Search Engine Optimization Manager

Virtustant; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 400,000 - 700,000; Full time

Job summary

Virtustant is seeking an SEO Manager to build the content engine from the ground up, including launching a blog and publishing 1-2 posts per day, using Claude as the main tool. You will write and maintain Claude instructions, covering brand voice, linking rules, and keyword strategy, and connect Ahrefs, CMS, and DataForSEO for research and audits.

You will focus on informational keywords to build authority while targeting transactional keywords to drive conversions, manage a backlink program,

Qualifications

• 4+ years running SEO with direct responsibility for pipeline or revenue.
• Experience in B2B services is preferred.
• Proven track record of driving organic traffic to bookings.
• Hands-on Ahrefs with verifying referring domains have real traffic.
• Experience building and managing backlink programs.
• Experience with LLM-assisted content creation at volume.
• Ability to write instruction sets for LLMs to produce publishable content.

Responsibilities

• Build the content engine from zero.
• Write and maintain instructions for Claude for content creation.
• Connect Ahrefs, CMS, and DataForSEO to Claude.
• Target both informational and transactional keywords.
• Acquire links and reject most of them.
• Run an exchange program alongside paid placements through outsourced PR.
• Reject backlinks with high Domain Rating but no verified search traffic.
• Reject backlinks from discounted regional subdomains of major publications.
• Own technical SEO, including site structure, internal linking, indexation, speed, and schema.
• Report on organic-sourced booked meetings weekly.

Skills

SEO management

B2B SEO

Traffic growth

Backlink program management

LLM content creation

LLM instruction writing

Tools

Ahrefs

DataForSEO

Outrank

MCP or similar tools

Job description

Job Title: SEO Manager

About the Company:

Our client is a B2B lead generation agency that builds LinkedIn outreach programs for founder-led agencies, consultants, and professional service firms.

Job Description:

You will build the content engine from the ground up. This includes starting a blog and publishing 1-2 posts per day. You will use Claude as the main tool for content creation. You will write and maintain instructions for Claude. These instructions will cover brand voice, linking rules, technical settings, and target keywords. You will connect tools like Ahrefs, the CMS, and DataForSEO to Claude. This will allow keyword research, briefs, and technical audits to run through one system. You will focus on informational keywords to build authority. You will also target transactional keywords to convert visitors. You will need to explain your keyword choices based on search volume and difficulty.

Responsibilities of the role:

• Build the content engine from zero.
• Write and maintain instructions for Claude for content creation.
• Connect Ahrefs, CMS, and DataForSEO to Claude.
• Target both informational and transactional keywords.
• Acquire links and reject most of them.
• Run an exchange program alongside paid placements through outsourced PR.
• Reject backlinks with high Domain Rating but no verified search traffic.
• Reject backlinks from discounted regional subdomains of major publications.
• Own technical SEO, including site structure, internal linking, indexation, speed, and schema.
• Report on organic-sourced booked meetings weekly.

Required Experience and Qualifications:

• 4+ years running SEO with direct responsibility for pipeline or revenue.
• Experience in B2B services is preferred.
• Proven track record of taking a site from near-zero organic traffic to a significant share of company bookings.
• Hands-on experience with Ahrefs, including verifying referring domains have real search traffic.
• Experience building and managing a backlink program (exchanges, outsourced PR, paid placements).
• Experience with LLM-assisted content creation at volume.
• Ability to write instruction sets for LLMs to produce publishable content without heavy editing.

Preferred Skills:

• Hands-on experience with MCP or similar tools connecting LLMs to SEO and CMS platforms.
• Familiarity with Outrank, DataForSEO, or comparable tools.
• Experience being negatively impacted by a link vendor and ability to explain how it was detected.

Personality:

• You have the judgment to send back bad link inventory.
• You understand that foundational SEO is critical for visibility.
• You can plainly state that there is no separate shortcut for Answer Engine Optimization.
• You have the discipline to maintain pacing for content production.

Schedule:

Full-time

Remote

Salary and Benefits:

• Payment in USD or Local Currency according to candidate's preference.