Vice President, Performance Content (SEO/GEO/AEO)

Publicis Groupe; Chicago, Northern (IL, KY); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Starcom, part of Publicis Groupe, seeks a Vice President of Performance Content to lead the SEO practice across major client relationships. You will set the long-term SEO and AI-driven strategy, drive measurable outcomes, and guide a senior team in delivering scalable, enterprise-level SEO programs.

You will partner with product, analytics, and content teams to advance generative and answer engine optimization while maintaining high standards of governance, quality, and performance.

Qualifications

• 7–10+ years of SEO experience across technical SEO, content strategy, performance measurement, and enterprise execution.
• 3+ years leading teams and managers; ability to scale across multiple accounts.
• Strong knowledge of Generative Engine Optimization and Answer Engine Optimization.
• Proficiency with web analytics and measurement tools (GA, Adobe Analytics) and enterprise SEO platforms.
• Ability to translate complex findings into executive-ready narratives and decisions.
• Deep expertise in AI-driven and generative search with capability to drive adoption.

Responsibilities

• Set SEO vision and multi-year roadmap across client portfolios with KPI alignment.
• Maintain executive-level client relationships and guide strategic decisions.
• Establish standards for SEO governance, QA, and delivery across work streams.
• Lead and develop senior talent and foster a high-performance culture.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to embed SEO in holistic plans.
• Evolve SEO tooling and tech stack for traditional and AI-driven environments.
• Shape enterprise measurement approaches and executive storytelling.

Skills

SEO leadership

Enterprise SEO

Team management

Executive storytelling

Cross-functional collaboration

Generative/Answer Engine Optimization

Analytics and measurement

Education

Bachelor’s degree preferred

Tools

Google Analytics

Adobe Analytics

SEO platforms (e.g., BrightEdge)

Job description

Company description

Starcom is the world's first standalone media agency, a storied innovator that continues to lead the way for many of the world's best brands.

Starcom has long been the professional birthplace and proving ground for marketing leaders – CEOs, CMOs, sales leaders, and technology pioneers – and we continue to drive the industry with peerless talent and relentless innovation.

From the start, we've known that achieving growth for our clients requires understanding and connecting with real people where they live and work, in ways they value.

In an AI era, we remain ""Guided By Humanity,"" a phrase that describes our foundational belief that human expertise must remain in the driver's seat, supported by the best processes and technology.

With our proprietary capabilities and Publicis Media's industry-leading resources and clout, we create ideas that move people and drive transformative business outcomes for brands.

Overview

The Vice President, Performance Content is a senior leader responsible for setting the vision and driving the long-term success of SEO, AEO and GEO across a portfolio of key client relationships and the broader agency. This role partners with executive client stakeholders and internal leadership to translate business goals into scalable SEO strategies, operating models, and measurement frameworks that drive meaningful outcomes.

Successful candidates will have experience and knowledge of GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) as well as AEO (Answer Engine Optimization)

As search evolves through automation and AI-influenced discovery experiences, the VP ensures Starcom’s SEO practice remainsfuture-ready, credible, and performance-driven, balancing innovation with strong foundational SEO excellence.

Responsibilities

• Set the SEO vision and multi-year roadmap across assigned client portfolios, aligning strategy to business objectives and measurable KPIs across both traditional and AI-driven search environments.
• Serve as a senior escalation point and trusted advisor, building and maintaining executive-level client relationships and guiding high-stakes decisions.
• Establish and reinforce wide standards for SEO strategy, governance, QA, and delivery consistency across technical, content, and authority workstreams.
• Lead and develop senior talent (Directors, Associate Directors, and Managers), driving coaching, succession planning, and a high-performance, learning-oriented team culture.
• Drive integrated solutions by partnering with cross-functional leaders (e.g., paid search, analytics, activation, content, and broader media teams) to ensure SEO is embedded in holistic plans.
• Own the evolution of the SEO toolset and tech stack, ensuring teams are equipped to analyze and optimize performance across both traditional and AI-driven search environments.
• Guide enterprise measurement approaches and executive-ready storytelling, including how success is defined and measured across both traditional search performance and emerging AI-driven search experiences.
• Selectively leverage AI-assisted capabilities where appropriate (e.g., opportunity identification, workflow efficiencies, trend monitoring) while maintaining strong human judgment and quality control.
• Drive the development of scalable frameworks, capabilities, and solutions that enable clients to compete for visibility across AI-driven and answer-based search experiences.
• Support account growth and new business by shaping SEO narratives, contributing to pitches, and clearly articulating the value of SEO across the evolving search landscape.

Qualifications

• 7–10+ years of SEO experience with depth across technical SEO, content strategy, performance measurement, and enterprise execution (agency experience strongly preferred).
• 3+ years leading teams and developing managers/leadership layers; demonstrated ability to scale quality across multiple accounts.
• Strong Knowledge of Generative Engine Optimization and Answer Engine Optimization
• Strong proficiency with web analytics and measurement (e.g., Google Analytics/Adobe Analytics) and enterprise SEO platforms/tooling.
• Proven ability to translate complex findings into clear executive-ready narratives, recommendations, and decision frameworks.
• Deep expertise in the evolving search landscape, including AI-driven and generative search, with the ability to shape organizational POV and drive adoption of new capabilities across teams and clients.
• Strong cross-functional leadership skills, including partnering with product/engineering/content stakeholders to drive implementation.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and project/program leadership capabilities.
• Bachelor’s degree preferred

Additional information

Starcom is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our employment decisions are made without regard to actual or perceived race, color, ethnicity, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, disability, medical condition as defined by applicable state law, genetic information, marital status, military service and veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws and ordinances.

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