Hybrid, San Diego, CA based*

Hybrid Requirements: Employees within 40 miles of a pyhsical office location must be present in office 2 days a week.

Office Locations: San Diego, CA & Denver, CO

Job Title: SEO Manager

This role will require the selected individual to work a hybrid schedule in our Del Mar, CA office location.

Overview:

For over 15 years, 85SIXTY has been helping clients transform the way they reach, acquire, and engage with their customers through an integrated combination of data, technology, cross-channel strategies, and creative thinking. Some might call us a full-service digital consultancy, but we like to think of ourselves as a partner that can both drive strategy and orchestrate delivery. Founded in 2010 by a veteran in retail, eCommerce, and digital, 85SIXTY was built around a consultative, high-touch approach that allows us to work across a broad spectrum of areas to increase our value to our customers. We support forward-thinking brands in their journey toward growth by solving complex problems, staying curious, and turning ideas into practical solutions.

We are looking for an SEO Manager who is excited about where search is heading and wants to help brands adapt to what comes next. This role goes beyond traditional SEO and requires someone who understands that discoverability is evolving across AI-generated answers, conversational search experiences, social discovery platforms, and emerging search ecosystems.

This role combines strategic SEO leadership, client partnership, and people management. You will lead SEO strategy across a portfolio of client accounts while also mentoring and coaching SEO Specialists and junior team members. We are looking for someone who can confidently guide both clients and internal teams, helping shape strategy, prioritize opportunities, develop talent, and create accountability around execution and growth.

The ideal candidate is both strategic and hands-on. You should be comfortable leading client conversations, presenting recommendations, developing search strategies, digging into technical SEO challenges, and collaborating across departments to drive measurable business outcomes. You are curious about AI and how it is changing search behavior, but you also know how to balance experimentation with practical execution and clear business impact.

Most importantly, we are looking for someone who is proactive, adaptable, collaborative, and genuinely curious. Search is changing quickly, and we want someone energized by learning, testing, mentoring others, and helping clients stay ahead of where the industry is going.

Responsibilities:

Client Leadership & Strategy

• Serve as a strategic SEO lead across a portfolio of clients spanning industries such as outdoor, travel, hospitality, apparel, footwear, health & wellness, lifestyle, and consumer brands.
• Lead client meetings and present SEO strategies, recommendations, reporting insights, and performance updates in a clear and actionable way.
• Build and evolve SEO strategies that support visibility, discoverability, traffic quality, engagement, and conversion goals.
• Help clients understand how search behavior is shifting toward AI-generated summaries, conversational search, and emerging discovery platforms.
• Identify growth opportunities, competitive risks, and strategic priorities during quarterly and annual business reviews.
• Translate technical findings, analytics, and SEO performance into business-focused recommendations that stakeholders can easily understand and act on.

SEO Strategy & Technical Execution

• Lead SEO reporting and analysis using platforms such as GA4, Google Search Console, Adobe Analytics, Ahrefs, SEMrush, Screaming Frog, and related SEO tools.
• Develop and execute keyword, content, search intent, and site optimization strategies aligned with customer behavior and business objectives.
• Audit and improve technical SEO elements including crawlability, indexing, site architecture, internal linking, structured data, metadata, and page performance.
• Support ecommerce SEO initiatives across platforms such as Shopify Plus and Adobe Commerce.
• Partner with development teams to prioritize and implement technical SEO recommendations.
• Monitor trends related to AI Overviews, generative search visibility, SERP volatility, and emerging search behaviors.
• Use AI and LLM tools to support research, workflow improvements, data analysis, and strategic planning while applying strong critical thinking and business context.
• Lead competitive research and stay informed on changes across SEO, AI search, ecommerce, and digital discovery platforms.
• Manage multiple SEO initiatives and client priorities while maintaining strong organization and communication.

AI Search, GEO & Discovery Platforms

• Help shape strategies focused on improving visibility within AI-generated search experiences and conversational platforms.
• Optimize content and site structures to improve discoverability across platforms such as ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews, YouTube, TikTok, Reddit, and other environments where consumers actively research products and brands.
• Stay informed on the evolving relationship between SEO, AEO (Answer Engine Optimization), GEO (Generative Engine Optimization), and consumer discovery behavior.

Collaboration & Team Support

• Collaborate closely with Content, Creative, Paid Media, Analytics, Engineering, and Client Strategy teams to align SEO efforts with broader marketing and business goals.
• Mentor and support junior SEO team members through collaboration, feedback, and knowledge sharing.
• Contribute ideas, testing opportunities, workflow improvements, and documentation that help the SEO department continue evolving.
• Participate in internal initiatives, process improvements, and thought leadership opportunities that strengthen the SEO practice at 85SIXTY.

Desired Qualifications:

• 5+ years of professional SEO experience within an agency, consultancy, or related environment.
• Experience developing and executing successful SEO strategies across multiple industries and website types.
• Prior people management experience & responsibilities.
• Strong understanding of technical SEO fundamentals including crawling, indexing, site architecture, structured data, page performance, and analytics.
• Familiarity with how search is evolving toward AI-generated answers, conversational interfaces, and generative discovery experiences.
• Experience tying SEO performance to business outcomes and communicating recommendations confidently to clients and stakeholders.
• Strong analytical skills and comfort working with platforms such as GA4, Google Search Console, Adobe Analytics, Ahrefs, SEMrush, and Screaming Frog.
• Comfort using AI and LLM tools to support analysis, research, workflows, and strategic thinking.
• Strong organizational skills with attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Proficiency with project management and collaboration tools such as Jira, Confluence, Basecamp, or similar platforms.
• Experience supporting ecommerce SEO initiatives is preferred.
• Agency experience strongly preferred.

Benefits:

• Competitive salary and benefits package.
  • Medical, Dental, Vision
  • Life / AD&D
  • FSA - Health/Dependent Care
  • Voluntary Life / AD&D
  • Retirement Plan
• FTO - Flexible Time Off
• Paid Holidays Annually: 13
• Opportunities for professional development and growth.
• Collaborative and dynamic work environment.
• Contribution to impactful and innovative projects in the digital space.

Compensation Disclaimer:

Compensation Range: $85,000 - $100,000 annually. Actual compensation is based on multiple factors that are unique to each candidate, including and not limited to job-related knowledge, level of relevant experience, education, skills and geographic location (to account for comparative cost of living). 85SIXTY reserves the right to modify this pay range at any time.

EEO Statement:

85SIXTY is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic information, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law.

Staffing / Recruiting Agencies:

To all Staffing and Recruiting Agencies: Our Careers Site is only for individuals seeking a job at 85SIXTY. Staffing and recruiting agencies and individuals being represented by an agency are not authorized to use this site or to submit profiles, applications or resumes, and any such submissions will be considered unsolicited. 85SIXTY does not accept unsolicited resumes or applications from agencies. Please do not forward resumes to our jobs alias, 85SIXTY employees or any other company location. 85SIXTY is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes/applications.

Fake Job Postings Statement:

Please be aware of fictitious job postings, consulting engagements, solicitations, or employment offers from suspicious sources. These engagements may be an attempt to obtain private information, or to induce you to pay a fee for services related to recruitment or training. 85SIXTY does NOT charge any application, processing, or training fee at any stage of the recruitment or hiring process. If you have any doubts about the authenticity of any messaging behalf of 85SIXTY, please send us an email at HR@85SIXTY.com before taking any further action in relation to the correspondence, recruitment or hiring process. All genuine job openings will be posted on our careers page at https://85sixty.rippling-ats.com/.

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