Website & SEO Manager

Access Creative College; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous Holiday Allocation

Wellbeing benefits: Health Cash Plan,

Staff Discounts & Benefits

Paid Leave: Enhanced Maternity, Patern

Job summary

Access Creative College is seeking an experienced Website & SEO Manager to own and optimise our web estate across the Access Creative Group. This hands-on role leads development, performance, analytics, and security, partnering with designers, developers, IT, marketing and admissions to deliver engaging digital experiences.

You will oversee SEO activity, integrate SEO into content strategy, and drive improvements across multiple brands, with two days per week in Manchester.

Qualifications

• Experience leading website development and SEO initiatives across multiple brands.
• Strong technical understanding of web performance, security, accessibility and tracking.
• Proven ability to turn business objectives into high-quality digital experiences.

Responsibilities

• Own and lead website development projects from scoping to delivery and optimisation.
• Oversee SEO strategy, technical SEO, on-page optimisation and site structure.
• Collaborate with designers, developers, IT, Marketing, Admissions and external partners.
• Manage web budget and ensure GDPR, tracking and security standards.

Skills

SEO management

Web leadership

Google Analytics

WordPress & Webflow

CMS platforms

Stakeholder management

HTML/CSS/JS

Data-driven decisions

Tools

Google Tag Manager

Screaming Frog

SEMrush

WordPress

Webflow

Job description

About The Role

We’re looking for an experienced Website & SEO Manager to take ownership of the development, performance and continuous improvement of our websites across the Access Creative Group.

This is a technical, hands-on web leadership role with responsibility for ensuring our websites are fast, secure, accessible, responsive, technically robust and provide an engaging, effective experience for our audiences.

You’ll lead website development and improvement projects from initial scoping and planning through to delivery, evaluation and ongoing optimisation. You’ll manage multiple projects and priorities, working closely with designers, developers, IT, Marketing, Admissions, Outreach, senior stakeholders and external partners to turn business objectives into high-quality digital experiences.

You’ll have real ownership of our web estate, including website performance, technical development, analytics, tracking, user experience, functionality, security and continuous improvement. You’ll use data and insight to understand how our websites are performing, identify opportunities and make evidence-based decisions about where improvements should be made.

You’ll also oversee SEO activity, working closely with and providing leadership to our SEO Lead. You’ll ensure SEO is integrated into our wider website, content and digital strategy, covering technical SEO, on-page optimisation, site structure, search visibility and organic performance.

A key part of the role will be connecting technology, user experience, data, content and marketing to ensure our websites support organisational and commercial objectives. You’ll work across multiple brands and websites, balancing strategic thinking with the technical detail required to deliver effective solutions.

You’ll also be responsible for managing the web budget, maintaining strong relationships with external developers and partners, and ensuring appropriate standards around website security, tracking, GDPR and technical performance are maintained.

This is a Hybrid role working two days per week in the Manchester Office.

About You

You’re an experienced web professional with a strong technical understanding and a genuine interest in making websites better.

You’ll have a proven track record of managing and developing websites and will be comfortable working across CMS platforms, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, analytics, tracking, website performance and technical development.

You’ll be able to understand technical challenges and work confidently with developers and IT teams, while also considering the user experience, commercial objectives and wider organisational context.

You’ll be highly organised and comfortable managing multiple web projects simultaneously, bringing structure to complex work, managing priorities, identifying risks and ensuring projects are delivered effectively and on time.

You’ll also have strong stakeholder management and communication skills. You’ll be comfortable working with technical and non-technical colleagues, explaining complex issues clearly, challenging constructively and bringing different teams together around practical solutions.

You’ll be someone who wants to take ownership of a web estate and continually improve it — not simply maintain it. You’ll be curious about technology, willing to experiment with new approaches and motivated by finding better ways to improve website performance, user experience and digital outcomes.

It would be great if you have:

• Experience with SEO, including technical SEO, on-page optimisation, site structure, keyword research and organic search performance.
• Experience using Google Analytics, Google Tag Manager, Google Search Console and SEO tools such as SEMrush and Screaming Frog.
• Experience working with WordPress, Webflow or other CMS platforms.
• Experience working with developers, designers and IT teams on website development and technical projects.
• Experience with website analytics, conversion tracking and using data to inform website improvements.
• Experience managing website security, performance, accessibility and GDPR requirements.
• An understanding of PPC and how paid and organic search can work together.
• An understanding of AI-driven web and SEO tools and automation, and how these can improve efficiency without compromising quality, creativity or authenticity.
• A broad understanding of how websites connect with wider marketing and digital activity to achieve organisational objectives.

Why Join Us?

This is your opportunity to shape the digital future of the Access Creative Group.

You’ll have genuine ownership of our web platforms and the opportunity to influence how they develop across our group of brands. You’ll lead projects, shape digital experiences, introduce new ideas and use technology and data to make a visible difference.

You’ll work at the intersection of technology, creativity, user experience, data and marketing, with the freedom to challenge how things are done and identify better ways of working.

You’ll also lead and develop our SEO function, giving you the opportunity to build a strong digital team around you while working alongside talented creative, marketing, IT and operational teams.

If you’re excited by the idea of taking ownership, building better digital experiences, leading people and turning ambitious ideas into reality, we’d love to hear from you.

Who are we?

We are Access Creative College, formerly known as Access to Music, and we were founded in 1992. We're an Ofsted-inspected provider that reaches every corner of the country, with 7 campuses and over 2,500 students nationwide. We're proud to have achieved the national benchmark for education quality, recognised across the vast majority of our provision - Ofsted's 'Expected Standard' under the new inspection framework. We are part of Access Education Group, which boasts 32 campuses nationwide with over 5,000 students & apprentices across Access Creative College, dBs Institute (Higher Education) & Access Sport College.

What we offer?

• Generous Holiday Allocation
• Wellbeing Benefits: Health Cash Plan, Doctorline GP Service, Employee Assistance Programme, Access to Counselling and Cycle to Work
• Staff Discounts & Benefits: access to Accolade, our benefits platform which offers discounts at over 800 retailers!
• Paid Leave: Enhanced Maternity, Paternity and Sick pay.

A full job description and person specification is available for download alongside our full benefits booklet.

Diversity and open expression are fundamental to creativity. We are committed to promoting a culture of diversity and inclusivity for all our employees and potential employees.

DBS Checks: Enhanced DBS clearance will be required.