SEO Engagement Associate Director/Director

About us

We’re a professional services company at the intersection of marketing and technology — partnering with ambitious brands to solve complex challenges, accelerate growth, and drive performance. Our integrated teams combine strategic insight, creative execution, data fluency, and technical expertise.

We believe our biggest asset is our combination of different backgrounds, cultures, and disciplines that come together to form the iCrossing community.  What we do starts with our people.

We are part of the Hearst Corporation, the world’s leading media, entertainment, and content company, which gives us access to the most valuable data and insights, talent and audiences.  

Your Impact

As the SEO Engagement Director, you will lead and evolve our SEO strategy to drive organic growth and ensure the success of our clients’ digital marketing campaigns. This role requires deep SEO expertise, strong leadership, and a forward-thinking mindset that embraces emerging search paradigms such as generative AI, zero-click search, and multi-modal discovery. You will position SEO as a driver of broader business outcomes and help shape integrated solutions across client engagements. The ideal candidate has a proven track record of successful SEO initiatives, excellent leadership skills, and the ability to work collaboratively across cross-functional teams to deliver client impact. This full-time role requires 2 days per week in the office.

Key Responsibilities

Client management and leadership

• Lead end-to-end the direction and day-to-day execution of client engagements, including direct management of the engagement team members on the account.
• Ensure resources are allocated and staffed to facilitate delivery, including collaboration with Discipline Leads to ensure alignment to delivery plans and commercial targets
• Build an operational model that drives business outcomes and improve engagement leadership practices across the team through methodology and clear, repeatable processes. Monitor, enhance and evolve operational model over time to meet and exceed client expectations in the context of business goals/outcomes, client org structure, business transformation trajectory.
• Provide client solutions to develop custom approaches and solutions to client’s business challenges. Drive development of appropriate staffing plans to deliver against new initiatives and client annual renewals.
• Build strong and lasting relationships with multiple client contacts. Develop relationships with key client partners to help evangelize iCrossing's expertise as a strategic and pragmatic delivery partner, with guidance and partnership from executive sponsors.
• Develop a detailed knowledge of iX’s services, capabilities, and differentiators
• Cultivate client relationships through content, communication, reliability and relatability
• Mentor and nurture talent on the team
• Collaborate, develop and strategize account plans with executive sponsors and other team members. 
• Strategically guide the client partnership, including greater incorporation of insights into plans and vision for the client, and targeting broader business goals
• Track progress toward goals and commitments at an executive level, and reporting on them to decision-makers both purely to inform them and to drive progress toward greater advancement
• Partner with competency leaders on problem mitigation and risk management communications

Strategic Search Optimization 

• Develop and implement comprehensive SEO focused strategies that align with clients' business goals.
• Conduct in-depth findability research, competitive analysis, and market trends to inform strategy.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for key client accounts, ensuring satisfaction and success of engagements focused on SEO.
• Present SEO strategies, reports, and results that connect with broader business objectives in a clear and compelling manner.

Operational Excellence for Search Optimization

• Own the execution of comprehensive SEO programs, including AI search strategy, technical SEO, content optimization, off-site popularity, and adjacent services (ie. Content Creation, CMS enhancements, landing pages, and digital analytics).
• Champion advanced SEO tools and analytics platforms including iCrossing proprietary toolset to monitor, analyze, and report on campaign performance.
• Lead opportunities for optimization and growth, and implement changes to

improve and expand SEO focused engagements.

• Deliver Optimization results as demonstrated through comprehensive reporting including performance metrics, insights, and actionable recommendations.
• Use data-driven analysis to measure the success of SEO focused initiatives and inform future strategies.

Thought Leadership and Growth

• Create demand for iCrossing services through developing industry POVs and thought leadership papers
• Create compelling case studies that demonstrate success and innovation across SEO and connected services
• Lead new business efforts by shaping proposals, participating in pitch meetings, and representing SEO capabilities in integrated solutions
• Develop new integrated go-to-market sales plays that incorporate SEO and other iCrossing offerings into broader business strategies for clients.

Who You Are

• 8+ years of SEO experience in a digital agency, consultancy, or enterprise environment, with a proven track record of driving measurable business outcomes
• 3+ years of experience managing SEO teams or direct reports, with a demonstrated ability to grow and mentor talent
• Deep expertise across technical SEO, on-page and off-page optimization, AI-driven search, and cross-channel integration
• Proven success leading complex, enterprise-scale SEO programs with defined ROI
• Strong familiarity with tools and platforms including GA4, Adobe Analytics, Google Search Console, Semrush, Screaming Frog, Looker Studio, and emerging AI-powered SEO technologies
• Comfortable working in modern CMS environments and proficient in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript fundamentals
• Skilled in developing and delivering data-informed strategies, performance reports, and consultative recommendations to senior and C-level stakeholders
• Experienced in new business development, including opportunity scoping, proposal writing, and client presentations
• Highly organized, with exceptional project management skills and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, matrixed environment
• Clear, confident communicator and storyteller, capable of translating complexity into clear action and business impact
• Bachelor's degree in marketing, business, computer science, or a related field preferred
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel and PowerPoint

For New York City,  the estimated salary range for this position is between $115,000 and $151,000. For Chicago, the estimated hourly range for this position is between $105,000 and $135,000. The range for the position in other geographies may vary based on market differences. The actual compensation will be determined based on experience and other factors permitted by law.  

We also offer a competitive benefits package that includes: 

• Medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance 
• 401(k) Retirement Plan 
• Flexible Spending & Health Savings Account 
• Paid holidays, vacation, and sick time 
• Parental Leave 
• Employee assistance program and other company benefits.