SEO & AI Search Solutions Practice Lead
Verndale
Full-time
On-site
Massachusetts, United States
🔍 SEO & Content Marketing
📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: SEO & AI Search Solutions Practice Lead
🔹 Company: Verndale
🔹 Location: Boston, Massachusetts, United States (Remote/Hybrid)
🔹 Job Type: Full-Time
🔹 Category: Marketing
🔹 Date Posted: April 21, 2025
🔹 Experience Level: Senior (10+ years of experience)
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
1. Strategic Leadership: Shape and evolve the SEO practice, integrating emerging trends like AEO and GEO.
2. Client Impact: Lead client engagements, drive organic search strategies, and deliver measurable results.
3. Sales & Business Development: Collaborate with BD and CS teams, contribute to strategic pitches, and participate in client conversations.
4. Mentoring & Enablement: Coach junior team members, lead internal workshops, and support hiring efforts.
5. AI Search Expertise: Leverage deep knowledge of AI-driven search behavior, LLMs, and relevant tools.
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strong understanding of both traditional SEO fundamentals and emerging AI search trends. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record in SEO strategy and execution, with a keen eye on the future of search.
📋 Key Responsibilities
🔹 Lead and Evolve the SEO Practice
- Build and own the integrated SEO offering across Technical SEO, Content Strategy, and AI-Search.
- Define scalable delivery frameworks, tools, and performance methodologies.
- Integrate emerging SEO trends into practical, results-driven offerings.
- Develop crawl-walk-run SEO maturity roadmaps for clients at varying levels of sophistication.
- Ensure quality, consistency, and strategic alignment across all client engagements.
🔹 Drive Client Impact
- Lead client engagements from discovery through execution, ensuring strategies align with marketing and business goals.
- Conduct and oversee keyword research, competitive analysis, audits, site architecture reviews, and performance reporting.
- Partner with content, UX, and development teams to optimize experiences that convert.
- Present findings, strategies, and progress directly to client stakeholders, including executive leadership.
🔹 Support Sales & Business Development
- Collaborate with Business Development and Client Services to shape SEO solutions for new opportunities.
- Contribute to strategic pitches, proposals, and scopes of work.
- Participate in discovery calls and early-stage client conversations to help define SEO needs and solution design.
- Support marketing thought leadership, including POVs, webinars, whitepapers, and speaking engagements.
🔹 Mentor, Scale, and Enable
- Coach and guide junior SEO specialists and cross-disciplinary team members.
- Lead enablement efforts and internal workshops to raise SEO and AI search fluency across the agency.
- Support hiring and team structure planning as the SEO capability grows.
- Maintain platform & industry certifications and advise on training paths for the broader team.
ASSUMPTION: Success in this role requires exceptional leadership, strategic thinking, and a strong ability to balance both tactical execution and high-level vision.
🎯 Required Qualifications
🔹 Education: Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Digital Strategy, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field preferred.
🔹 Experience:
- 8-10+ years of hands-on experience in SEO, with a track record of delivering measurable growth.
- 2+ years of Management experience of a team of 3+ SEOs.
- Experience in a consulting, agency, or enterprise digital marketing role, with client-facing responsibilities.
🔹 Required Skills:
- Deep knowledge of Technical SEO, content-driven SEO strategies, and site performance optimization.
- Familiarity with AI search behavior, LLMs, and tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, Bing Chat, and Google SGE.
- Fluency with enterprise-grade SEO platforms and analytics tools: Google Search Console, GA4, Looker Studio, SEMrush Enterprise, Conductor, Ahrefs, Screaming Frog, etc.
- Familiarity with DXP platforms such as Optimizely, Sitecore, Adobe, WebFlow and Commerce platforms such as Big Commerce, Shopify, etc.
- Strong experience in pre-sales environments: scoping, pitching, and presenting to senior stakeholders.
- Ability to analyze performance data and translate strategic insights into action.
- Collaborative mindset with excellent communication and storytelling skills.
- A growth-oriented perspective and curiosity about how search and technology will continue to evolve.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
🔹 Salary Range: $150,000 - $180,000 per year (based on industry standards for a Senior SEO role in Boston)
🔹 Benefits:
- Health, dental, vision, 401K, LTD, STD, Life Insurance, EAP, HRA, and more.
