Associate Director, Search Engine Optimization

Publicis Groupe; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 97,375 - 139,965; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

Dental

Vision

Disability insurance

401K

Parental and family care leave

Family forming assistance

Tuition reimbursement

Flexible time off

Job summary

Publicis Groupe is seeking an Associate Director of Search Engine Optimization to lead a team and analyze search data to drive client insights. You’ll present SEO capabilities to clients, develop tactics, and collaborate with managers to deliver high-quality work.

This role emphasizes leadership, strategy development, and cross-team coordination, with travel as needed. A four-year degree and 7+ years in SEO or related fields are required.

Qualifications

• A four-year degree in marketing, computer science or a related field.
• 7+ years of combined experience in search engine optimization, project management or account management.
• Proven leadership skills and prior experience managing a team.
• Experience scoping projects, providing forecasts and driving ongoing process improvement.
• Strong analytical and problem solving skills – and a knack for details.
• Ability to manage and prioritize multiple projects simultaneously and make smart, fast decisions.
• Knowledge of HTML, JavaScript, and CSS.
• Outstanding leadership and people management skills.
• Stellar communication and presentation skills – you’re poised, articulate and convincing.
• Willingness to travel as needed – you’re open to new places, new faces and new ideas.
• Familiarity with prompt-based interaction and commonly used generative AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Google Gemini, DALL·E, Midjourney, Profound) is a plus, especially for tasks like ideation, research, or content generation.

Responsibilities

• Clearly and convincingly presenting search engine optimization capabilities to clients and best practices to internal teams
• Developing and presenting proposals and recommended tactics to clients and working with Managers and Supervisors to present all client deliverables
• Leading process improvement efforts
• Developing or approving all scopes of work that include search engine optimization
• Ensuring excellence and accuracy in all client deliverables
• Collaborating with Delivery Managers on project timelines and with Staffing on resource needs
• Developing and maintaining high-quality talent

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Analytical skills

Communication

Travel readiness

AI tooling familiarity

Education

Four-year degree (marketing or related)

Tools

HTML

JavaScript

CSS

Job description

Company Description

Present in over 100 countries and employing nearly 80,000 professionals, Publicis Groupe is the third largest communications group in the world. Publicis Groupe is listed on the Euronext Paris [FR0000130577] and is part of the CAC 40 index. Active across the entire value chain, Publicis Groupe offers its major clients a transversal, unified and fluid model allowing them access to all the Groupe’s tools and expertise around the world through the mantra "The Power of One."

Job Description

As Associate Director of Search Engine Optimization, you’ll analyze search data to provide tremendous insights into the motivations of consumers, leading a team that’s on the cutting edge of search technology and search engine marketing strategies.

Responsibilities

• Clearly and convincingly presenting search engine optimization capabilities to clients and best practices to internal teams
• Developing and presenting proposals and recommended tactics to clients and working with Managers and Supervisors to present all client deliverables
• Leading process improvement efforts
• Developing or approving all scopes of work that include search engine optimization
• Ensuring excellence and accuracy in all client deliverables
• Collaborating with Delivery Managers on project timelines and with Staffing on resource needs
• Developing and maintaining high-quality talent

Qualifications

• A four-year degree in marketing, computer science or a related field
• 7+ years of combined experience in search engine optimization, project management or account management
• Proven leadership skills and prior experience managing a team
• Experience scoping projects, providing forecasts and driving ongoing process improvement
• Strong analytical and problem solving skills – and a knack for details
• Ability to manage and prioritize multiple projects simultaneously and make smart, fast decisions
• Knowledge of HTML, JavaScript, and CSS
• Outstanding leadership and people management skills
• Stellar communication and presentation skills – you’re poised, articulate and convincing
• Willingness to travel as needed – you’re open to new places, new faces and new ideas
• Familiarity with prompt-based interaction and commonly used generative AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Google Gemini, DALL·E, Midjourney, Profound) is a plus, especially for tasks like ideation, research, or content generation.

Additional Information

Our Publicis Groupe motto “Viva La Différence” means we’re better together, and we believe that our differences make us stronger. It means we honor and celebrate all identities, across all facets of intersectionality, and it underpins all that we do as an organization. We are focused on fostering belonging and creating equitable & inclusive experiences for all talent.

Publicis Groupe provides robust and inclusive benefit programs and policies to support the evolving and diverse needs of our talent and enable every person to grow and thrive.

• medical coverage
• dental
• vision
• disability
• 401K
• parental and family care leave
• family forming assistance
• tuition reimbursement
• flexible time off

If you require accommodation or assistance with the application or onboarding process specifically, please contact [e-mail].

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Compensation Range

USD $97,375.00 - USD $139,965.00/Annually. This is the pay range the Company believes it will pay for this position at the time of this posting. Consistent with applicable law, compensation will be determined based on the skills, qualifications, and experience of the applicant along with the requirements of the position, and the Company reserves the right to modify this pay range at any time. Temporary roles may be eligible to participate in our freelancer/temporary employee medical plan through a third-party benefits administration system once certain criteria have been met. Temporary roles may also qualify for participation in our 401(k) plan after eligibility criteria have been met. For regular roles, the Company will offer medical coverage, dental, vision, disability, 401k, and paid time off. The Company anticipates the application deadline for this job posting will be 9/1/2027.