SEO & AI Search Lead

Vagaro; Pleasanton (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 174,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health & Wellness plan

15 days PTO + 10 holidays

TicketsAtWork discounts

Beauty perks $30/month Vagaro services

Food perk $50 monthly + DoorDash

401k with 4% match

On-site gym

Job summary

Vagaro is seeking an SEO & AI Search Lead to own Vagaro's organic search presence and guide strategy across evolving AI search landscapes. This onsite role in Pleasanton, CA sits at the intersection of marketing, content, product, and growth, requiring 5+ years of SaaS/tech SEO expertise and hands-on AI optimization.

You will optimize content for AI-powered surfaces, manage technical foundations, and collaborate across teams to drive growth and visibility.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of SEO experience in SaaS, marketplace, or high-growth tech brands.
• Proven track record of building strategies and driving organic growth.
• Hands-on experience with AI search optimization — AEO, GEO, and/or AIO.
• Strong technical SEO fundamentals: crawl analysis, schema markup, Core Web Vitals, canonicalization.
• Proficiency with tools like Google Search Console, Semrush, Ahrefs, Screaming Frog, and BI tools.
• Strong cross-functional communication with engineering, content, and marketing.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end SEO strategy for vagaro.com across B2B and B2C surfaces.
• Lead technical SEO, including crawlability, schema, and site architecture, partnering with engineering.
• Conduct keyword research and competitive analysis for high-value opportunities in beauty, fitness, and wellness.
• Collaborate with content to build topic clusters and brief new content that ranks and converts.
• Support local SEO strategy for Vagaro's marketplace model connecting providers and customers.
• Monitor and report on SEO KPIs to cross-functional stakeholders and executives.
• Drive cross-functional collaboration with paid, product marketing, and brand teams.

Skills

SEO strategy

AI search

Technical SEO

Cross-functional

Google tools

Content collaboration

Tools

Google Search Console

Semrush

Ahrefs

Screaming Frog

BI tools

Job description

Why Vagaro?

At Vagaro, we believe in fostering a collaborative and inclusive work environment where every team member can thrive. Our culture is built on innovation, continuous learning, and a passion for making a positive impact. We support our employees' growth and vision for themselves, offering opportunities for professional development and career advancement. Join us and be part of a team that values creativity, teamwork, and a commitment to excellence. Plus, we know how to have fun while getting the job done!

What you'll Be Doing:

We're looking for an SEO & AI Search Lead to own Vagaro's organic search presence and lead our strategy across the rapidly evolving AI search landscape. This is a high-impact, cross-functional role sitting at the intersection of marketing, content, product, and growth.

Traditional search remains critical, but the way people discover products and services is fundamentally changing. AI-generated answers, generative search experiences, and LLM-powered assistants are increasingly the first (and sometimes only) touchpoint between a user and our brand. You'll ensure Vagaro shows up — and shows up well — everywhere that matters: classic SERPs, AI Overviews, generative engine results, and LLM responses.

* This role is based onsite in Pleasanton, CA Monday through Friday*

Compensation

• Base Annual Salary: $140,000 - $174,000
• Annual Bonus: Up to 10% annual

Your Impact:

AI Search (AEO · GEO · AIO)

• Develop and own Vagaro's strategy across answer engine optimization (AEO), generative engine optimization (GEO), and AI overview optimization (AIO)
• Optimize content to be cited, summarized, and recommended by AI-powered search surfaces including Google AI Overviews, Perplexity, ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude
• Build entity authority and structured knowledge so Vagaro is accurately and favorably represented across LLMs and generative experiences
• Manage the technical foundations of AI search visibility — including structured data implementation, entity optimization across third‑party data sources, content formatting for AI parseability, and crawler access policies for LLM bots
• Define and track emerging AI search metrics — LLM citation frequency, AI overview inclusion rate, share of generative voice — and develop internal reporting frameworks as measurement standards mature
• Monitor the AI search landscape proactively and adapt strategy as new surfaces, models, and behaviors emerge

