SEO / AI Search Manager

Position Status: Full-Time Location: Remote – U.S.-based Expected Hours of Work: 40 hours/week, 8AM–5PM EST/CST, 7AM-4PM MST/PST Reports To: Marketing Director, Office Manager or President About THAT Agency THAT Agency is a performance-driven digital marketing agency originally founded in West Palm Beach, Florida—now operating fully remotely across the U.S. We specialize in multi-dimensional digital content strategies that drive measurable growth and support the key business goals of our clients. Our collaborative approach is rooted in transparency, accountability, and long-term partnership. We don’t just execute campaigns—we help brands grow by aligning strategy with performance and delivering results that matter. Role Summary We are seeking an experienced and forward-looking SEO & AI Search Manager to lead organic and AI-driven search strategy across a diverse client portfolio. This role blends tactical execution, team leadership, and performance accountability across both traditional search engines and emerging AI answer engines. The SEO & AI Search Manager will own visibility strategy end-to-end: keyword and entity research, content optimization, technical audits, AI citation analysis, reporting infrastructure, and team workflows. As search evolves from ten blue links to AI-generated answers, this role is responsible for ensuring our clients are visible, cited, and trusted across every surface that matters: Google, Bing, ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, Claude, and Google AI Overviews. You will collaborate closely with account managers, content writers, web developers, and the broader marketing team to deliver cohesive, future-ready search strategies. Key Responsibilities SEO Strategy & Execution • Develop and oversee holistic SEO strategies aligned with client business goals and KPIs across both traditional and AI-driven search. • Guide keyword research, entity mapping, topic cluster creation, and optimization plans for blogs, landing pages, and pillar content. • Identify new opportunities for organic growth through competitor audits, performance data, and trend analysis. • Oversee on-page and off-page SEO execution, including content updates, internal linking, technical SEO, and link building. • Build topical authority and entity associations that perform across both crawler-based search and LLM-based discovery. AI Search & Answer Engine Optimization (AEO/AIO/GEO/ASO) • Develop and execute AEO, AIO, GEO and ASO strategies to improve client visibility and citation rates across AI answer engines, including ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, Claude, and Google AI Overviews. • Conduct AI citation audits and brand visibility analyses using AEO grading tools, Brand Radar, and structured prompt testing. • Optimize content structure, schema, and entity markup to improve AI extractability, semantic clarity, and citation likelihood. • Develop content frameworks that perform across both traditional SERPs and generative answer surfaces, including structured Q&A formats, first-person source content, statistics, and citation-worthy data. • Monitor share of voice in AI-generated responses and identify competitive gaps and opportunity areas. • Translate AI search insights into actionable recommendations for content, digital PR, and broader marketing strategy. • Stay current with the rapidly evolving AI search landscape and document new best practices for the team. Team Oversight & Workflow Management • Assign and manage SEO and AI search tasks across internal team members and external vendors. • Review and approve deliverables, including keyword maps, content briefs, on-page recommendations, and AI visibility reports. • Lead internal SEO and AI search check-ins, and contribute to broader campaign planning with account and content teams. • Ensure process consistency across clients and maintain quality control of all search-related deliverables via monthly / quarterly audits. Technical SEO & AI Readiness • Perform and delegate technical audits for site performance, crawlability, schema markup, and site speed. • Oversee setup and maintenance of GA4, Google Search Console, Google Tag Manager, and Bing Webmaster Tools. • Configure and manage AI crawler access (GPTBot, PerplexityBot, ClaudeBot, Google-Extended) and llms.txt files where applicable. • Implement and validate structured data and entity markup that supports both traditional indexing and AI extraction. • Monitor and troubleshoot indexing issues, metadata optimization, JavaScript rendering for AI parsers, and structured data implementation. Analytics, Reporting & Optimization • Build and manage performance dashboards in Google Looker Studio, Ahrefs, Agency Analytics, and AI visibility platforms. • Set up tracking for organic and AI-driven KPIs using GA4 and GTM, including AI referral traffic segmentation. • Conduct monthly, quarterly, and annual performance reviews covering both organic and AI search metrics, and present key insights to internal stakeholders. • Recommend strategic adjustments based on data trends, AI citation patterns, and campaign outcomes. Cross-Channel Collaboration • Collaborate with content, email, and social teams to ensure a cohesive digital presence and voice across all surfaces. • Provide SEO and AI visibility insights to inform paid, social, email, and digital PR campaigns. • Ensure content calendars reflect SEO priorities, topical authority goals, and AI citation opportunities. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) Company-wide Goals • Increase sales revenue by 3% • Increase retainer length by 1 month(s) Individual success benchmarks • 10% YoY increase in organic sessions per client. • 10% YoY increase in search visibility (Ahrefs or equivalent). • 2-position average increase in domain authority (DA). • 10% YoY growth in ranking keywords. • 5% YoY increase in backlinks acquired. • 10% improvement in local visibility where applicable. • Measurable YoY increase in AI citations and brand mentions across major AI engines, tracked via Brand Radar or equivalent. • Improved share of voice versus named competitors in AI-generated responses. • YoY growth in AI-driven referral traffic and conversions. • 2% YoY increase in client retention or retainer expansion through SEO and AI search contribution. Tools & Platforms • Google Marketing Suite (GA4, GSC, Tag Manager, Looker Studio) • Bing Webmaster Tools • Ahrefs, BrightLocal, SEMrush • AEO grading platforms and AI citation tracking tools (e.g., Profound, Otterly.AI, or equivalent) • Schema and structured data testing tools • WordPress, Yoast • ClickUp, Agency Analytics • Microsoft 365 / Google Workspace • Zoom Business Suite Essential Personal Attributes & Qualifications • 4+ years of professional SEO experience, with at least 1 year in a leadership or strategic role. • Proven track record of improving organic rankings and traffic across multiple websites. • Hands-on experience with GA4, Google Search Console, Ahrefs, and WordPress. • Certification in Google Analytics. • Working knowledge of how large language models retrieve, rank, and cite sources, and how to influence that visibility. • Demonstrated experience optimizing content for AI answer engines, or clear evidence of learning agility in this rapidly evolving discipline. • Understanding of entity-based SEO, structured data, and topical authority frameworks. • Excellent written and verbal communication skills. • Strong organizational and time management abilities. • Experience managing contributors or direct reports in SEO or content roles. Desirable • Experience with eCommerce or local SEO. • Familiarity with technical SEO tools, schema configuration, and llms.txt implementation. • Experience with AI citation tracking platforms and AEO reporting workflows. • Familiarity with prompt engineering for SEO research, content workflows, and competitive analysis, in alignment with the agency's AI Use & Data Protection Policy. • Certifications in HubSpot, Moz, or AEO/GEO-focused programs. • Basic HTML/CSS knowledge for troubleshooting or QA. Future Possibilities & Career Development THAT Agency supports the ongoing development of its team through: • Paid certifications (e.g., HubSpot, Moz, Google Analytics) • Conference and training attendance • Mentorship from senior strategists and executives • Opportunity to grow into roles such as Director of SEO, Digital Strategy Lead, or Account Manager. Who You Are (Cultural Fit Snapshot) You are analytical, strategic, and proactive. You are passionate about search and genuinely energized by the shift toward AI-driven discovery. You thrive in a remote-first environment, take initiative, and bring a team-oriented mindset to everything you do. You are comfortable operating in an emerging discipline where best practices are still forming, and you are willing to test, document, and iterate as the landscape evolves. You enjoy digging into data, solving problems, and driving measurable growth across every surface where our clients can be found.