AIO/SEO Strategy Director

The AIO/SEO Strategy Director serves as the day-to-day executive owner of the AIO/SEO client portfolio, operating with a high degree of autonomy and accountability.

They are responsible for:

• Leading AIO/SEO strategy, client relationships, and performance management without requiring frequent senior escalation, while partnering closely with the VP of AI Strategy.
• Owning growth, retention, and client satisfaction across the AIO/SEO book of business.
• Positioning Avenue Z as a trusted, forward-thinking partner on the future of organic search and AI-driven optimization.

Responsibilities

Client Leadership, Growth & Portfolio Ownership

• Act as the primary senior relationship owner for AIO/SEO clients, trusted by CMOs and senior marketing leaders.
• Participate fully in Client Services rituals, including account lead meetings, portfolio-level reviews, and executive readouts.
• Report on and be accountable for:
• • AIO/SEO portfolio performance (traffic, rankings, conversions, revenue impact).
  • Client retention and risk, including proactive mitigation plans.
  • Expansion and upsell opportunities across the portfolio.
• Lead the expansion of existing SEO relationships into AIO deliverables, positioning AI optimization as the natural evolution of organic search strategy.
• Own high-stakes client conversations, including performance concerns, strategy pivots, contract renewals, and expansion discussions.
• De-escalate challenging situations and align internal teams around clear, credible recovery plans when performance is at risk.
• Partner with Business Development and Client Services to shape proposals, SOWs, and renewals that reflect AIO/SEO best practices and growth opportunities.

Strategy, SEO Expertise & Business Translation

• Bring deep expertise in organic SEO, including:
• • Technical SEO (site architecture, crawlability, indexing, page speed, structured data).
  • Content strategy (topical authority, content hubs, intent alignment, on-page optimization).
  • Performance diagnostics (organic traffic, rankings, CTR, conversion paths, and attribution).
• Translate tactical SEO and AIO execution into business outcomes—traffic, qualified leads, revenue, and pipeline impact.
• Confidently explain technical SEO and AI-driven optimization concepts while anchoring recommendations in executive-level business language.
• Understand and articulate how SEO and AIO integrate with:
• • Paid media and performance marketing
  • Content strategy and production
  • CRO and experimentation
  • Brand and communications
  • Analytics, measurement, and reporting
• Design and oversee holistic search and AIO roadmaps that align with broader marketing and business objectives.

AI & AIO Leadership

• Be AI-forward and practitioner-minded, comfortable using ChatGPT and other LLMs as part of daily work for ideation, content optimization, analysis, and internal process improvement.
• Partner with the VP of AI Strategy to evolve and refine AIO offerings as industry standards, search behaviors, and platform capabilities emerge.
• Guide clients through ambiguity in AI-driven search (e.g., generative search experiences, AI overviews) with confidence and credibility.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to operationalize AIO frameworks, including playbooks, QA standards, and measurement methodologies.
• Advocate for ethical, brand-safe, and performance-driven use of AI across content and search.
• Prior AIO-specific experience is a strong plus, but adaptability, curiosity, and strategic judgment are essential and non-negotiable.

People Leadership & Coaching

• Be a people-first leader with strong executive presence, modeling calm, accountability, and strategic thinking.
• Serve as the first escalation point for the AIO/SEO Manager and broader SEO team, providing clear direction and support.
• Coach and develop team members on:
• • Client leadership and expectation-setting, including proactive communication and stakeholder management.
  • Executive-level communication and presentation skills, ensuring recommendations land with senior decision-makers.
  • Data storytelling and narrative-driven reporting, turning complex performance data into clear, persuasive narratives.
• Build and sustain a calm, accountable, and solutions-oriented team culture, even under pressure.
• Partner with People Ops and leadership to hire, onboard, and develop AIO/SEO talent in line with Avenue Z’s values and growth plans.

Executive Presence & Communication

• Create and deliver polished, executive-ready presentations for client and internal leadership forums.
• Elevate the team’s ability to communicate complex SEO and AI concepts clearly, succinctly, and persuasively.
• Represent the AIO/SEO function with confidence and credibility across:
• • Executive reviews and QBRs
  • New business pitches and thought leadership opportunities
  • Cross-functional leadership meetings and planning sessions
• Serve as a visible champion for AIO/SEO internally, helping shape the agency’s point of view on the future of search and AI.

Preferred Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in SEO or organic search strategy, with demonstrated ownership of large, complex client accounts.
• 3–5+ years of people leadership experience, managing managers and/or multi-level teams within an agency or in-house marketing organization.
• Proven track record of:
• • Leading senior client relationships with CMOs and VP-level stakeholders.
  • Growing and retaining a portfolio of SEO or AIO accounts.
  • Navigating performance challenges and turning around at-risk relationships.
• Strong familiarity with AI tools and LLMs (e.g., ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude) and their application to SEO, content, and analytics workflows.
• Advanced proficiency with SEO and analytics platforms (e.g., Google Search Console, GA4, enterprise SEO tools) and comfort working with data to inform decisions.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to adapt messaging to technical, marketing, and executive audiences.
• Experience in a digital agency, consultancy, or high-growth marketing organization strongly preferred.

Compensation

• Job Type: Full-time Employee, Hybrid (3 Days In-Office)
• Annual Base Salary: $90,000 - $95,000/year

Benefits:

• Medical, Vision and Dental Plan
• 401(k) Plan + 4% Employer Match
• Unlimited PTO
• Professional Development Stipend
• Flexible Working Hours
• Hybrid & Collaborative Environment
• Company-Wide & Team Events