Head of SEO

ICS

Leeds

On-site

GBP 45,000 - 55,000

Full time

6 days ago

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Benefits offered by this job

33 days annual leave

Birthday off work

Work abroad policy (up to 30 days per年

Pension scheme (matched up to 7%)

Generous bonus scheme

Hybrid, flexible working

Life assurance

Private Bupa healthcare

Regular team socials

Free weekly breakfast

Job summary

ICS in Leeds is seeking a commercially minded Head of SEO to set the direction and strategy for the SEO service line, covering technical and on-page SEO, content strategy, Digital PR, and a managed link marketplace.

The Head of SEO will guide the SEO Lead and Digital PR Lead, deliver client-focused solutions, and drive growth across regulated markets with AI-led search capabilities and strong measurement.

Qualifications

Strong iGaming and regulated industries experience is essential.
Significant experience leading an SEO or organic-growth service line.
Deep knowledge of SEO, authority development and link building.
Strong understanding of Digital PR and its impact on earned media and search.
Proven experience leading through senior specialists and managing delivery.

Responsibilities

Define and communicate strategy, roadmap and standards for the SEO service line across technical, on-page, content, Digital PR and AI-led search.
Set service-line measurement and reporting for organic performance, earned media, authority and commercial outcomes.
Own the strategic direction and commercial development of ICS’s link-building and marketplace offering.
Lead conversations with key clients and support pitches ensuring commercially viable, resourced solutions.
Own revenue, profitability, budgets, forecasts and investments for the service line.

Skills

SEO leadership

Strategy development

Commercial acumen

Link building strategy

Digital PR

Job description

We require an accomplished and commercially minded SEO leader to set the direction, commercial strategy and future proposition for ICS's SEO service line. At ICS, the service line encompasses technical and on-page SEO, content strategy, off page SEO (including Digital PR), visibility across AI-led search and development of our own link marketplace.

Working through the SEO Lead and Digital PR Lead, the Head of SEO will establish priorities and standards, hold each discipline accountable for delivery and bring the service line together into effective client solutions.

Link building strategy and execution will be a core element of the role. Strong experience of link building strategies for iGaming and other regulated markets is essential.

Contract: Permanent, full-time

Salary: From £50,000 (DOE) + generous senior bonus scheme

Key objective:

Set and deliver a clear strategy for the SEO service line, ensuring that SEO, Digital PR, managed link building, the marketplace and AI-led search capabilities support client and business growth. The Head of SEO is accountable for the service line's commercial performance, proposition, standards and long-term development, while the SEO Lead and Digital PR Lead own discipline-specific delivery, people development and operational resource planning.

Key responsibilities:

SEO Service Line Strategy

Define and communicate the strategy, proposition, roadmap and standards for the SEO service line, setting clear strategic priorities across technical and on-page SEO, content, Digital PR, managed link building, international search and AI-led search
Set service-line measurement and reporting expectations across organic performance, earned media, authority, link acquisition, brand visibility, AI citations and commercial outcomes.

Marketplace and Link Building Product Ownership

Own the strategic direction and commercial development of ICS’s managed link-building and authority offering, including the marketplace vision, proposition, roadmap and performance.
Set marketplace standards for publisher quality, supply, pricing, customer experience, fulfilment and governance, ensuring sufficient high-quality inventory across priority languages, markets and sectors, particularly iGaming and other regulated industries.

Clients and Business Growth

Work closely with the Head of Client Strategy as a senior authority for key and prospective clients, leading conversations where service-line, commercial or complex cross-discipline expertise is required.
Working with the Head of Client Strategy to lead or support strategically important pitches, audits and proposals, ensuring solutions are differentiated, commercially viable and appropriately resourced.
Identify opportunities to grow client relationships through wider adoption of SEO, Digital PR, managed link building, the marketplace and emerging AI-led search services.

Commercial and Operational Leadership

Own the SEO service line's revenue, profitability, gross margin, conversion, efficiency and sustainable growth.
Work with Finance and Business Performance to manage budgets, forecasts, pipeline performance and decisions concerning team, product, publisher and technology investment.

Agency Contribution and Thought Leadership

Set and lead the service line's research, SEO testing and experimentation agenda, aligned with ICS’ positioning and marketing strategy, using results to improve client solutions and create credible case studies, whitepapers, roundtables, speaking opportunities and thought leadership across iGaming, regulated markets, Digital PR, authority growth, link building and AI-led search.

What we're looking for:

Strong, demonstrable iGaming and regulated industries experience is an essential requirement for this role.

Significant experience leading an SEO or organic-growth service line within an agency, consultancy or complex client-service environment.
Deep strategic knowledge of SEO, authority development and link building, with sufficient breadth across technical SEO, content, international search, analytics and reporting to challenge and guide senior specialists.
A strong strategic understanding of Digital PR, including its contribution to earned media, brand and topical authority, reputation, relevant links and search and AI visibility.
Proven experience leading through senior specialists or functional Leads, setting direction while maintaining clear accountability for delivery and people management.
Strong commercial leadership, including revenue, profitability, margin, pricing, packaging, budgeting, forecasting and investment decisions.
Experience developing propositions, leading senior client relationships and contributing to significant new-business opportunities.
The ability to own the direction and commercial performance of a digital proposition, product or marketplace.
A practical understanding of AI-led search and responsible AI adoption, with the judgement to translate developments into client, product and operational priorities.
Excellent communication, analytical and stakeholder-management skills, with the confidence to influence clients, specialists and company leadership.

What we offer: