About this role
Are you a dynamic SEO leader who's already rethinking search for the AI era - not just optimizing for Google, but for how brands show up in Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, and every other place people are now asking questions?
Impact Media, a fast-growing digital marketing agency based in Huntington, WV is looking for an experienced Director of SEO to build and lead our SEO department. This is a senior, strategic role - you'll own client strategy, reporting, and team-building, while directing a mix of internal team members and our existing contractor network to execute the work.
This is not a hands-on-keyboard-only role, and it's not entry- or mid-level. We're looking for someone who has already led SEO for real client accounts, already knows how to build and manage a team, and is ready to build something with us as we scale - not learn how to do the job.
*About Impact Media*
Impact Media is a fast-growing digital marketing agency based in Huntington, WV & Montreal, QC, specializing in social video production, content creation, paid advertisement, conversion focused funnels, and search engine optimization. We believe marketing should be sustainable, ethical, and impactful - our mission is to help purpose-driven brands and social impact initiatives succeed through content that aligns with their values. We work with a range of clients across industries, with a particular focus in addiction recovery center marketing for search engine optimization - a space where trust, accuracy, and ranking credibility (E-E-A-T) really matter.
*Role & Responsibilities*
* Own SEO strategy, roadmaps, and reporting across our client portfolio - including guiding new clients into our existing account infrastructure * Lead and build the SEO department: mentor internal team members, and vet, onboard, and manage contractors from our existing network (or source new ones as we scale) * Develop and maintain internal playbooks/SOPs so strategy and quality stay consistent as the team grows * Be the primary strategic and communication point of contact for clients - proactive updates, clear reporting, and confident handling of client meetings * Build and maintain *conversion-focused reporting systems* that clearly tie SEO work to leads and ROI, not just rankings and traffic * Lead our approach to *AEO/AI search* - how our clients show up in AI-generated answers (Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, AI Overviews, etc.) - and how we use AI tools internally to work smarter and faster * Conduct technical and content audits to identify growth opportunities and competitive advantages * Stay ahead of algorithm updates, AI search evolution, and emerging tools to keep our service offering sharp
*Qualifications*
* 5?10+ years of professional SEO experience, with a proven track record leading and growing client accounts * Experience managing multiple client accounts simultaneously * Direct client-facing experience - comfortable running meetings, handling questions in real time, and being the face of strategy for a client * Demonstrated experience building conversion/lead reporting systems - you must be able to walk us through real case studies and show how you've tied SEO work to actual business results, not just traffic or keyword rankings * Experience leading or building a team - internal staff, contractors, or both * Working knowledge of AI/LLM tools for both SEO workflow efficiency and AI search optimization (AEO/GEO) - you should be able to speak to how you've used AI in your own process, and how you're positioning clients to show up in AI-generated answers * Comfortable with our core toolset: Ahrefs, SEMrush, Google (Looker Studio, Search Console, Business Profile, GA4), Search Atlas - open to other tools you bring with you
*Ideal Skills & Traits For Job*
* *Strategic Vision* - can build roadmaps tied to real client business goals, not vanity metrics * *Leadership* - can build and run a team, not just execute individually * *Systems-Minded* - thinks in playbooks and repeata