SEO Manager

Stagwell Media MENA; Riyadh; On-site; SAR 250,000 - 390,000; Full time

Job summary

Stagwell Media MENA seeks an experienced, Arabic-speaking SEO Manager to lead SEO strategy and delivery for clients in Saudi Arabia. The role blends hands-on delivery with strategic account ownership, delivering qualified traffic and measurable commercial impact.

You will manage client relationships, translate data into actionable recommendations, and coordinate with content, localization, and development teams to optimise Arabic and English landing pages and content for the Saudi market.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of professional SEO experience with large sites.
• Fluent Arabic with strong professional English.
• Advanced technical SEO, content strategy, on-page optimisation, and off-page SEO.
• Proven ability to turn audits and performance data into prioritised, commercially relevant actions.
• Strong knowledge of Google Search Console, GA4, crawling tools, keyword and backlink platforms, and SEO reporting solutions.
• Excellent client communication, stakeholder management, storytelling, and presentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead SEO strategies aligned with client objectives and commercial priorities.
• Own SEO performance from strategy to execution across a portfolio.
• Set KPIs, roadmaps, and measurement frameworks for qualified traffic.
• Provide direction to SEO specialists, content teams, developers, and other internal stakeholders.
• Collaborate with localization teams for Arabic content.

Skills

SEO strategy

Technical SEO

Content strategy

Off-page SEO

Client management

Arabic/English fluency

Tools

Google Search Console

GA4

Crawling tools

Backlink analysis

SEO reporting tools

Job description

We are looking for an experienced, Arabic-speaking SEO Manager to lead SEO strategy and delivery for clients in Saudi Arabia. The successful candidate will combine strong technical SEO expertise with content and off-page SEO capabilities, while confidently managing client relationships, presenting recommendations, and translating data into clear business actions. The role requires both hands-on SEO delivery and strategic account ownership, with a clear focus on qualified traffic and commercial impact.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and lead comprehensive SEO strategies aligned with client objectives, market opportunities, and commercial priorities.
• Manage a portfolio of client accounts, understand their objectives, set realistic expectations, and own SEO performance from strategy through execution.
• Set clear priorities, roadmaps, KPIs, and measurement frameworks focused on qualified organic traffic, conversions, and business value—not traffic volume alone.
• Monitor search trends, competitors, algorithm updates, and emerging developments in AI search and GEO to identify opportunities and risks.
• Provide strategic direction to SEO specialists, content teams, developers, and other internal stakeholders.

Technical SEO

• Translate technical findings into clear, prioritised recommendations for development and product teams, including expected impact and implementation requirements.
• Support website launches, redesigns, platform migrations, and domain or URL changes, ensuring SEO risks are identified and controlled.
• Validate implementations through crawling, log analysis, Google Search Console, analytics platforms, and other relevant SEO tools.

Content & On-Page SEO

• Develop content and on-page SEO strategies based on keyword research, search intent, audience needs, and competitive gaps.
• Identify commercially valuable keyword opportunities for landing pages, category pages, articles, and other search-led content.
• Guide the creation and optimisation of Arabic and English landing pages, category pages, product or service pages, articles, and other search-led content.
• Review content briefs and page recommendations to ensure strong metadata, headings, internal linking, topical coverage, and user experience.
• Work closely with content and localisation teams to ensure Arabic content is natural, culturally relevant, and appropriate for the Saudi market.
• Apply E-E-A-T principles and appropriate quality standards, particularly for YMYL websites and other highly scrutinised sectors.

Off-Page SEO & Authority Building

• Develop sustainable off-page SEO and digital authority strategies aligned with brand, quality, and risk standards.
• Identify relevant link-building, digital PR, partnership, citation, and content-placement opportunities.
• Evaluate backlink profiles, monitor link quality and competitor activity, and address potential risks.
• Coordinate with internal teams and external partners to deliver measurable improvements in authority and organic visibility.

Client Communication & Presentation

• Act as a senior day-to-day SEO contact, building trusted relationships with client stakeholders.
• Communicate complex SEO topics clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences in Arabic and English.
• Prepare and deliver strong client presentations, performance reviews, strategic recommendations, and executive-level updates.
• Manage expectations, challenge constructively, and ensure actions, responsibilities, and timelines are clearly understood.
• Collaborate with account management, paid media, content, analytics, development, and other specialist teams to deliver integrated solutions.

Required Qualifications & Experience

• Fluent Arabic speaker with strong professional English communication skills.
• Minimum 5 years of professional SEO experience, including ownership of complex or large-scale websites and senior-level client relationships.
• Advanced knowledge of technical SEO, content strategy, on-page optimisation, and off-page SEO.
• Proven ability to turn audits and performance data into prioritised, commercially relevant actions.
• Strong knowledge of Google Search Console, GA4, crawling tools, keyword and backlink platforms, and SEO reporting solutions.
• Excellent client communication, stakeholder management, storytelling, and presentation skills.
• Strong project management skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple accounts and deadlines.
• Good understanding of the Saudi search landscape, Arabic search behaviour, and local market considerations.

Selection Process

• Shortlisted candidates may be asked to complete a practical SEO assessment based on a target page that is not ranking effectively.
• The assessment should identify the likely causes and present a prioritised plan covering technical SEO, on-page optimisation, content, E-E-A-T, internal linking, and off-page recommendations.

Preferred

• Previous experience working in an SEO, digital, media, or integrated marketing agency.
• Experience managing enterprise, e-commerce, retail, financial services, or multi-market accounts.
• Experience leading or mentoring SEO specialists and coordinating work across multiple disciplines.
• Familiarity with AI search, Generative Engine Optimisation (GEO), local SEO, and app search optimisation is an advantage.

About us:

Stagwell Media is a global media agency that delivers performance built to unlock ambition on every platform. As part of Stagwell, the challenger network transforming marketing through AI, Stagwell Media is transforming media through an agile, integrated model that powers growth and helps brands navigate an evolving marketplace. Powered by next-generation agentic technology, including The Media Machine, its AI-native operating system, the agency accelerates optimization, maximizes media investment efficiency and drives higher-quality audience engagement. With more than 2,300 experts across 50+ markets, Stagwell Media delivers transformative results for leading global brands including Lenovo, DP World, and P&G.