Director Search Engine Optimization

Manifest; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 135,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work environment

Flexible PTO

Health plans with family options

401(k) match

Parental leave

Job summary

Manifest is seeking a Director, AI Search & SEO to lead our Universal Search capability. The role requires ~8–10+ years guiding an agency-level SEO practice with hands-on expertise across technical, content, and off-page SEO, plus a forward-looking view on AI.

The Director will report to the SVP of Performance Marketing & Data Intelligence and can be based hybrid in Chicago, D.C., NYC or Phoenix. The position blends strategy and client-facing leadership, guiding holistic SEO programs across PESO

Qualifications

• 8–10+ years leading an SEO practice or team at an agency or in-house
• Hands-on expertise across technical, content, and off-page SEO
• Strategic thinker with ability to translate client goals into actionable search strategies
• Experience presenting with authority in high-visibility settings

Responsibilities

• Own holistic SEO and AI search strategy across technical, content, off-page, and AI-driven discovery
• Lead universal search strategy across PESO ecosystem and shape creative/content solutions
• Serve as client-facing search leader with strategic counsel and high-quality deliverables
• Collaborate with media, data, creative, developers, and account teams to align strategy and timelines
• Mentor 1–2 direct reports and scale the capability
• Drive innovation in AI search and standard operating procedures for repeatability

Skills

SEO leadership

Technical SEO

Content SEO

Off-page SEO

AI search awareness

Job description

At Manifest, our work is fueled by data, ignited by creativity and driven by results. We are a proudly independent, full-service agency represented by diverse talents, backgrounds and expertise, and we have one goal: to deliver breakthrough ideas and brand experiences that drive emotional connections and measurable impact. Let's chat.

As media and content discovery habits shift, search has fragmented into traditional and AI --- but that's only part of the holistic search experience. The full journey needs to be optimized across a complete paid, earned, shared, and owned (PESO) ecosystem, since product and service discovery increasingly happens across video and social platforms, too.

We're hiring a Director, AI Search & SEO to lead our Universal Search capability - one of three pillars within our Performance Marketing department, alongside Performance Media and Data Intelligence. Our ideal candidate is a true player-coach with ~8--10+ years leading an SEO practice, current hands-on expertise across technical, content, and off-page SEO, and a forward-looking point of view on how AI and generative platforms are reshaping discovery. The Director reports to the SVP, Performance Marketing & Data Intelligence. This role can be based (hybrid) in Chicago, D.C., NYC or Phoenix.

Responsibilities

• Own holistic SEO and AI search strategy - translating audience insights and search trends into visibility-driving programs across technical SEO, content, off-page authority, and AI-driven discovery (AEO/GEO)
• Concept and execute full Universal Search strategies across a complete PESO ecosystem - a T-shaped skill set that spans deep SEO expertise and the range to shape creative and content solutions alongside it
• Serve as the client-facing search leader, building trust through strategic counsel, quality deliverables, and confident presentation
• Connect Universal Search with Account, Precision Media, Audience Intelligence, Data & AI, and other agency disciplines, aligning strategy, timelines, and resourcing to drive unified client outcomes
• Lead, mentor, and elevate 1--2 direct reports, growing the team and its skill set as the capability scales
• Lead practice and capability building, codifying standard operating procedures and templated offerings, and driving innovation as AI search evolves, to make the practice repeatable, consistent, and scalable
• Play a leading role in new business, shaping search and AI-search points of view, proposals, competitive research, staff planning, and SOWs for pitches
• Identify audience and search trends (behavioral, demographic, and psychographic) to inform content planning and continuously optimize client performance
• Measure and report on performance through regular reporting, strategic deliverables (e.g., QBRs), and new business pitches

Requirements

• ~8--10+ years in SEO, a true player-coach with current hands-on expertise across technical, content, and off-page SEO, and a proven track record leading an SEO practice or team at an agency
• Working knowledge of how AI and generative platforms are reshaping discovery (AEO/GEO), with an innovation-minded, forward-looking perspective on the future of search
• Strategic thinker with the ability to translate high-level client goals into actionable, results-driven search strategies across accounts
• Proven ability to present with authority and credibility in high-visibility settings, including large group and client-facing presentations, on screen and in person
• Experience working on integrated teams, partnering effectively with media, data, creative, developers, and account teams rather than operating in a channel silo
• Highly self-motivated, proactive, and detail-oriented; able to operate both independently and as a team player, and delegate when appropriate
• People leadership experience, with a genuine interest in developing talent and building a capability, not just managing a queue of deliverables
• Vision, the ability to help define where this space is going and get others (clients and internal teams) aligned around it, even without a fully established playbook
• Hybrid 3x week onsite
• Ability to travel 10--15% of the time

What We Offer

• Private Company (Independent Agency) -- Being a private organization allows us to move quickly so that we can deliver our best for our teams and our clients.
• Flexibility -- We have a hybrid work environment and a flexible PTO plan that allows teams to take time off when they need it. The annual salary range for this role in the Chicago market is $135k-$160k in base pay, and the base pay offered will be determined on a case-by-case basis based on experience, skills, training, certifications, education, etc., and will be informed by market data.
• Competitive Benefits and Salary -- Multiple options for health plans based on your and/or your family's needs, plus a 401(k) match and paid parental leave.

Manifest is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Manifest recruits qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, age, ethnicity, national origin, protected veteran status, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity, marital status, pregnancy, citizenship status, or any other protected groups covered by federal, state or local laws.