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Associate Director, SEO Strategy
Associate Director, SEO StrategyDEPT • Oxnard, CA, US
Associate Director, SEO Strategy

Associate Director, SEO Strategy

DEPT • Oxnard, CA, US
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Associate Director, SEO Strategy

We are a Growth Invention company built to help the world's most ambitious brands grow faster. Operating at the intersection of technology and marketing, we create what is next by pioneering ideas, acting fast, and moving further because standing still just is not in our DNA.

We are drawn to people who stay curious, move with intent, and never stop inventing. Our culture runs on three values : better together, relentlessly curious, and get sh

  • t done. It is how we work, how we grow, and how we make things that matter.

At DEPT, you will find the freedom to explore, the space to collaborate, and the trust to make a real impact for our clients, for each other, and for the world we are helping to build.

Overview

The Associate Director, SEO Strategy leads the charge in shaping and executing innovative, future-forward SEO programs for mid-market and enterprise clients, bridging traditional organic search with the emerging world of AI-driven discovery. With 7+ years of professional SEO experience, this role combines deep subject-matter expertise, strategic leadership, and people management. The Associate Director is responsible for driving account growth, delivering exceptional performance, and mentoring a team of strategists to execute against best-in-class organic frameworks. In addition, this role will be expected to mentor and manage across varying levels.

This role calls for a leader who is passionate about the future of discoverability, able to bridge traditional SEO excellence with the emerging frontier of AIO (AI Optimization) / Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), all while maintaining a superior understanding of traditional SEO and the critical role it continues to play in performance and strategy.

Core Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

  • Prepare and confidently present advanced Technical SEO, Content, AIO / GEO, and other SEO-adjacent capabilities to internal and external clients.
  • Own the full strategic direction for multiple mid-market and enterprise SEO clients, ensuring all initiatives ladder up to business outcomes and integrated marketing goals.
  • Proactively identify growth opportunities within content, technical, and authority strategies, ensuring ongoing innovation and measurable improvement across all areas of organic performance.
  • Demonstrate deep technical proficiency across crawling, indexing, rendering, structured data, Core Web Vitals, and JavaScript frameworks.
  • Drive innovation through AI-driven initiatives such as AIO / GEO audits, AI Overview visibility analyses, semantic similarity assessments, passage-level optimization, and synthetic query testing.
  • Translate emerging AI search opportunities and trends into actionable deliverables, training, and measurable KPIs.
  • Collaborate cross-functionally with Paid Media, Conversion Rate Optimization, Social, and Content teams to translate opportunities into integrated holistic search strategies that drive unified channel growth.
  • Demonstrate experience in App Store Optimization (ASO), Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO), eCommerce, and Local Search (desired).

    • Client Management & Growth

  • Serve as the senior strategic lead for organic search, driving growth and long-term partnership success.
  • Lead executive-level presentations and quarterly business reviews (QBRs), sharing clear performance stories backed by data and actionable insights.
  • Oversee client communication, expectation management, and escalation resolution with clarity and confidence.
  • Identify and pursue upsell and cross-channel expansion opportunities based on performance insights and business evolution.
  • Ensure all project plans, timelines, and reporting cadences are effectively managed by the account team.

    • Team Leadership & Mentorship

  • Directly manage a small team of Account Managers and Associates, fostering growth through clear milestones, feedback, and coaching.
  • Conduct regular 1 : 1s and reviews, providing both strategic guidance and performance development.
  • Support hiring, onboarding, and skill-building within the SEO Strategy team.
  • QA all deliverables produced by direct reports, ensuring strategic depth, data accuracy, and client-readiness.
  • Build team knowledge in AI / GEO Search frameworks, audits, and emerging optimization methods to keep deliverables innovative and future-ready.

    • Execution & Delivery Excellence

  • Oversee and contribute to core deliverables, including :
  • Technical site audits (responsive, dynamic, JS-rendered)
  • Keyword research, clustering, and persona mapping
  • Reporting and performance forecasting
  • Content gap analysis and optimization strategy
  • Website migration planning and auditing
  • AI Search visibility audits, entity, and schema optimization (for AIO / GEO readiness)
  • Act as the final QA and accountability point for all client deliverables while maintaining the highest standards of quality and consistency.
  • Develop frameworks that scale across clients (templates, dashboards, methodologies).

    • Thought Leadership & Innovation

  • Stay ahead of search evolution, particularly AI Search, generative results, and multimodal retrieval models.
  • Lead internal education and POVs on AI Search (AIO / GEO) and new optimization frontiers.
  • Support creation of internal documentation, playbooks, and training materials for the wider SEO team.
  • Collaborate with internal Specialization Captains (AI Search, Technical SEO, Holistic Search, Brand Reputation, etc.) to pilot and refine new approaches.
  • Contribute to case studies, blog posts, or conference materials that showcase DEPT's leadership in AI-driven SEO.

    • Required Skills & Experience

  • 7+ years of professional SEO experience (agency experience strongly preferred).
  • Proven track record of leading successful enterprise-level SEO strategies.
  • Deep expertise in advanced technical SEO, content, and authority.
  • Curiosity and working knowledge of AI Search / AIO / GEO principles.
  • Experience mentoring and managing small teams or project pods.
  • Excellent communication and presentation skills for executive audiences.
  • Strong proficiency in tools such as Google Search Console, GA4, Screaming Frog, Semrush, Ahrefs, Looker Studio, BigQuery, Scrunch, Profound, Otterly, and AirOps.
  • Strong understanding of data storytelling and performance forecasting.
  • Demonstrated ability to collaborate cross-functionally and build consensus.
  • Excellent writing, communication, and organizational skills.

    • We are a collaborative, open-door, best-idea-wins environment that fosters personal and company growth and has fun doing it. Here is a snapshot of our benefits package :

  • Healthcare, Dental, and Vision coverage
  • 401k plan, plus matching
  • PTO
  • Paid Company Holidays
  • Parental Leave

    • The anticipated salary range for this position is listed below. Salary is based on a range of factors that include relevant experience, expertise, physical location, and organizational impact. This is based on a 40-hour workweek and leveling. Keep in mind, we're flexible.

    US Remote Range

    $94,700 - $130,000 USD

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    Director Strategy • Oxnard, CA, US

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