Director, Search Engine Optimization (Temp)
Horizonmedia Open · verified Sep 21, 2026 At a glance
Leadership SEO role at Horizonmedia. New York · full-time · no salary stated · we estimate $106,000–$188,000.
Horizonmedia has not published a salary for this role. The figure below is our estimate, not theirs.
Growth Roles summary, based on the employer's posting.
What you'll do
- Lead client relationships while overseeing search work across several portfolios
- Direct associate directors, supervisors, and analysts, building processes for search campaign delivery and improvement
- Guide organic and AI search strategy, including planning, measurement, analysis, and optimization
- Motivate teams from junior analysts through associate directors to improve client performance
- Shape RFP responses, pitches, new-business strategy, and client transitions
What you bring
- At least eight years in an SEO-focused environment or directly in SEO, plus a bachelor’s degree
- Deep command of SEO, ranking factors, information retrieval, keyword research, and on-site optimization
- Strong knowledge of AI search and how brands surface in LLMs and AI-generated answers
- Expertise with Google Analytics and Microsoft Office, plus familiarity with named SEO and AI visibility tools
- You can manage multiple client projects independently and explain technical work to developers, clients, and account teams
Who this fits
You’ll suit a senior people leader who can manage associate directors, supervisors, and analysts while owning client-facing search work. The role is based in New York and covers organic search, AI search, local SEO, analytics, new business, and experimentation.
From the employer
Job Description
Job Summary
We are currently seeking highly motivated Director to manage multiple teams and client portfolios across our rapidly growing Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) practice. Key tasks will include team leadership, establishing and maintaining relationships with internal teams and external clients, developing and administering traditional organic and AI search account strategy, development of POVs for internal/external partners, mentoring of junior staff and championing a test/learn innovation culture.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
- 30% - Lead applicable Client relationship(s) on behalf of Search team.
- 30% - Manage subset of Search team across multiple clients, establishing/refining processes for creating, implementing, tracking, analyzing and optimizing Search campaigns in Google AdWords, Yahoo! Search Marketing, Bing, and other search engines.
- 25% - Motivate and inspire cross-section of team members from junior analysts through associate directors to drive continual performance improvements in client business.
- 15% - Drive new business engagements from RFP completion, strategy development, and prospective client pitch through transition to Horizon management.
- 5% - Evaluate new technologies / strategies / techniques across the search landscape and gauge potential for experimentation within existing / new client engagements.
Supervisory Responsibilities
The Director of Search Engine Optimization is responsible for the direct management of the Associate Directors, Supervisors and Analysts on the team, as well as for overall team management.
Knowledge and Skills Required
- 8+ years’ experience directly related to a SEO-heavy environment and/or specifically with SEO
- Bachelor’s degree
- Expert knowledge of all aspects of SEO
- Thorough understanding of AI search fundamentals and how brands appear in LLMs and AI responses
- Expert knowledge of Google Analytics and Microsoft Office Applications
- Familiarity and experience with Screaming Frog, MOZ, SEMRush, Brightedge, Conductor, and/or other industry tools
- Experience working with AI Visibility platforms like Profound, Scrunch, Adobe LLM Optimizer and/or other industry tools
- Ability to utilize AI tools to streamline workflows and assess data outputs
- Ability to manage processes & projects across several clients at a time
- A thorough understanding of key search engine ranking factors and information retrieval
- Ability to conduct relevant keyword research and make recommendations
- A thorough understanding of and the ability to conduct detailed on-site optimization
- Ability to interpret analytics data and identify actionable opportunities
- Proven ability to autonomously manage an ongoing organic search campaign
- A solid understanding of CRO (Conversion Rate Optimization / A/B Testing) a plus
- Working knowledge of HTML, PHP, Javascript, and/or CSS a huge plus
- Knowledge of the inner workings of local search & local rankings
- Experience with local listings management (LLM) and local SEO
- Excellent communication skills, written and verbal; ability to communicate effectively with developers & technical team as well as clients & account team
- Strong organizational skills with attention to detail
Certificates, licenses and registrations
- Brightedge Certification is a big plus.
- Google Analytics Certification is helpful.
#HMI
Base Pay
The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees, and are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified. Furthermore, they do not establish a contract for employment and are subject to change at the discretion of the employer.
Horizon Media is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements.
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