Job Overview
As Pepperland Marketing’s SEO Strategist, you’ll serve as the primary client‑facing advisor for education‑sector clients—including higher education, K–12, and non‑traditional schools—on all things organic search. You will meet with clients weekly to translate enrollment and brand‑awareness objectives into data‑driven search strategies that grow qualified traffic and conversions. You’ll be expected to stay ahead of industry trends and help clients position themselves for what’s next—especially as traditional search gives way to AI-generated, conversational experiences like Google’s AI Overviews and ChatGPT browsing responses.
Blending a developer’s toolbox with a content marketer’s storytelling instincts, you’ll dig into fresh crawl data each day to surface indexation gaps, performance bottlenecks, and accessibility issues—then roll up your sleeves to implement code‑level fixes in HubSpot CMS, WordPress, or static frameworks (HTML, CSS, JavaScript, HubL). You will lead large‑scale technical audits, orchestrate site migrations, and steer AI‑powered analyses that pinpoint decay and uncover new growth opportunities.
Beyond the code, you’ll collaborate closely with Content Marketing Strategists to shape topic clusters, internal‑linking architectures, and entity‑based optimizations that cement topical authority. You’ll package your findings into repeatable playbooks, mentor specialists, and position yourself—and Pepperland—as a thought leader in search, sharing insights through blogs, webinars, podcasts, and conference talks.
Key Responsibilities
- Technical SEO audits & implementation — Run deep crawl analyses (Screaming Frog, Sitebulb, etc.), surface indexation, performance, and accessibility issues, and implement or coordinate code-level fixes (HTML, CSS, JavaScript, schema, robots, XML sitemaps).
- Continuous performance analysis — Monitor GA4, Google Search Console, and rank-tracking platforms to spot decay, cannibalization, and emerging opportunities; convert insights into ranked action plans.
- Content collaboration & advisory — Partner with Content Marketing Strategists to shape topic clusters, on-page optimization, internal linking, and entity-based enhancements that strengthen topical authority and UX.
- Large-scale site audits & migrations — Lead due diligence and redirect mapping for site launches, CMS migrations, and consolidation projects, ensuring minimal traffic loss and improved technical foundations.
- Web coding & CMS integration — Build or modify templates, components, and structured-data snippets in HubSpot CMS, WordPress, or static frameworks to deploy SEO improvements directly.
- AI & automation innovation — Pilot AI-driven keyword clustering, log-file analysis, and internal-linking recommendations; document wins and roll into repeatable playbooks.
- AI search optimization — Track and test emerging AI‑first search experiences (Google AI Mode, Bing Copilot, ChatGPT answers, Perplexity, etc.), optimize content for generative answer engines, and develop playbooks that secure brand visibility in conversational search results.
- Client advisory & communication — Run weekly/bi-weekly performance calls, present findings, gather feedback, and align next steps; create training collateral that evangelizes SEO best practices across enrollment, advancement, and marketing teams.
- Process & standards leadership — Document SOPs, QA checklists, and technical standards to ensure consistent, high-quality delivery; progressively delegate execution work to specialists while focusing on strategy and client growth.
- Sales enablement & new business — Join sales calls with prospects, contribute to proposal development, and help close deals by showcasing Pepperland’s SEO expertise.
- Thought leadership & content — Contribute to Pepperland’s blog, webinars, and podcasts; speak at industry conferences and virtual events to share best practices and generate interest in our work.
- Cross-functional collaboration — Partner closely with Enrollment Marketing, Content Marketing, Digital Advertising, and CRM & Integration Strategists—as well as designers and developers—to tightly integrate SEO with all campaigns and initiatives.
Qualifications
- 4+ years of hands-on technical and content SEO execution with verifiable results in competitive verticals; education experience preferred.
- Proficiency in front-end web technologies (HTML, CSS, native JavaScript) and comfort with Git/GitHub workflows; familiarity with HubL is a plus.
- Deep experience with enterprise-grade SEO and analytics stacks (GA4, GSC, Ahrefs, Semrush, Screaming Frog, Looker Studio, BigQuery).
- Demonstrated success developing repeatable frameworks, playbooks, or productized services.
- Proven ability to own client relationships and advise senior stakeholders.
- Stellar project-management and communication skills.
- Familiarity with HubSpot CMS, Content Hub, and Marketing Hub strongly preferred.
Location Considerations
While this is primarily a remote position, we strongly prefer candidates located within reasonable commuting distance (e.g., within approximately a 45-minute drive) of our office in Cheshire, Connecticut. You must be a resident of the state of Connecticut to be considered. The ideal candidate will be open to working onsite once or twice weekly to support in-person collaboration, team-building, and client meetings as needed.
Why Pepperland Marketing?
- Join a collaborative, creative team dedicated to transforming higher education marketing.
- Work remotely with flexibility, autonomy, and opportunities for growth.
- Contribute to meaningful projects with renowned schools, colleges and universities.
- Competitive salary, comprehensive benefits, and professional development opportunities.
Pepperland Marketing is an equal-opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace.