Halstead Media is hiring: SEO Strategy Director in Pearl River

Lead Organic Strategy. Elevate Visibility. Drive Sustainable Growth. About the Role We’re hiring an innovative, strategic, and forward‑thinking SEO Strategy Director to lead search direction at Halstead Media Group. This role is built for someone who doesn’t just keep up with the changing search landscape—they anticipate it. You will own SEO strategy across our clients while leading experimentation with AI, new search tools, emerging SERP features, entity‑based optimization, and cross‑channel integration. You’ll collaborate with our part‑time Head of SEO (execution), copywriters, designers, PMs, and leadership to implement SEO strategies that drive both rankings and revenue. This is not an execution‑heavy role. It’s a strategy + innovation + direction role designed for someone who wants to push the boundaries of what organic search can do—especially in an era where AI‑driven search is rewriting the rules. This role is 99% remote, with optional annual travel for training or team planning. About Halstead Halstead Media Group helps landscape and outdoor living companies eliminate instability, fuel growth, and build sustainable marketing systems. As a StoryBrand Certified Agency, we combine clarity, empathy, and performance to deliver results that matter. Our clients trust us because we are strategic thinkers, fast movers, and innovators who act like co‑owners in their growth. What You’ll Do Strategy & Leadership Own SEO strategy across clients—annual, quarterly, and monthly roadmaps Lead our agency’s innovation efforts in AI‑driven search, entity SEO, and emerging tools Identify and evaluate new search technologies (AI Overviews, SGE, zero‑click features, local AI snippets, schema advancements) Prioritize SEO actions that drive the highest impact across content, local, UX, and performance Guide copywriters, designers, and developers to ensure SEO is embedded in every asset Develop clear frameworks, briefs, and blueprints for content, UX, and local search Partner closely with the Paid Media Director to unify Paid Media + SEO insights and opportunities Innovation, Testing & AI Responsibilities Stay ahead of Google’s AI Overviews, SGE, and evolving SERP changes Test new AI tools and workflows for content ideation, brief creation, and optimization Experiment with structured data, schema, and entity‑building strategies Build internal playbooks for AI‑influenced search behavior and ranking patterns Propose and lead controlled experiments to validate strategies (e.g., new page formats, schema types, content clusters) Monitor emerging tools (Surfer, Clearscope, Jasper, ChatGPT plugins, local SEO tools, semantic search tools) and evaluate whether to adopt them Bring a culture of experimentation and innovation to the SEO function Content & On-Page Direction Develop content strategies rooted in topical authority, entity relevance, and AI‑search visibility Provide direction for blogs, service pages, local pages, and landing pages Guide UX recommendations that improve both rankings and conversions Review on‑page structure, metadata, internal links, schema, and content hierarchy Local SEO & Visibility Shape local SEO strategy across Google Business Profiles, reviews, location pages, and local authority‑building Identify opportunities to expand regional visibility through clusters, micro‑pages, and hub‑and‑spoke frameworks Performance & Reporting Interpret rankings, traffic, visibility, and conversion data to create actionable insightsTrain PMs and team members on how to communicate SEO changes, patterns, and performance trends Lead SEO reporting frameworks that reflect how search is changing (AI visibility, entity signals, new ranking benchmarks) Cross‑Functional Collaboration Work with copywriting, design, PMs, and leadership to ensure SEO direction is understood and executed Partner with Paid Media Director for cross‑channel insights (shared keywords, conversion issues, landing page alignment, model attribution) Guide SEO involvement during onboarding, website builds, and redesigns You’ll Thrive in This Role If You Are a strategic thinker who loves experimentation, innovation, and constant evolution Have 5+ years in SEO and a passion for where AI is taking search Understand content, local, UX, and technical SEO holistically Communicate clearly and confidently across functions Know how to prioritize high‑impact actions vs. low‑value tasks Are proactive, curious, and energized by solving new problems Love building frameworks, playbooks, and processes others can follow Naturally incorporate StoryBrand clarity into content and recommendations Bonus Skills Experience with entity‑based SEO, schema, NLP tools, or semantic modeling Experience in landscaping, home services, B2B, or similar industries Familiarity with AI‑enhanced content tools (Surfer, Jasper, Clearscope, ChatGPT, etc.) Comfort evaluating UX and CRO principles Experience collaborating with developers on technical SEO Details & Perks Remote Equipment Reimbursement Monthly perks (snack, tea/coffee subscriptions) Flexible hours with a results‑first mindset Paid training & professional development PTO: 15 days (mix of vacation and sick time) to start + paid holidays 401(k) with match Health insurance (medical, dental, vision): 100% premium paid for medical Opt‑out medical perk paid in $, if you have your own insurance Base Pay Range $80,000.00/yr - $87,000.00/yr Seniority level Mid‑Senior level Employment type Part‑time Job function Business Development and Sales Industries Advertising Services #J-18808-Ljbffr