Remote Director of SEO & AI Search - Job Description at Animalz

Director of SEO & AI Search - Job Description

Posted 5 days ago

We’re Animalz, a content marketing agency focused on delivering growth outcomes to brands by supporting them in expressing their unique views and values.

We strive to create content so good that people don’t realize it’s marketing. Our best work is interesting, authentic, and well-delivered so that consumers don’t feel disrupted by it. They’re engaged, intrigued, and hungry for more.

Animalz was founded in 2015 and primarily serves companies in the B2B SaaS/tech sector. We’ve helped build content programs for nearly 500 customers to date, including Amazon, Google, GoDaddy, Amplitude, Ramp, Wistia, Airtable, Appcues, Intercom, Sapphire Ventures, Segment, and many, many more.

We’re a fully remote organization with team members scattered around the world—but with a heavy concentration of US-based employees. We have an eclectic team of marketers and are looking for a stellar Senior Content Marketer to join our roster.

Apply now

As Director of SEO & AI Search, you will lead and shape Animalz’s SEO and AEO-focused services, helping clients adapt their content strategies for organic visibility in both traditional and emerging search environments.

That means you’ll develop SEO and AI search strategies, guide clients through evolving best practices, and ensure our team delivers content that helps our customers grow and stays ahead of search trends.

This role is ideal for someone who has a strong foundation in leading SEO programs and is ahead of the curve in adapting to AEO and AI innovation. More than anything, Animalz needs a leader to take the helm and lead our customer and audience base through these seismic shifts in search.

You'll be responsible for managing a substantial book of business with a key performance indicator of maintaining monthly revenue retention and revenue growth. You’ll manage a team of 3 content marketers and SEO specialists, overseeing all aspects of SEO and AEO content performance along with an extended team of freelance contributors.

The role offers significant growth opportunities, with the expectation to grow your book of revenue within 12 months, with bonus incentives included.

What You'll Do

Strategy & Execution

Develop and evolve SEO strategies tailored to both traditional search and AI-powered discovery tools (like Perplexity, ChatGPT, and Gemini)
Conduct full-funnel SEO and AEO strategy planning for new and existing clients, including content and technical audits, keyword opportunity analysis, strategy development, and more
Test AI search tactics to help clients appear in AI summaries and conversational search outputs
Stay current on trends across SEO and AI-assisted search to inform client strategies and internal education

Customer Management

Serve as a strategic partner to customers, collaborating on growth goals, content pivots, and performance optimization
Join regular client calls alongside content marketers to present strategy, report on performance, and surface new opportunities
Guide teams through monthly reporting and ongoing performance tracking using tools like GA4, GSC, Ahrefs, Semrush, Scrunch, and Screaming Frog
Ensure strategy delivery aligns with client expectations, business goals, and Animalz’s standards of quality

Team Leadership

Manage a distributed team of 3+ content marketers and SEO specialists
Hold regular 1:1s to coach team members, share feedback, and support their career growth and professional development
Foster a collaborative environment that encourages innovation, skill-building, and experimentation in SEO and AI workflows

Operational Improvement

Contribute to internal process improvements for how we deliver SEO and AI-focused work
Develop reusable frameworks and templates that improve the consistency and efficiency of strategy development and reporting
Provide input on team capacity planning, project prioritization, and delivery pacing
Contribute to the development of AI workflows for SEO content production.

Agency Marketing & Thought Leadership

Write original, thought-leading content for the Animalz blog on SEO, AI search, and content strategy
Act as a public-facing voice of Animalz SEO by publishing regularly on LinkedIn and participating in industry discussions
Offer strategic feedback and insights on internal agency marketing initiatives, particularly where they intersect with search visibility

Core Competencies

SEO & AI Search Expertise

Deep understanding of traditional SEO and its evolving relationship with AI-driven discovery engines
Ability to develop creative strategies for emerging search paradigms (AI Overviews, search agents) and familiar with content SEO, technical SEO, and SERP features

Strategic Thinking & Leadership

Talent for aligning SEO content strategy with broader business goals and identifying new opportunities for organic growth
Experience leading high-performing, distributed teams with a commitment to coaching and developing talent

Communication & Tool Proficiency

Clear, confident communicator able to present complex strategies and performance data to stakeholders at varying technical levels
Strong command of SEO platforms (GA4, GSC, Ahrefs, Semrush, Screaming Frog) and AI tools for search optimization and content production

What We’re Looking For

6+ years in SEO or content strategy roles, preferably within B2B SaaS and marketing agencies
3+ years managing SEO strategy across multiple clients or internal brands
Deep knowledge of SEO fundamentals, technical audits, and content optimization
Demonstrated success adapting strategy for AI search environments and producing high-quality content with generative AI
Experience managing full-time team members and freelance contributors
Track record of delivering clear, measurable results via organic channels
Excellent writing, communication, and stakeholder management skills
Comfortable navigating ambiguity and pioneering new strategic approaches

Our Values

At Animalz, our values guide how we show up for our customers, our teammates, and the content we create. We're looking for team members who embody these principles and want to grow within them.

Value Over Vanity: We measure our success in customer impact, not surface-level praise. We focus on content that drives sustainable, long-term results by understanding and serving our customers' customers.
Two Steps Ahead: Great work anticipates needs before they arise. We're proactive and strategic, always looking for ways to solve problems before they become blockers.
Power Source; Not Power Trip: We lead through service, not authority. We energize our teammates and customers, convert obstacles into momentum, and focus on elevating others.
Pursue Mastery: We believe great work comes from deliberate practice, open collaboration, and constant curiosity. We're always learning, evolving, and testing new approaches.
Left Brain, Right Brain, Robot Brain: Our best work blends creativity, analysis, and smart use of technology—including AI—to drive meaningful outcomes without sacrificing humanity or voice.
In the Arena: We're not spectators. We experiment boldly, contribute to thought leadership, and stay immersed in our customers' industries so we can lead from experience, not theory.

Your First 90 Days

Days 1–30: Learn & Observe

Complete comprehensive onboarding to understand Animalz processes, tools, and culture
Shadow customer meetings across SEO accounts to understand current approach
Meet with the team to understand customer acquisition process
Begin building relationships with your team members and key stakeholders
Review current customer onboarding processes and identify opportunities for "WOW factor" enhancements

Days 31–60: Take Ownership

Take ownership of 1-2 SEO customer relationships
Conduct audit of current content initiatives and delivery processes
Identify opportunities for improving quality
Develop initial plans for team development and process improvements
Begin assessing the current book of business and develop strategies for growth

Days 61–90: Drive Impact

Own all SEO customer relationships and lead strategic presentations
Implement refined processes for managing content production
Begin implementing your vision for the SEO content team
Demonstrate measurable improvements in customer satisfaction and team efficiency
Establish key metrics tracking for customer retention and account growth

Working Arrangements

Location: Fully remote, Americas or EMEA
Timezone Requirements: 4+ hours of overlap with US time zones

Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $100,000 - $140,000 USD annually plus possible incentive-based compensation
This role offers competitive compensation with placement within the range based on experience, skills, and demonstrated impact in previous content leadership roles.
Health & vision insurance (or wellness stipend for non-US team members)
401(k) retirement plan (US only)
Unlimited PTO policy
Flexible working schedule
Team lunch stipend

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

At Animalz, we believe diverse perspectives make us stronger. We're committed to building an inclusive workplace where people of all backgrounds, experiences, and identities can thrive. We particularly encourage applications from historically underrepresented groups in tech and marketing, including people of color, women, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, and those from varied socioeconomic backgrounds.

Equal Opportunity

Animalz is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.