- Generous paid company holidays, vacation, and paid sick time.
- Remote work option available.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
🔹 Industry: IT Services and IT Consulting
🔹 Company Size: 201-500 employees
🔹 Founded: 1998
🔹 Company Description: Verndale is a digital experience agency dedicated to driving growth by helping businesses create meaningful human connections in an increasingly digital world. With offices in Boston, Montreal, Los Angeles, Quito, and hubs across the Americas, Verndale partners with marketing and technology leaders to deliver personalized web, mobile, and ecommerce solutions that elevate customer experiences.
🔹 Company Specialties:
- Analytics & business intelligence
- Behavior-based personalization
- Demand generation
- eCommerce strategy
- Managed services
- Mobile experiences
- Strategic planning
- Systems integration
- Usability & research
- Web content management & co-development
- Web design
- Sitecore
- Optimizely
- Data Strategy
- Digital Marketing
- User Experience
- Digital Experience
- Customer Experience
- and Salesforce
📊 Role Analysis
🔹 Career Level: Senior (10+ years of experience)
🔹 Reporting Structure: This role reports directly to the VP of Marketing.
🔹 Work Arrangement: Hybrid (2-3 days per week in the Boston office, with flexibility for remote work)
🔹 Growth Opportunities:
- Lead and grow the SEO practice as Verndale expands its marketing services offerings.
- Contribute to strategic decisions and help shape the future of the agency's SEO capabilities.
- Mentor and develop junior team members, fostering a culture of continuous learning and growth.
ASSUMPTION: Success in this role requires a strong ability to navigate a dynamic, growing organization and adapt to changing priorities and market demands.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
🔹 Office Type: Hybrid (Boston office with remote work flexibility)
🔹 Office Location(s): 266 Summer St, Floor 7, Boston, Massachusetts 02210, US
🔹 Geographic Context:
- Boston is a major tech hub with a thriving startup scene and established enterprise companies.
- The city offers a diverse range of neighborhoods, cultural attractions, and outdoor activities.
- The cost of living in Boston is higher than the national average, with median home prices around $750,000 and median rent around $2,500 for a one-bedroom apartment.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
🔍 Typical Process:
1. Phone or video screen with the Hiring Manager.
2. On-site or virtual interview with the SEO team and other stakeholders.
3. Final interview with the VP of Marketing.
🔍 Key Assessment Areas:
- SEO strategy and execution expertise.
- Ability to analyze data and derive actionable insights.
- Communication and presentation skills.
- Cultural fit and alignment with Verndale's values.
💡 Application Tips:
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight relevant SEO experience and achievements.
- Showcase your understanding of AI-driven search trends and how you've applied this knowledge in previous roles.
- Prepare for behavioral interview questions that focus on your problem-solving skills, leadership experience, and ability to work collaboratively in a team environment.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Google Search Console, GA4, Looker Studio, SEMrush Enterprise, Conductor, Ahrefs, Screaming Frog, etc.
- AI search tools: ChatGPT, Perplexity, Bing Chat, Google SGE, etc.
- DXP and commerce platforms: Optimizely, Sitecore, Adobe, WebFlow, Big Commerce, Shopify, etc.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
🔹 Company Values:
- Curiosity: We're driven by a genuine desire to learn and understand.
- Collaboration: We believe in the power of collective intelligence and teamwork.
- Integrity: We act with honesty, transparency, and fairness in all our interactions.
- Excellence: We strive for the highest standards in our work and continuously seek to improve.
🔹 Work Style:
- Verndale values a dynamic, agile work environment where team members are encouraged to take initiative and be proactive.
- The company fosters a culture of open communication, active listening, and continuous feedback.
- Verndale prioritizes work-life balance and offers flexible work arrangements to support employee well-being.
👨 Self-Assessment Questions:
1. How do your personal values align with Verndale's core values?
2. Describe a time when you had to adapt to a significant change in your work environment. How did you handle it, and what was the outcome?
3. Can you provide an example of a successful SEO strategy you've implemented, and how did you measure its impact?
🛑 Potential Challenges
1. Role-specific: Balancing strategic leadership with hands-on execution in a fast-paced, growing organization.
2. Company-specific: Navigating a dynamic work environment with evolving priorities and market demands.
3. Industry-specific: Staying ahead of AI-driven search trends and integrating emerging technologies into SEO strategies.