SEO

• Own the end‑to‑end SEO strategy for vagaro.com, across both B2B (attracting business owners) and B2C (consumer marketplace) surfaces
• Lead technical SEO — crawlability, core web vitals, schema/structured data, site architecture — in close collaboration with engineering
• Conduct keyword research and competitive analysis to identify high‑value organic opportunities across the beauty, fitness, and wellness verticals
• Partner with content to build topic clusters, optimize existing pages, and brief net‑new content that ranks and converts
• Support local SEO strategy, given Vagaro's marketplace model connecting consumers with nearby service providers

ASO

• Lead App Store Optimization (ASO) strategy across the Apple App Store and Google Play to increase app visibility, installs, and user growth.
• Conduct keyword research, competitive analysis, creative testing, and performance monitoring to drive continuous optimization and acquisition improvements.

Cross‑Functional

• Collaborate with paid, product marketing, product, brand, and lifecycle teams so AI search and SEO insights flow into broader go‑to‑market strategy
• Translate technical priorities into clear product tickets and content briefs
• Educate internal stakeholders on Google search updates and AI search developments and what they mean for Vagaro's visibility
• Regularly monitor and report on AI search & SEO KPIs, providing visibility to cross functional stakeholders and executives.

What you Bring:

• 5+ years of SEO experience, ideally at a SaaS company, marketplace, or high‑growth tech brand
• Proven track record of building strategies and executing tactics that drive measurable organic growth
• Hands‑on experience with AI search optimization — AEO, GEO, and/or AIO — and a genuine curiosity about where the space is heading
• Strong technical SEO fundamentals: crawl analysis, schema markup, Core Web Vitals, canonicalization
• Strong AI‑fluency — you use AI tools (LLMs, AI‑powered SEO platforms, content intelligence tools) as a natural part of your workflow, and you have leveraged these to increase the impact of domain tactics
• Proficiency with tools like Google Search Console, Semrush, Ahrefs, Screaming Frog, and BI tools
• Strong cross‑functional communicator who can work fluidly with engineering, content, and marketing
• Experience in the beauty, wellness, or fitness industry is a bonus, not a requirement

Why You'll Love Working Here:

• Attractive Compensation & Performance Bonuses: Enjoy a competitive salary paired with performance‑based bonuses
• Generous PTO: 15 accrued days, plus 10 company holidays annually.
• Health & Wellness: Comprehensive healthcare, dental, and vision plans for you and your family.
• Exclusive Perks: Discounts on attractions, theme parks, shows, sports events, movies, hotels, and more through TicketsAtWork.
• Beauty Perks: $30/month reimbursement for any Vagaro service, including health, beauty, or wellness treatments.
• Food Perks: $50 monthly stipend for our onsite microkitchen and a complimentary DoorDash DashPass subscription.
• Growth Opportunities: College Assistance Reimbursement, access to EAP & Work/Life Programs, and a LinkedIn Learning account.
• Financial Security: 401k program with 4% matching and optional life/supplemental insurance.
• Stay Active: Access to our on‑site gym, flavored water dispenser, and basketball court to keep you fit and energized!

Equal Opportunity Employer:

Vagaro is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and affirmative action employer. We foster an inclusive environment where individuals are evaluated without discrimination based on gender, race, ethnicity, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, or any other characteristics protected by law.

Privacy Policy:

Your privacy matters! At Vagaro, we are committed to protecting your personal information. Before proceeding with your application, please review our Employee and Applicant Privacy Notice here. By submitting your application, you acknowledge that you have read and understood our Privacy Notice, which outlines how we collect, use, disclose, and protect your information during the recruitment and employment process.

Vagaro is an E‑Verify employer. Learn more at www.e‑verify.gov

Learn More About Vagaro:

Visit us at vagaro.com/pro and vagaro.com to learn more.