VP, Performance Content: AI-Driven SEO Strategy Leader

Publicis Groupe; Chicago (IL); Hybride; USD 149 340 - 214 620; Plein temps

Avantages offerts par ce poste

Paid Family Care

Tuition assistance

Flexible working arrangements

Employee Assistance Programs

Résumé du poste

Publicis Groupe Holdings B.V is looking for a Vice President, Performance Content in Chicago, who will lead the vision for SEO across key client relationships. This executive role involves setting a multi-year SEO roadmap, ensuring alignment with business objectives and guiding high-stakes decisions.

Successful candidates will excel in leadership, with a strong background in Generative Engine Optimization and experience in evolving search landscapes. Benefits include flexible working arrangements and comprehensive health support.

Qualifications

• 7–10+ years of SEO experience, preferably in an agency.
• 3+ years leading teams with a focus on quality and development.
• Proven ability to develop clear executive narratives.

Responsabilités

• Set the SEO vision and multi-year roadmap.
• Build and maintain executive-level client relationships.
• Lead senior talent development.

Connaissances

SEO experience

Generative Engine Optimization

Answer Engine Optimization

web analytics

leadership

communication skills

Formation

Bachelor’s degree preferred

Outils

Google Analytics

Adobe Analytics

Description du poste

Company description

Publicis Groupe, known for its world-renowned creativity, best in class technology and data assets, and digital and consulting expertise, is one of the world’s largest communications groups. With 108,000 staff in over 100 countries, the Groupe has capabilities in Creative, Media, Digital Business Transformation and Production.

Publicis Groupe has transformed its business model and its organizational structure to put its clients at the centre and to facilitate access to all its services in a fluid, modular way. Today, Publicis Groupe is organized across 4 Solutions Hubs - Publicis Communications, Publicis Media, Publicis Sapient, and Publicis Health- for easier connectivity and integration, fostering collaboration throughout the Groupe; while Epsilon at the core will fuel the Groupe’s entire operations to deliver personalized experiences at scale.

As a Connecting Company for the Connected Age, Publicis Groupe is able to deliver winning solutions for clients through the Power of One - driven by a common purpose, a powerful spirit, shared behaviours, great character and a relentless focus on our clients.

Helping Our Clients Unlock Growth in the Platform World

“Publicis exists to help our clients unlock growth. Through the Power of One, we are seamlessly connected to partner with our clients so that they can Unlock Growth in the Platform World.”
- Arthur Sadoun, Chairman and CEO, Publicis Groupe.

Opportunity

Publicis Groupe is searching for a talented individual to join the team and our bespoke agency for a globally recognized company known for its iconic brands across Snacking, Petcare and Food & Nutrition across our network and around the globe. This is a unique opportunity to partner with iconic brands on their marketing transformation journey. You will help enable the client to future-proof their business, whilst also being part of a Power of One model that integrates media, production, data & tech, social, influencer and commerce to create end-to-end PESO experiences.

The global team will consist of individuals from over 70+ markets, all operating with the same vision: To build a better today, for tomorrow.

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.

The Power of One starts with our people! To do powerful things, we offer powerful resources. Our best-in-class wellness and benefits offerings include:

• Paid Family Care for parents and caregivers for 12 weeks or more
• Monetary assistance and support for Adoption, Surrogacy and Fertility
• Monetary assistance and support for pet adoption
• Employee Assistance Programs and Health/Wellness/Comfort reimbursements to help you invest in your future and work/life balance
• Tuition Assistance
• Paid time off that includes Flexible Time off Vacation, Annual Sick Days, Volunteer Days, Holiday and Identity days, and more
• Matching Gifts programs
• Flexible working arrangements
• 'Work Your World’ Program encouraging employees to work from anywhere Publicis Groupe has an office for up to 6 weeks a year (based upon eligibility)
• Business Resource Groups that support multiple affinities and alliances

The benefits offerings listed are available to U.S. based employees, are reviewed on an annual basis, and are governed by the terms of the applicable plan documents.

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 $149,340.00 - USD $214,620.00/Annually. This is the pay range the Company believes it will pay for this position at the time of this posting. This role may also be eligible for bonus or incentive compensation. 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. 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 10/26/2026.