Search Optimization Manager - SEO, GEO & AI Search

Milwaukee, WI (Hybrid)

Salary Not AvailableSenior Level4+ years expFull time

Posted 5 months ago

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Job Summary

Drive SEO strategy and execution across multiple client accounts, shaping research-led optimization, technical foundations, and content roadmap to improve visibility and AI-relevant signals.

  • Own keyword research, competitive analysis, and technical SEO audits.
  • Must-have: Proficiency with Google Search Console, Screaming Frog, SEMrush, or Ahrefs.
  • Standout: Experience shaping roadmaps for agency clients across diverse industries.

Job Description

Responsibilities

  • Conduct in-depth keyword research, competitive analysis, and search intent studies to inform strategy
  • Develop SEO strategy and optimization roadmaps for client accounts in collaboration with digital marketing leadership
  • Develop content briefs and content optimization roadmaps informed by keyword research, search intent analysis, and competitive gaps
  • Identify and prioritize opportunities in generative search, optimizing for entity authority, LLM citations, and visibility in AI Overviews alongside traditional ranking factors
  • Stay current on search algorithm updates, industry trends, and emerging best practices
  • Execute on-page optimization, technical SEO foundations, and structured content improvements
  • Partner with developers to scope, prioritize, and validate technical SEO implementations, including schema markup and structured data strategies to strengthen entity signals and machine readability
  • Monitor site health, visibility, and performance across traditional and emerging search platforms
  • Track and interpret emerging search visibility signals, including AI-generated citations, brand mentions in LLM responses, and zero-click search trends
  • Design and implement experiments to test hypotheses and improve search performance
  • Build and maintain reports using Looker Studio, GA4, SEMrush, and other tools to communicate search performance, trends, and outcomes
  • Collaborate with team to define and evolve how SEO success is measured as search behavior changes

Requirements

  • 4+ years of experience in SEO, search optimization, or digital marketing with a strong SEO focus
  • Proven ability to conduct keyword research, competitive analysis, and technical SEO audits
  • Experience developing SEO strategy and optimization roadmaps
  • Strong understanding of technical SEO (site structure, crawlability, structured data, page speed, etc.)
  • Proficiency with SEO tools such as Google Search Console, Screaming Frog, SEMrush, Ahrefs, or similar
  • Experience developing content optimization recommendations based on keyword research and search intent analysis
  • Experience monitoring and optimizing for emerging search platforms (GEO, AI Overviews, etc.)
  • Ability to translate data and research into clear, actionable recommendations
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills for presenting insights to clients and internal teams
  • Experience working in an agency or professional services environment
  • Comfort working across multiple client accounts with different industries and needs

Nice To Have

  • Entrepreneurial spirit and comfort operating with increasing autonomy as you build expertise
  • Natural curiosity about how search algorithms work and where the industry is headed
  • Ability to develop content strategy and optimization recommendations, from high-level direction to detailed keyword targeting
  • Experience with generative AI tools and how they're impacting search visibility
  • A mindset that balances strategic thinking with hands-on execution
  • Collaborative attitude and willingness to share what you're learning with the team
  • Experience with Google Analytics, Google Tag Manager, or other analytics platforms
  • Familiarity with HTML, CSS, or JavaScript (we are not looking for a developer, but some exposure is a plus)
Lightburn logo

Lightburn

Lightburn is a customer experience agency that empowers organizations to reach their full digital potential through a user-centered approach and deep technical expertise. Since 1998, we've crafted practical yet impactful solutions to our client's most complex digital challenges.We work with a lot of smart, savvy people. Our clients are result-oriented leaders looking to evolve their sales and marketing activities in a practical way that's both visually impactful and structurally sustainable. If that sounds familiar, then give us a call.

Founded in 1998
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
39 employees (8 in marketing)

Traffic Signals

Monthly Visitors
4.9K
Monthly Google Ads Budget
$18.2K
Traffic Source Mix
Search
30.8%
Direct
45.8%
Referral
8%
Social
13.6%
Paid
1.6%

Headcount Trend

Current headcount: ~39

Marketing Team

Marketing Team Size
6 (15% of company)