Senior SEO Manager (remote, agency)

Clarity Online SEO is a digital marketing agency based in Seattle, WA. We're a small, focused team that works closely together and takes pride in doing things right for our clients. We're looking for an experienced Senior SEO Manager to join us in a fully remote capacity.

This is an individual contributor role — you will not manage other people, but you will be a key voice on client accounts. You'll work closely with account managers, developers, designers, and writers, and will be a primary point of contact for clients on SEO performance, strategy, and recommendations. Our team is collaborative and communicative, and this role requires someone who is equally comfortable in a spreadsheet and on a client call.

Our clients span a range of industries and SEO contexts. Local SEO is our largest segment, but we also work with national brands, B2B companies, ecommerce businesses, and publishers. You'll need to be versatile and adaptable — one week may involve a local contractor's Google Business Profile, the next a technical audit for a national ecommerce site.

We're looking for someone who brings both strategic depth and genuine technical ability. You should be comfortable building a 12-month SEO roadmap, running a Screaming Frog crawl, briefing a writer, and making direct changes in WordPress — sometimes all in the same day. We value initiative, clear communication, and people who are thoughtful about using modern tools, including AI, to work smarter.

Requirements

• Open to US Residents Only
• 8+ years of SEO experience in an agency environment or working with multiple clients in various industries
• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Communications, or a related field
• Project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a very fast-paced environment
• Previous experience talking to clients or stakeholders about performance, challenges, results
• Previous experience in lead-generation
• Previous experience in ecommerce

Experience

• 8+ years of SEO experience in an agency or client-facing role, working across a variety of industries.
• Proven track record managing multiple client accounts with varying needs and cadences.
• Experience across local SEO, national/organic SEO, ecommerce, B2B, or publisher SEO — breadth across multiple categories strongly preferred.
• Experience with lead-generation SEO and conversion tracking setup.
• Comfortable presenting and discussing performance and strategy directly with clients.
• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, or a related field (or equivalent practical experience).
• US residents only.

Technical Skills

• Deep knowledge of technical SEO: crawl architecture, indexation, site speed, Core Web Vitals, schema/structured data, hreflang, robots.txt, XML sitemaps, canonicalization, and redirects.
• Advanced to expert-level WordPress experience — able to make on-page and structural changes independently, configure SEO plugins, and clearly brief developers on more complex needs.
• Comfortable working directly in HTML as it applies to on-page SEO.
• Experience managing or supporting site migrations.
• Proficient in Google Search Console, Google Analytics (GA4), Google Tag Manager, Looker Studio, Ahrefs, and Screaming Frog.

Tools & Working Style

• Actively uses AI tools (Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, or similar) as part of day-to-day workflows — content briefs, audits, research, reporting, and documentation.
• Self-directed and organized — able to manage multiple priorities independently in a remote environment.
• A clear communicator, in writing and in conversation, with both clients and internal teammates.
• Comfortable with project management tools (Teamwork or similar) for tracking time and tasks.

Responsibilities

Strategy & Planning

• Develop tailored SEO strategies for each client, including 3-, 6-, and 12-month roadmaps based on client goals, budget, and competitive landscape.
• Maintain an active understanding of each client's business, industry, and audience to inform prioritization and strategy.
• Identify growth opportunities — content, technical, and authority — and directly execute on optimizations, while collaborating internally and externally.
• Adapt strategies over time based on algorithm updates, performance data, and evolving client needs.

Technical SEO

• Perform comprehensive technical audits covering site performance, ranking, competitors, reputation, indexing, etc.
• Identify and address technical issues directly or in coordination with developers — with a clear ability to communicate requirements, priorities, and expected outcomes.
• Manage and support site migrations, ensuring minimal traffic disruption through redirect mapping, crawl validation, and post-migration monitoring.
• Work hands-on with HTML, XML sitemaps, robots.txt, wordpress plugins, Google search console, etc.
• Implement structured data (schema markup) for relevant content types including local business, products, articles, and more.
• Use Screaming Frog, Ahrefs, Google Search Console, and related tools to continuously monitor and improve technical site health.

WordPress & Web CMS

• Make direct on-page changes in WordPress confidently and independently — including content updates, metadata, internal links, image optimization, plugin configuration, and page structure.
• Understand how WordPress themes, page builders, and common plugins (e.g. Yoast, Rank Math) interact with SEO, and make informed decisions accordingly.
• Communicate clearly with developers when changes require backend support — writing detailed, actionable briefs and following through to ensure correct implementation.
• Work comfortably in other major CMS platforms (Shopify, Squarespace, Webflow, etc.) as needed across the client base.
• Review and QA implemented changes to confirm they are live, correct, and indexed as expected.