4. Location-specific: Adapting to the cost of living and competitive job market in the Boston area.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
1. SEO Manager vs. SEO & AI Search Solutions Practice Lead: While both roles focus on SEO strategy and execution, the Practice Lead role requires additional leadership, team management, and business development responsibilities. The Practice Lead role also emphasizes AI search expertise and staying ahead of emerging trends in the field.
2. AI Search Specialist vs. SEO & AI Search Solutions Practice Lead: The Practice Lead role builds on AI search expertise but expands to include broader SEO strategy, team management, and business development responsibilities. The AI Search Specialist role may focus more narrowly on AI-driven search trends and tools.
📝 Sample Projects
1. AI Search Integration: Develop and implement a comprehensive AI search strategy for a major ecommerce client, including LLM optimization, entity extraction, and conversational search.
2. Enterprise SEO Audit: Conduct a thorough SEO audit for a large-scale enterprise client, identifying technical SEO issues, content gaps, and opportunities for improved organic visibility.
3. AI Search Pilot: Design and execute a pilot project to test the impact of AI-driven search features on a client's website, measuring improvements in user engagement and conversions.
💡 Key Questions to Ask During Interview
1. How does Verndale support the professional development of its SEO team members?
2. Can you describe the SEO team's approach to staying current with emerging AI search trends and tools?
3. How does Verndale measure the success of its SEO strategies and campaigns?
4. What are the biggest challenges facing the SEO team currently, and how can this role help address them?
5. How does Verndale foster a culture of collaboration and knowledge-sharing within its SEO team?
📝 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
1. Submit your application through [this link](https://verndale.applytojob.com/apply/TmxFsltEKY/SEO-AI-Search-Solutions-Practice-Lead).
2. Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight relevant SEO experience and achievements.
3. Prepare for behavioral interview questions that focus on your problem-solving skills, leadership experience, and ability to work collaboratively in a team environment.
4. Follow up with the hiring manager after your interview to express your interest in the role and reiterate your qualifications.
5. If you're invited for a second interview, be prepared to discuss your approach to AI search trends, SEO strategy, and team management.
🔹 Job Title: SEO & AI Search Solutions Practice Lead
🔹 Company: Verndale
🔹 Location: Boston, Massachusetts, United States (Remote/Hybrid)
🔹 Job Type: Full-Time
🔹 Category: Marketing
🔹 Date Posted: April 21, 2025
🔹 Experience Level: Senior (10+ years of experience)
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
1. Strategic Leadership: Shape and evolve the SEO practice, integrating emerging trends like AEO and GEO.
2. Client Impact: Lead client engagements, drive organic search strategies, and deliver measurable results.
3. Sales & Business Development: Collaborate with BD and CS teams, contribute to strategic pitches, and participate in client conversations.
4. Mentoring & Enablement: Coach junior team members, lead internal workshops, and support hiring efforts.
5. AI Search Expertise: Leverage deep knowledge of AI-driven search behavior, LLMs, and relevant tools.
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strong understanding of both traditional SEO fundamentals and emerging AI search trends. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record in SEO strategy and execution, with a keen eye on the future of search.
📋 Key Responsibilities
🔹 Lead and Evolve the SEO Practice
- Build and own the integrated SEO offering across Technical SEO, Content Strategy, and AI-Search.
- Define scalable delivery frameworks, tools, and performance methodologies.
- Integrate emerging SEO trends into practical, results-driven offerings.
- Develop crawl-walk-run SEO maturity roadmaps for clients at varying levels of sophistication.
- Ensure quality, consistency, and strategic alignment across all client engagements.
🔹 Drive Client Impact
- Lead client engagements from discovery through execution, ensuring strategies align with marketing and business goals.
- Conduct and oversee keyword research, competitive analysis, audits, site architecture reviews, and performance reporting.
- Partner with content, UX, and development teams to optimize experiences that convert.
- Present findings, strategies, and progress directly to client stakeholders, including executive leadership.
🔹 Support Sales & Business Development
- Collaborate with Business Development and Client Services to shape SEO solutions for new opportunities.
- Contribute to strategic pitches, proposals, and scopes of work.
