation of Search, shaping how millions of customers discover Premier Inn across both today’s platforms and tomorrows. You’ll work across Marketing, Brand, Technology, Data, and your work will have a direct impact on digital performance, customer experience and brand visibility.

Ready to lead the future of Search at Premier Inn? If you’re excited by innovation, thrive in complex organisations and want to shape how a major brand shows up across AI and search ecosystems, we’d love you to apply. Apply now and help us shape the future of Search at Premier Inn.

Why Join Us?

You’ll join a forward thinking performance marketing team that embraces innovation, experimentation, and continuous improvement. Your work will have a direct and visible impact on business results, in a role where technical skill and analytical thinking truly shine. We’re proud to be a Top Employer for 14 consecutive years, a top apprenticeship employer, 10 in the Stonewall Workplace Equality Index, and a Top 25 Exemplary Employer in the Investing in Ethnicity Parliamentary Matrix.

AI and SEO Marketing Manager - London employer: Whitbread - Head Office

Premier Inn is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in the heart of London with a hybrid working model that promotes work-life balance. As a leader in the hospitality sector, we prioritise innovation and employee development, providing opportunities to shape the future of search marketing while being part of a supportive team culture. With recognition as a Top Employer for 14 consecutive years, we are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace where your contributions directly impact our brand's visibility and customer engagement.

Whitbread - Head Office

Contact Details:

Whitbread - Head Office Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land AI and SEO Marketing Manager - London

Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.

Tip Number 2

Show off your skills! Create a portfolio or a personal website showcasing your SEO and AI projects. This is your chance to demonstrate what you can bring to the table beyond just a CV.

Tip Number 3

Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its current SEO strategies. Be ready to discuss how you can help Premier Inn navigate the evolving landscape of AI search and improve their visibility.

Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team at Premier Inn.

We think you need these skills to ace AI and SEO Marketing Manager - London

SEO Expertise
AI Search Knowledge
Technical SEO
Site Architecture
Schema Markup
Digital PR
Content Optimisation

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that align with the AI and SEO Marketing Manager role. Highlight your technical SEO capabilities and any experience you have with AI search technologies to catch our eye!

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Share your passion for innovation in search and how you envision leading Premier Inn into the future of AI-driven search. Be authentic and let your personality come through.

Showcase Your Achievements:Don’t just list your responsibilities; showcase your achievements! Use metrics and examples to demonstrate how you've driven performance in previous roles, especially in SEO and AI search.

Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity to shape the future of search at Premier Inn!

How to prepare for a job interview at Whitbread - Head Office

Know Your SEO and AI Inside Out

Make sure you brush up on the latest trends in SEO and AI search technologies. Familiarise yourself with how platforms like ChatGPT and Gemini work, and be ready to discuss how they can impact Premier Inn's visibility. This knowledge will show your passion for the role and your readiness to lead.

Prepare to Influence and Inspire

Since this role involves influencing senior stakeholders, think about examples from your past where you've successfully communicated complex ideas. Prepare to share how you’ve educated teams or driven change in previous roles, as this will demonstrate your ability to navigate a matrixed organisation.

Showcase Your Technical Skills

Be ready to dive deep into your technical SEO capabilities. Prepare specific examples of projects where you’ve optimised site architecture or improved organic performance. Highlight any tools or platforms you’ve used to track SEO performance, as this will show you’re hands-on and results-driven.

Demonstrate Your Passion for Innovation

This role is all about leading Premier Inn into the future of search. Share your thoughts on emerging technologies and how they could shape the industry. Discuss any innovative strategies you’ve implemented in the past, as this will illustrate your forward-thinking mindset and enthusiasm for experimentation.