Keyword Research & On-Page Optimization

• Conduct thorough keyword research using Ahrefs, Google Search Console, and other tools — spanning local, national, and intent-based strategies.
• Develop and maintain keyword maps aligned to site architecture, landing pages, and client goals.
• Optimize on-page elements including title tags, meta descriptions, headers, content, internal linking, and image alt attributes.
• Provide specific, actionable page-level recommendations and implement or coordinate changes with writers and developers.

Content Strategy & Collaboration

• Develop content strategies aligned to SEO objectives, audience intent, and client goals.
• Create detailed content briefs for internal and external writers, including target keywords, structure, tone, and competitive context.
• Review content drafts and provide SEO-specific feedback before publication.
• Identify content gaps, topic clusters, and refresh priorities based on performance data.
• Collaborate regularly with writers, designers, and developers to ensure content is optimized, well-structured, and correctly implemented.

Local SEO

• Manage and optimize Google Business Profiles for local clients, including categories, photos, posts, Q&A, and citation consistency.
• Develop and execute local SEO strategies including local landing pages, NAP consistency, and locally-relevant link building.
• Monitor local rankings, map pack performance, and local traffic trends.

Link Building & Authority

• Develop and execute link-building strategies appropriate to each client — including outreach, content-driven links, and local citations.
• Identify link opportunities through competitor analysis and prospect research.
• Monitor backlink profiles and coordinate changes when warranted.

Tracking, Reporting & Analytics

• Set up and audit conversion tracking via Google Tag Manager and Google Analytics, coordinating with developers when needed.
• Implement tracking for lead generation and ecommerce clients, including form submissions, calls, and purchase events.
• Build and maintain client-facing reports in Looker Studio; communicate performance in terms of business outcomes — leads, revenue, and ROI — not just rankings.
• Analyze performance regularly to surface insights, identify anomalies, and refine strategy.

Client Communication

• Serve as a primary SEO point of contact across a typical load of 10–15 active accounts per month, with varying cadences by client.
• Lead or participate in client-facing meetings to report on performance, walk through strategy, and respond to questions.
• Communicate proactively with clients on wins, challenges, and opportunities — setting realistic expectations and building trust over time.
• Translate technical SEO work into clear, accessible language for non-technical clients and stakeholders.
• Collaborate closely with account managers to ensure client communication is coordinated, consistent, and timely.

Internal Collaboration

• Work closely day-to-day with account managers, developers, designers, and writers — communicating via Teamwork, Discord, Google Meet, and email.
• Coordinate with PPC on integrated strategies where applicable, including landing page alignment, keyword intelligence, and cross-channel reporting.
• Proactively flag issues, opportunities, and blockers rather than waiting to be asked.
• Develop, document, and refine repeatable processes for audits, onboarding, keyword research, content briefs, and reporting.

Position Details

• Employment Type: Contract to hire. The initial contract period is 3 months, with the plan to transition to full-time employment based on performance and fit.
• Contract Period: During the first 3 months, the role is full-time at 40 hours per week.
• Start Date: August 1, 2026
• Contract Pay: $40 - 50 per hour depending on experience. Full-time hours (40 hrs/week) throughout the contract period.
• Getting Paid: You will send an invoice each week with hours worked. Pay will be direct-deposit into your bank account via Gusto (HR software) within 3 business days.
• Remote Position & Schedule: Fully remote. Typical working hours are in the 9am-5pm range in whichever US time zone you live in, though flexible schedules can be accommodated. Must be available for client and internal meetings, which are typically 9am-5pm PT.
• Work Structure: Work independently in managing projects and deadlines. Collaborate internally with the team on a daily basis. Meet with clients as needed.
• Client Load: Typical load of 10–15 active accounts per month, with varying cadences by client.
• Onboarding: In Month 1, you will meet the team, learn the company processes, tools, account setup, shadow a few big accounts, and be responsible for a few smaller accounts. Expect a semi-structured schedule with 1x1 meetings to cover key topics, with ample flex-time to learn and explore on your own. By Month 2, you will own several accounts and be shadowing on the remaining. At the start of Month 3, you will have a full account load and own all of the responsibilities of the role.
• Time Tracking: All time worked must be tracked in our project management software. At least 80% of time worked should be billable (on clients), while up to 20% can be non-billable (internal meetings, organization, skill development, etc.). This requirement is waived for the first 4 weeks of onboarding.
• Performance Evaluation: Regular performance reviews during the contract period, with an annual review following transition to full-time employment.
• Salary and Benefits: (Upon Full-Time Employment): Salary range $80,000 - 100,000 per year, depending on experience. Health insurance, retirement plan with employer match, paid time off, paid holidays, and bonus. Note: These benefits apply upon conversion to a full-time position and are not available during the contract period.

Pay: $80,000.00 - $100,000.00 per year

Benefits

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan

Application Question(s)

• Have you worked in an agency setting before?
• What do you enjoy about SEO?
• Are you comfortable meeting with clients (video calls) on a regular basis?

Work Location: Remote