Role: SEO Manager

Industry: Digital Marketing / Search Engine Optimization

Location: Chicago, IL - Hybrid onsite 3 days a week

Assignment Type: Direct Hire

Salary: $80,000 - $100,000 / year

Benefits: This role is eligible for medical, PTO and 401K.

About the Opportunity

Our client, a growing digital marketing organization in Chicago, is seeking an experienced SEO Manager to develop and execute organic search strategies across a diverse portfolio of clients.

This is a highly hands-on SEO position. The ideal candidate isn't someone who simply researches opportunities, manages vendors, or reviews reports-they know how to personally execute SEO campaigns from strategy through implementation.

You'll work across on-page SEO, local SEO, technical SEO, content strategy, keyword research, Google Analytics, Google Search Console, and SEO platforms such as SEMrush and Ahrefs to improve organic visibility, rankings, traffic, and leads.

Candidates with previous digital marketing or SEO agency experience are strongly preferred.

What You'll Do

• Develop and personally execute SEO strategies across multiple client accounts
• Perform keyword research and identify opportunities to improve rankings, traffic, and conversions
• Build SEO-focused content strategies and content calendars
• Map keywords and search topics to existing and future website pages
• Perform hands-on on-page optimization, including:
  • Title tags and meta descriptions
  • Headers and page structure
  • Internal linking
  • Keyword targeting
  • Search intent optimization
  • Schema and structured data
• Conduct technical SEO audits and identify issues related to:
  • Crawling and indexing
  • Site speed and performance
  • Structured data
  • Website architecture
  • Other technical SEO factors
• Partner with developers to implement and resolve technical SEO recommendations
• Manage and optimize local SEO initiatives, including Google Business Profiles, local listings, citations, and NAP consistency
• Analyze performance using Google Analytics and Google Search Console
• Use platforms such as SEMrush, Ahrefs, SE Ranking, or similar SEO tools
• Analyze competitors, SERPs, keyword gaps, and industry trends
• Identify opportunities to improve existing content and expand topical authority
• Track rankings, organic traffic, visibility, leads, and other SEO KPIs
• Develop actionable recommendations based on campaign performance
• Design and evaluate SEO experiments and A/B tests
• Collaborate with content writers, developers, designers, account managers, and other digital marketing professionals
• Stay current with changes in traditional search, local SEO, and AI-powered search experiences

Qualifications

• 3+ years of hands-on SEO experience; 4+ years preferred
• Demonstrated experience personally executing SEO campaigns, not solely managing strategy or vendors
• Strong knowledge of on-page SEO and technical SEO
• Strong understanding of local SEO ranking factors and optimization strategies
• Hands-on experience with Google Analytics / GA4
• Hands-on experience with Google Search Console
• Experience with SEMrush, Ahrefs, SE Ranking, or comparable SEO platforms
• Strong keyword research and content optimization experience
• Ability to analyze SEO performance and turn data into actionable recommendations
• Strong understanding of search intent and SERP analysis
• Excellent communication, organization, and time-management skills
• Ability to manage multiple client campaigns and priorities simultaneously
• Comfortable working directly with clients and cross-functional teams

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous SEO or digital marketing agency experience
• Experience managing SEO for multiple clients simultaneously
• Technical SEO experience
• Local SEO and Google Business Profile optimization experience
• Basic HTML and CSS knowledge
• Experience implementing Schema.org / structured data markup
• Link-building or digital PR experience
• Familiarity with AI search optimization, AEO, GEO, or emerging search technologies
• Experience supporting local businesses and SMBs

What We're Looking For

We're looking for someone who enjoys getting into the weeds of SEO.

You should be comfortable moving between strategy and execution-conducting keyword research one day, optimizing pages the next, diagnosing an indexing problem in Google Search Console, reviewing local search performance, and then using the data to determine what needs to happen next.

This is an excellent opportunity for an SEO Manager, Senior SEO Specialist, SEO Strategist, or Technical SEO Specialist who wants ownership over campaigns and the ability to directly influence client results.

Additional Details

• Location: Chicago, IL
• Schedule: Hybrid; 3 days per week onsite highly preferred
• Remote candidates may be considered for an exceptional fit
• Salary: $80,000-$100,000
• Employment Type: Direct Hire
• Interview Process: Two interviews; local candidates should expect one interview to be onsite
• Start Date: ASAP

Why Join?

• Work across a diverse portfolio of businesses and industries
• Own SEO strategy and execution
• Collaborate directly with writers, developers, designers, and digital marketing professionals
• Gain exposure to emerging AI-powered search technologies
• Work in an environment where SEO expertise has a direct impact on client growth
• Join a growing team with opportunities to take ownership and expand your expertise