- Participate in discovery calls and early-stage client conversations to help define SEO needs and solution design.
- Support marketing thought leadership, including POVs, webinars, whitepapers, and speaking engagements.
🔹 Mentor, Scale, and Enable
- Coach and guide junior SEO specialists and cross-disciplinary team members.
- Lead enablement efforts and internal workshops to raise SEO and AI search fluency across the agency.
- Support hiring and team structure planning as the SEO capability grows.
- Maintain platform & industry certifications and advise on training paths for the broader team.
ASSUMPTION: Success in this role requires exceptional leadership, strategic thinking, and a strong ability to balance both tactical execution and high-level vision.
🎯 Required Qualifications
🔹 Education: Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Digital Strategy, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field preferred.
🔹 Experience:
- 8-10+ years of hands-on experience in SEO, with a track record of delivering measurable growth.
- 2+ years of Management experience of a team of 3+ SEOs.
- Experience in a consulting, agency, or enterprise digital marketing role, with client-facing responsibilities.
🔹 Required Skills:
- Deep knowledge of Technical SEO, content-driven SEO strategies, and site performance optimization.
- Familiarity with AI search behavior, LLMs, and tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, Bing Chat, and Google SGE.
- Fluency with enterprise-grade SEO platforms and analytics tools: Google Search Console, GA4, Looker Studio, SEMrush Enterprise, Conductor, Ahrefs, Screaming Frog, etc.
- Familiarity with DXP platforms such as Optimizely, Sitecore, Adobe, WebFlow and Commerce platforms such as Big Commerce, Shopify, etc.
- Strong experience in pre-sales environments: scoping, pitching, and presenting to senior stakeholders.
- Ability to analyze performance data and translate strategic insights into action.
- Collaborative mindset with excellent communication and storytelling skills.
- A growth-oriented perspective and curiosity about how search and technology will continue to evolve.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
🔹 Salary Range: $150,000 - $180,000 per year (based on industry standards for a Senior SEO role in Boston)
🔹 Benefits:
- Health, dental, vision, 401K, LTD, STD, Life Insurance, EAP, HRA, and more.
- Generous paid company holidays, vacation, and paid sick time.
- Remote work option available.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
🔹 Industry: IT Services and IT Consulting
🔹 Company Size: 201-500 employees
🔹 Founded: 1998
🔹 Company Description: Verndale is a digital experience agency dedicated to driving growth by helping businesses create meaningful human connections in an increasingly digital world. With offices in Boston, Montreal, Los Angeles, Quito, and hubs across the Americas, Verndale partners with marketing and technology leaders to deliver personalized web, mobile, and ecommerce solutions that elevate customer experiences.
🔹 Company Specialties:
- Analytics & business intelligence
- Behavior-based personalization
- Demand generation
- eCommerce strategy
- Managed services
- Mobile experiences
- Strategic planning
- Systems integration
- Usability & research
- Web content management & co-development
- Web design
- Sitecore
- Optimizely
- Data Strategy
- Digital Marketing
- User Experience
- Digital Experience
- Customer Experience
- and Salesforce
📊 Role Analysis
🔹 Career Level: Senior (10+ years of experience)
🔹 Reporting Structure: This role reports directly to the VP of Marketing.
🔹 Work Arrangement: Hybrid (2-3 days per week in the Boston office, with flexibility for remote work)
🔹 Growth Opportunities:
- Lead and grow the SEO practice as Verndale expands its marketing services offerings.
- Contribute to strategic decisions and help shape the future of the agency's SEO capabilities.
- Mentor and develop junior team members, fostering a culture of continuous learning and growth.
ASSUMPTION: Success in this role requires a strong ability to navigate a dynamic, growing organization and adapt to changing priorities and market demands.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
🔹 Office Type: Hybrid (Boston office with remote work flexibility)
🔹 Office Location(s): 266 Summer St, Floor 7, Boston, Massachusetts 02210, US
🔹 Geographic Context:
- Boston is a major tech hub with a thriving startup scene and established enterprise companies.
- The city offers a diverse range of neighborhoods, cultural attractions, and outdoor activities.
