Sr. Manager, SEO + GEO

Chicago, IL (Hybrid)

$78K/yr – $89K/yrSenior Level5+ years expFull time

Posted 3 days ago

Job Summary

Own end-to-end SEO and GEO initiatives across client programs, from strategy through execution and measurement.

  • Coordinate with account leads, strategy, content, PR, and analytics to deliver proactive recommendations and clear client-ready insights.

Job Description

Responsibilities

  • Collaborate with account leads and senior strategists to help define SEO and GEO strategies. Understand each client’s products, solutions, audiences, and business goals; use that context to set priorities and develop proactive, practical recommendations.
  • Independently manage assigned projects, workstreams, and deliverables across multiple client programs. Delegate work to interns, Specialists, and Senior Specialists as appropriate, providing clear direction and reviewing deliverables for quality. Use agency and client project management systems to organize work and keep execution moving.
  • Conduct and review technical SEO and GEO audits. Investigate crawlability, indexing, rendering, site architecture, internal linking, structured data, and access for relevant search and AI crawlers. Work with web teams to implement and validate fixes.
  • Research keywords, buyer questions, AI prompts, competitors, and the publications, communities, and other sources that shape AI answers. Turn findings into content, website, and authority-building recommendations, collaborating with PR and content teams on opportunities to strengthen client visibility.
  • Develop content briefs and outlines that guide writers in creating content aligned with clients’ business goals and audience needs. Translate keyword, prompt, and audience research into clear direction on topics, structure, and questions to address, helping content perform in organic search and AI answers.
  • Develop and review content optimization recommendations for organic search and AI discovery, helping clients make their expertise clear, useful, credible, and relevant to buyers.
  • Help define measurement plans and prepare and review accurate, regular reporting for account and client leads. Analyze organic search performance, qualified traffic and conversions, AI visibility and share of voice, brand mentions, citations, and competitor trends. Explain findings and measurement limits, and provide actionable recommendations tied to client goals.
  • Collaborate in client conversations from onboarding through ongoing strategy and reporting. Explain complex concepts and deliver consultative strategic recommendations that align with clients’ business needs. Communicate strategy, findings, and metrics clearly to practitioners and executives, recommend solutions to roadblocks, and raise opportunities for other agency services with Client Services.
  • May manage direct reports or interns and coach teammates as team needs allow, including teaching research, technical methods, reporting, and interpretation through work reviews and training.
  • Partner with account leads on scope, priorities, and internal and client deadlines. Take responsibility for assigned deliverables and delegated work, communicate timeline changes early, and coordinate execution with other disciplines.

Requirements

  • A strong track record in SEO, including making substantial contributions to complex client programs and demonstrating results. 5+ of relevant experience is a useful guide; the depth of your work matters most.
  • Practical experience improving visibility in AI-generated answers, whether your team calls it GEO or AEO, including audits, optimization, and measurement, plus a desire to keep testing and learning as the field develops.
  • Deep technical SEO knowledge and the ability to investigate issues, give developers clear recommendations, and verify implementation. You’re comfortable moving between strategy and the details.
  • Expert-level SEO and GEO judgment across audience, keyword and prompt research, content optimization, site architecture, authority, and measurement. You can connect detailed recommendations to the broader search and integrated marketing strategy.
  • Confidence working with Google Search Console, GA4, crawl tools, SEO research platforms, and AI visibility tools. You can pull and analyze raw data, identify actionable insights in complex data sets, and explain metrics in the context of client goals.
  • The ability to learn clients’ products, solutions, buyer personas, and business context, and understand their CMS, analytics, and related platforms well enough to recommend feasible improvements.
  • Clear writing and confident client communication, including conversations with senior leaders. You produce client-ready recommendations, ask thoughtful questions, explain tradeoffs, and collaborate effectively across disciplines.
  • A consultative mindset, curiosity about SEO and GEO, and sound judgment when using AI assistants. You anticipate needs, solve problems proactively, and balance several clients’ priorities with close attention to accuracy and deadlines.
  • -

Benefits

  • 🌱 Growth Opportunities: Clear career paths, mentorship programs, and learning events to help you grow professionally.
  • 🌴 Flexible PTO and Hybrid Work: Take time as needed for vacations, mental health, or personal days. Includes 8 paid holidays, half-day summer Fridays, and a week off between Christmas and New Year.
  • 🩺 Health Coverage: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans. Mental health resources, pet insurance, and more.
  • 📈Retirement Savings : Employer-matched 401(k) and access to financial planning services.
  • 🛡️ Additional Protection: Life insurance, disability coverage, and other benefits that provide added financial security.
  • 🧠 Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Free, confidential support for you and your household, including counseling, mental health resources, and help navigating life’s everyday challenges.
  • 👶 Family Support: Paid leave for new parents and caregivers, plus policies for fertility treatment, pregnancy loss, adoption challenges, and more.
  • 🎯 Performance & Coaching: Regular performance reviews, clear goal-setting, and ongoing coaching to help you understand expectations, grow your skills, and make progress in your career.
  • 🎉 Milestone Sabbatical: Celebrate five years with a two-week sabbatical and a $2,000 gift.
  • 🤝 Community & Belonging: Employee resource groups, volunteer opportunities, and programs designed to build connection across the agency.
Walker Sands logo

Walker Sands

3.5 Glassdoor

Walker Sands is an integrated B2B growth services agency with expertise in strategy, data, content, creative, strategic communications and digital marketing. The agency’s Outcome-based Marketing approach helps B2B brands grow, build reputation, generate demand, drive engagement and strengthen market position. A 10-time Inc. 5000 honoree, Walker Sands is one of the fastest-growing B2B agencies in the world, proudly serving 100+ clients from offices in Chicago, Seattle and Boston.

Founded in 2001
Chicago, Illinois, USA
221 employees (124 in marketing)
44% recommend to a friend
50% CEO approval

Salaries

Posted range

$78K/yr – $89K/yr

Taken straight from the job posting.

SEO median pay in the United States

$85K/yr

Most earn $68K to $110K. Based on 1,648 salaries, including bonus and equity.

See all Walker Sands salaries

Funding

Last Raise
Private Equity, 6 years ago

Funding History

  • Sep 2019
    Private Equity

Traffic Signals

Monthly Visitors
34.9K
Monthly Google Ads Budget
$446.8K
Traffic Source Mix
Search
42.2%
Direct
42.2%
Referral
7.9%
Social
6.3%
Paid
1.3%

Headcount Trend

Current headcount: ~221

Recent News

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Sr. Manager, SEO + GEO

Walker Sands · Chicago, IL · Hybrid