SEO Director

Assembly Global; United Arab Emirates; On-site; AED 300,000 - 400,000; Full time

Job summary

A global marketing agency based in Dubai is seeking an experienced SEO Director to lead advanced strategies for measurable organic growth in the MENA region. The role requires expertise in regional search behaviors, multilingual SEO, and integrating AI into SEO strategies. The ideal candidate will have over 8 years of experience, including leadership roles and technical SEO proficiency, along with strong stakeholder management skills.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in SEO, including leadership roles.
• Proven expertise in managing enterprise-level, international and multilingual websites.
• Strong technical SEO knowledge, including JavaScript frameworks, Core Web Vitals, and structured data.
• Deep understanding of regional search behavior and local SEO for MENA markets.
• Fluency in English is mandatory; knowledge of Arabic is a strong advantage.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement SEO strategies considering regional search trends.
• Stay ahead of changes in search behavior driven by AI and conversational search.
• Conduct comprehensive technical audits and optimize site architecture.
• Utilize advanced analytics to track SEO performance and provide insights.
• Collaborate with Paid Media, PR, Content, and Social Media teams for integration.
• Act as a trusted advisor to clients on complex SEO challenges.
• Represent the agency at regional conferences showcasing thought leadership.

Skills

SEO Strategy Development

Technical SEO Expertise

Data Analysis

Stakeholder Management

Knowledge of AI in SEO

Tools

OnCrawl

Ahrefs

Semrush

Screaming Frog

Job description

Overview

Assembly is made of the ingredients of the modern agency, bringing together data, talent, and technology to deliver a connected set of solutions for media + more to the best brands on the planet. We’re home to more than 1,800 of the industry’s top talent across 30+ offices, who bring unmatched global omnichannel media expertise + data, technology, and business consulting capabilities that find change and fuel growth for brands worldwide. Assembly is a proud member of Stagwell, the challenger network built to transform marketing.

We are currently recruiting for a forward-thinking SEO Director to be based in Dubai, to lead advanced strategies that drive measurable organic growth in the MENA region. This role demands a deep understanding of regional search behaviors, international and multilingual SEO, and the evolving landscape of search, including the integration of AI, large language models (LLMs), and cross-channel integration to drive organic growth for high-profile clients across diverse industries.

Responsibilities

• Leadership (Strategy & Team): Develop and implement SEO strategies considering regional search trends, cultural nuances, local consumer behavior and that account for the growing influence of AI-powered search engines, LLMs (e.g., ChatGPT, Bard), and voice search in user journeys.
• Adaptation to Emerging Search Trends: Stay ahead of changes in search behavior driven by AI, conversational search, and zero-click searches, and incorporate these trends into SEO strategies.
• Technical SEO Expertise: Conduct comprehensive technical audits, optimizing site architecture, crawl efficiency, and indexing for large-scale, multilingual websites.
• Data-Driven Insights: Utilize advanced analytics platforms and custom reporting tools to track SEO performance across traditional and AI-driven search engines; provide insights on how organic search contributes to business outcomes and develop dashboards to track local and regional KPIs.
• Cross-Channel Integration: Collaborate with Paid Media, PR, Content, and Social Media teams to ensure SEO is integrated into broader marketing campaigns; support clients in aligning SEO with regional Martech stacks to enhance personalization and user experiences.
• Client & Stakeholder Management: Act as a trusted advisor to clients, addressing complex SEO challenges such as AI-powered algorithms, regional competition, and emerging search behaviors; present strategies and results to senior stakeholders linking efforts to business growth and competitive advantages.
• Thought Leadership: Stay up-to-date with trends in search engine algorithms and consumer behavior; represent the agency at regional conferences, industry events, and webinars, showcasing thought leadership in the digital space; stay at the forefront of developments in LLMs, conversational AI, and search engine algorithms.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in SEO, including leadership roles.
• Proven expertise in managing enterprise-level, international and multilingual websites.
• Strong technical SEO knowledge, including JavaScript frameworks, Core Web Vitals, and structured data.
• Deep understanding of regional search behavior, local SEO, and the cultural nuances of MENA markets.
• Experience with enterprise SEO tools (e.g., OnCrawl, Ahrefs, Semrush, Screaming Frog, etc.) and analytics platforms.
• Excellent stakeholder management and presentation skills, with experience influencing C-suite executives.
• Fluency in English is mandatory; knowledge of Arabic is a strong advantage.