SEO Manager

APPLY HERE: https://treecaremarketingsolutions.com/seo-manager/

POSITION SUMMARY

As TCMS's SEO Manager, you'll lead the SEO function for a fast-growing digital marketing agency serving the tree care industry — and you'll stay close to the work. This is a hands-on leadership role: about 60% of your time goes to strategy, team leadership, and quality assurance, and the other 40% is direct execution on a portfolio of your own client accounts.

You'll be our agency's SEO subject matter expert, partnering with the Marketing Strategist to shape client roadmaps and owning the performance of the SEO function across every account we serve. You'll personally manage a focused set of accounts — typically our most strategic, complex, or high-stakes clients — while setting the standard, the systems, and the bar for everyone else on the team.

If you love SEO too much to stop doing it, but you're ready to multiply your impact by building a team around you, this role is built for you.

CORE ACCOUNTABILITIES

This role is accountable for delivering results in five key areas:

1. SEO Strategy & Roadmap Ownership

Set the SEO direction for each client and ensure execution aligns with their business goals.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and own the SEO strategy for each client account, integrating local SEO, technical SEO, content recommendations, and emerging AEO/AI search opportunities.
• Translate client business goals into measurable SEO objectives and quarterly roadmaps.
• Partner with the Marketing Strategist to ensure SEO strategy aligns with broader marketing plans.
• Stay current with algorithm updates, AI search developments, and tree-care-industry-specific local search trends.

Success Metrics

• Documented, current SEO strategy in place for 100% of assigned clients.
• Quarterly roadmap reviews completed for all accounts.
• Measurable (YoY/MoM) improvement in local search visibility and organic lead volume across the client portfolio.

2. Direct Account Execution

Personally own and execute SEO work for a defined portfolio of accounts.

Key Responsibilities

• Carry a portfolio of approximately 5--10 client accounts directly (size varies by complexity); execute the same scope of work expected of the SEO Specialist for these accounts.
• Conduct local SEO and technical SEO audits, GBP optimizations, citation cleanup, on-page recommendations, and reporting for assigned accounts.
• Take the most complex, highest-value, or most-at-risk accounts as a priority.
• Use direct execution experience to inform team standards, SOPs, and training.

Success Metrics

• Assigned accounts hit their individual scorecard targets.
• Execution quality on direct accounts sets the bar for the rest of the team.

3. Team Leadership & Quality Assurance

Direct, develop, and QA the work of the SEO team to ensure consistent high-quality execution.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage the SEO Specialist and SEO Assistant: assign work, set priorities, review deliverables, and provide coaching and feedback.
• Establish and maintain QA standards for all SEO deliverables across the team.
• Identify skill gaps and capacity issues; communicate proactively with the Head of Operations about hiring or training needs.
• Document SOPs and refine processes as the team grows.
• Conduct regular 1:1s with direct reports.

Success Metrics

• 100% of team-executed client deliverables QA-reviewed before they go to client or CSM.
• Direct reports meeting or exceeding their individual scorecard targets.
• SOPs maintained and current; new SOPs created within two weeks of identifying a process gap.

4. Client-Facing Strategic Communication

Serve as the SEO subject matter expert in client conversations.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead SEO strategy calls for direct portfolio accounts; join calls for team-managed accounts as the SEO expert when needed.
• Translate SEO performance data into executive-ready narratives that connect SEO activity to leads and revenue.
• Support the Sales team with site analysis, SEO audits for prospects, and participation in sales calls.
• Handle escalations involving SEO performance, ranking issues, or client concerns.

Success Metrics

• Client retention for SEO-driven accounts at or above agency average.
• Sales support requests responded to within 1 business day.
• Monthly and quarterly reports delivered on time for 100% of accounts.

5. Performance Measurement & Reporting

Own the SEO function's data infrastructure and ensure reporting tells a clear story about value delivered.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and maintain the SEO scorecard.
• Oversee monthly and quarterly client reporting; review reports prepared by the team for accuracy.
• Build and maintain reporting dashboards (TCMS Analytics Dashboard, Looker Studio, GBP Insights).
• Conduct portfolio-level analysis to identify patterns, risks, and opportunities.

Success Metrics

• Portfolio-level performance dashboard live and reviewed weekly.
• Monthly reports delivered to all clients on schedule.
• At least one portfolio-wide insight surfaced per quarter that drives a strategic change.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education & Experience

• 5+ years of hands-on SEO experience with at least 2 years managing or mentoring SEO team members.
• Must be able to do the work, not just direct it.
• Agency experience strongly preferred.
• Tree care, home services, or other local-service-business industry experience is a significant plus.

Technical Skills

• Local SEO strategy and implementation: Advanced
• Google Business Profile management at scale (multi-location): Advanced
• Technical SEO fundamentals (site architecture, indexation, schema, Core Web Vitals): Advanced
• AEO / AI search optimization (Google AI Overviews, ChatGPT, Perplexity): Intermediate--Advanced
• Google Analytics (GA4): Advanced
• Google Search Console: Advanced
• Google Tag Manager: Intermediate
• Looker Studio / Data Studio: Intermediate
• Citation and review management tools (BrightLocal or equivalent): Advanced
• Third-party SEO tools (Ahrefs, SEMrush, Screaming Frog): Advanced
• Project management tools (Monday.com, Notion, Slack): Advanced
• Written and verbal English communication: Excellent
• Team management and people development: Intermediate--Advanced

Core Competencies

• Hands-On Capability: Genuinely able to execute the work — not someone who has only managed others doing it.
• Strategic Thinking: Sees the bigger picture; connects SEO tactics to client business outcomes.
• Leadership: Develops team members, sets clear expectations, gives direct and useful feedback.
• Time Management: Can balance execution work with leadership responsibilities without dropping either.
• Analytical Rigor: Uses evidence to drive decisions; not gut feel.
• Client-Facing Communication: Can present to business owners and executives with confidence.
• High Agency: Identifies broken processes and fixes them; proactive rather than reactive.
• Adaptability: Stays current with rapidly changing search landscape.
• Quality Standards: Will not let work go out the door that does not meet TCMS quality standards.

COMPENSATION

Salary range (US-Based Candidates): $65,000 -- $80,000 annually, commensurate with experience and demonstrated track record.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• This is a remote position with the following requirements:
• Fast and reliable wired internet connection (minimum 25 Mbps)
• Updated computer with a quality headset, microphone, and working webcam for video calls
• Quiet, private home office free from distractions
• Apple OS (iMac or MacBook) preferred
• Availability for client calls during US business hours

We are hiring globally, but can only offer W-2 status to candidates in the following US states:

• Arizona
• Maryland
• South Carolina
• Tennessee
• Florida
• Illinois

APPLY HERE: https://treecaremarketingsolutions.com/seo-manager/

Benefits

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance
• Work Location: Remote