Associate Director, SEO

WHY DEPT?

We are a Growth Invention company built to help the world's most ambitious brands grow faster. Operating at the intersection of technology and marketing, we create what is next by pioneering ideas, acting fast, and moving further because standing still just is not in our DNA.

We are drawn to people who stay curious, move with intent, and never stop inventing. Our culture runs on three values: better together, relentlessly curious, and get sh*t done. It is how we work, how we grow, and how we make things that matter.

At DEPT, you will find the freedom to explore, the space to collaborate, and the trust to make a real impact for our clients, for each other, and for the world we are helping to build.

Overview

The Associate Director, SEO Strategy leads the charge in shaping and executing innovative, future-forward SEO programs for mid-market and enterprise clients, bridging traditional organic search with the emerging world of AI-driven discovery. With 6+ years of professional SEO experience, this role combines deep subject-matter expertise, strategic leadership, and people management. The Associate Director is responsible for driving account growth, delivering exceptional performance, and mentoring a team of strategists to execute against best-in-class organic frameworks.  In addition, this role will be expected to mentor and manage across varying levels.

This role calls for a leader who is passionate about the future of discoverability, able to bridge traditional SEO excellence with the emerging frontier of AIO (AI Optimization) / Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), all while maintaining a superior understanding of traditional SEO and the critical role it continues to play in performance and strategy.

Core Responsibilities
Client Management & Growth

• Serve as the senior strategic lead for organic search, driving growth and long-term partnership success.
• Lead executive-level presentations and quarterly business reviews (QBRs), sharing clear performance stories backed by data and actionable insights.
• Oversee client communication, expectation management, and escalation resolution with clarity and confidence.
• Identify and pursue upsell and cross-channel expansion opportunities based on performance insights and business evolution.
• Ensure all project plans, timelines, and reporting cadences are effectively managed by the account team.

Team Leadership & Mentorship

• Directly manage a small team of Account Managers and Associates, fostering growth through clear milestones, feedback, and coaching.
• Conduct regular 1:1s and reviews, providing both strategic guidance and performance development.
• Support hiring, onboarding, and skill-building within the SEO Strategy team.
• QA all deliverables produced by direct reports, ensuring strategic depth, data accuracy, and client-readiness.
• Build team knowledge in AI / GEO Search frameworks, audits, and emerging optimization methods to keep deliverables innovative and future-ready.

Execution & Delivery Excellence

• Oversee and contribute to core deliverables, including:
  • Technical site audits (responsive, dynamic, JS-rendered)
  • Keyword research, clustering, and persona mapping
  • Reporting and performance forecasting
  • Content gap analysis and optimization strategy
  • Website migration planning and auditing
  • AI Search visibility audits, entity, and schema optimization (for AIO / GEO readiness)
• Act as the final QA and accountability point for all client deliverables while maintaining the highest standards of quality and consistency.
• Develop frameworks that scale across clients (templates, dashboards, methodologies).

Required Skills & Experience

• 6+ years of professional SEO experience (agency experience strongly preferred).
• Proven track record of leading successful enterprise-level SEO strategies.
• Deep expertise in advanced technical SEO, content, and authority.
• Curiosity and working knowledge of AI Search / AIO / GEO principles.
• Experience mentoring and managing small teams or project pods.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills for executive audiences.
• Strong proficiency in tools such as Google Search Console, GA4, Screaming Frog, Semrush, Ahrefs, Looker Studio, BigQuery, Scrunch, Profound, Otterly, and AirOps.
• Strong understanding of data storytelling and performance forecasting.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate cross-functionally and build consensus.
• Excellent writing, communication, and organizational skills.

TAKE INTO ACCOUNT:

• You will have to communicate with your team members abroad, therefore fluency in English and excellent communication skills (both written and verbal) are a must for this role
• This opening requires you to be open to work approximately 1-2 times a week from one of our offices located in Villa Crespo (CABA) or Mar del Plata

WHAT DO WE OFFER?

• We enjoy spending time together, working closely with other local colleagues, and getting to know one another. Our Buenos Aires offices (Villa Crespo or Mar del Plata) are fully equipped with refreshments and great common spaces
• Premium healthcare through OSDE for the employee and their immediate family members
• Prepaid card with a monthly allowance for grocery purchases
• Monthly reimbursements for Wi-Fi/electricity expenses
• Monthly reimbursements for training/English classes
• 100% covered "Plan Total" membership at Sportclub
• A flexible vacation policy

WE SUPPORT YOU BEING YOU: 

DEPT is an equal opportunity employer (EOE). We believe our work is its best when our people feel safe and free to be themselves. We're committed to an inclusive and barrier-free recruitment and selection process and workplace, regardless of anyone's identity, background, beliefs, lifestyle or disabilities. So tell us about any accommodations you need. It's totally confidential and only used to make sure you feel fully supported at every step. 

We are a B Corp-certified company passionate about purpose-driven work.  Our hope is that you can feel good about the contributions DEPT is making to the world and we always have an open door for your ideas in making the world a better place. 

DEPT is a Growth Invention company built to help the world's most ambitious brands grow faster. Operating at the intersection of technology and marketing, our 4,000+ specialists deliver growth invention across Brand & Media, Experience, Commerce, CRM, and Technology & Data. We're 50|50 tech and marketing, partner-led, and first to move. Clients include Google, Lufthansa, Coach, eBay, and OpenAI.

Learn more about DEPT

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, & INCLUSION

At DEPT, we take pride in creating an inclusive workplace where everyone has an equal opportunity to thrive. We actively seek to recruit, develop, nurture, and retain talented individuals from diverse backgrounds, with varying skills and perspectives.

Not sure you meet all qualifications? Apply, and let us decide Research shows that women and members of underrepresented groups tend not to apply for jobs when they think they may not meet every requirement, when in fact they do. We believe in giving everyone a fair chance to shine. 

We also encourage you  to reach out to us and discuss any reasonable adjustments we can make to support you throughout the recruitment process and your time with us.

Want to know more about our dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion? Check out our efforts here.

#LI-Remote #LI-Hybrid #LI-Onsite

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