- The cost of living in Boston is higher than the national average, with median home prices around $750,000 and median rent around $2,500 for a one-bedroom apartment.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
🔍 Typical Process:
1. Phone or video screen with the Hiring Manager.
2. On-site or virtual interview with the SEO team and other stakeholders.
3. Final interview with the VP of Marketing.
🔍 Key Assessment Areas:
- SEO strategy and execution expertise.
- Ability to analyze data and derive actionable insights.
- Communication and presentation skills.
- Cultural fit and alignment with Verndale's values.
💡 Application Tips:
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight relevant SEO experience and achievements.
- Showcase your understanding of AI-driven search trends and how you've applied this knowledge in previous roles.
- Prepare for behavioral interview questions that focus on your problem-solving skills, leadership experience, and ability to work collaboratively in a team environment.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Google Search Console, GA4, Looker Studio, SEMrush Enterprise, Conductor, Ahrefs, Screaming Frog, etc.
- AI search tools: ChatGPT, Perplexity, Bing Chat, Google SGE, etc.
- DXP and commerce platforms: Optimizely, Sitecore, Adobe, WebFlow, Big Commerce, Shopify, etc.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
🔹 Company Values:
- Curiosity: We're driven by a genuine desire to learn and understand.
- Collaboration: We believe in the power of collective intelligence and teamwork.
- Integrity: We act with honesty, transparency, and fairness in all our interactions.
- Excellence: We strive for the highest standards in our work and continuously seek to improve.
🔹 Work Style:
- Verndale values a dynamic, agile work environment where team members are encouraged to take initiative and be proactive.
- The company fosters a culture of open communication, active listening, and continuous feedback.
- Verndale prioritizes work-life balance and offers flexible work arrangements to support employee well-being.
👨 Self-Assessment Questions:
1. How do your personal values align with Verndale's core values?
2. Describe a time when you had to adapt to a significant change in your work environment. How did you handle it, and what was the outcome?
3. Can you provide an example of a successful SEO strategy you've implemented, and how did you measure its impact?
🛑 Potential Challenges
1. Role-specific: Balancing strategic leadership with hands-on execution in a fast-paced, growing organization.
2. Company-specific: Navigating a dynamic work environment with evolving priorities and market demands.
3. Industry-specific: Staying ahead of AI-driven search trends and integrating emerging technologies into SEO strategies.
4. Location-specific: Adapting to the cost of living and competitive job market in the Boston area.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
1. SEO Manager vs. SEO & AI Search Solutions Practice Lead: While both roles focus on SEO strategy and execution, the Practice Lead role requires additional leadership, team management, and business development responsibilities. The Practice Lead role also emphasizes AI search expertise and staying ahead of emerging trends in the field.
2. AI Search Specialist vs. SEO & AI Search Solutions Practice Lead: The Practice Lead role builds on AI search expertise but expands to include broader SEO strategy, team management, and business development responsibilities. The AI Search Specialist role may focus more narrowly on AI-driven search trends and tools.
📝 Sample Projects
1. AI Search Integration: Develop and implement a comprehensive AI search strategy for a major ecommerce client, including LLM optimization, entity extraction, and conversational search.
2. Enterprise SEO Audit: Conduct a thorough SEO audit for a large-scale enterprise client, identifying technical SEO issues, content gaps, and opportunities for improved organic visibility.
3. AI Search Pilot: Design and execute a pilot project to test the impact of AI-driven search features on a client's website, measuring improvements in user engagement and conversions.
💡 Key Questions to Ask During Interview
1. How does Verndale support the professional development of its SEO team members?
2. Can you describe the SEO team's approach to staying current with emerging AI search trends and tools?
3. How does Verndale measure the success of its SEO strategies and campaigns?
4. What are the biggest challenges facing the SEO team currently, and how can this role help address them?
5. How does Verndale foster a culture of collaboration and knowledge-sharing within its SEO team?
📝 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
1. Submit your application through [this link](https://verndale.applytojob.com/apply/TmxFsltEKY/SEO-AI-Search-Solutions-Practice-Lead).
2. Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight relevant SEO experience and achievements.
3. Prepare for behavioral interview questions that focus on your problem-solving skills, leadership experience, and ability to work collaboratively in a team environment.
4. Follow up with the hiring manager after your interview to express your interest in the role and reiterate your qualifications.
5. If you're invited for a second interview, be prepared to discuss your approach to AI search trends, SEO strategy, and team management.