Content Specialist (SEO)

California Post; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The California Post is seeking an Audience Development Specialist to help execute our audience optimization strategy as we expand to California. This onsite role reports to the Senior Audience Development Manager (California Post), working closely with cross-functional teams.

The Audience Development Specialist will drive multi-platform discoverability across search, video, social, and AI-driven platforms, ensuring journalism reaches the widest possible audience.

Qualifications

• At least 3 years of experience in SEO, audience development, or platform optimization within a newsroom or relevant digital media environment.
• Expertise in multi-platform optimization (Google, YouTube, emerging AI search engines); social optimization a plus.
• Experience using competitive SEO and analytics tools (SEMrush, Google Trends, Google Search Console, Google Analytics).
• Understanding of SEO industry and Google standards; knowledge of structured data/schema.org is a plus.
• Ability to balance priorities in a fast-paced startup environment; California newsroom experience is a plus.
• Strong self-starter and team player with excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Highly organized with meticulous attention to detail.
• Willingness to work nights and weekends as needed.

Responsibilities

• Work alongside the Sr. Audience Development specialist on audience optimization and discovery for tentpole events.
• Pitch trends and content strategies to strengthen multi-platform presence.
• Contribute to optimization strategies for franchises, brand initiatives, and content verticals.
• Support optimization of homepage, landing pages, and article templates to boost discoverability and engagement.
• Partner with editorial, product, development, video, data, and marketing teams to align audience strategies.
• Conduct keyword and platform research to identify content gaps and audience demand.
• Monitor performance metrics and platform analytics to inform strategy in real time.
• Participate in editorial meetings and share real-time optimization insights.
• Conduct regular training sessions and audits to embed best practices newsroom-wide.

Skills

SEO

Audience development

Platform optimization

Cross-functional collaboration

Analytical thinking

Tools

SEMrush

Google Trends

Google Search Console

Google Analytics

Job description

The California Post is seeking an Audience Development Specialist to help execute our audience optimization strategy as we expand to California. This role will report into the Senior Audience Development Manager (California Post), working closely with cross-functional teams.

The Audience Development Specialist will play a key role in driving multi-platform discoverability, ensuring our journalism reaches the widest possible audience across search, video, social, and emerging AI-driven platforms.

Responsibilities:

• Work alongside the Sr. Audience Development specialist on audience optimization and discovery for tentpole events, ensuring optimized visibility across Google, YouTube, social, and AI-driven search.
• Pitch trending, evergreen and planned content strategies that strengthen The California Post’s authority and multi-platform presence.
• Contribute to optimization strategies for franchises, brand initiatives, and key content verticals, both on- and off-platform.
• Support execution of optimization strategies for homepage, landing pages, and article templates to enhance discoverability, engagement, and conversions.
• Partner with cross-functional stakeholders — including editorial, product, development, video, data, and marketing — to align audience strategies.
• Conduct keyword and platform research to identify content gaps, emerging trends, and audience demand.
• Monitor performance metrics, competitive benchmarks, and platform analytics to inform strategy and adjust in real time.
• Participate in editorial meetings and contribute real-time optimization insights to shape coverage.
• Conduct regular training sessions and audits to ensure best practices are embedded across the newsroom.

Qualifications:

• At least 3 years of experience in SEO, audience development, or platform optimization within a newsroom or relevant digital media environment
• Expertise in multi-platform optimization (Google, YouTube, emerging AI search engines; social media optimization experience a plus)
• Experience using competitive SEO and analytics tools (SEMrush, Google Trends, Google Search Console, Google Analytics)
• Understanding of the SEO industry and Google’s evolving web standards; proficiency in structured data/schema.org is a plus
• Ability to balance priorities and thrive in a fast-paced start-up environment; experience in a California-based newsroom is a plus
• Ability to be both a self-starter and team player; strong interpersonal and communication skills are required
• Highly organized with excellent attention to detail
• Willingness to work nights and weekends as needed

Note: This is an onsite role. Candidates may be based in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Sacramento, or New York and are expected to work from their nearest company office (Subject to change based on business needs). The shift schedule for this position is Monday-Friday, 12 p.m.-8 p.m. PST.

Equal Opportunity Employer

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status or any other protected characteristic. EEO/Disabled/Vets

Reasonable Accommodation

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities in our job application and/or interview process. If you need assistance or accommodation in completing your application or participating in an interview due to a disability, email us at [e-mail]. Please put "Reasonable Accommodation" in the subject line and provide a brief description of the type of assistance you need. This inbox will not be monitored for application status updates.

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Base Pay Range: 70,000 - 90,000

We’re committed to offering competitive and flexible compensation to attract top talent. This pay range reflects our good faith estimate for the role and may vary based on a candidate’s experience, skills, location, and other relevant factors.

For bonus-eligible roles, targets are determined based on multiple considerations, including market benchmarks and individual contributions.

For benefits-eligible roles, we offer a comprehensive and competitive benefits package covering health, retirement, wellbeing, and more, along with optional benefits to meet the diverse needs of our employees.