Sr. SEO Specialist (contract) Job at Saltwater in Portsmouth

Talent Acquisition Associate Director at True Independent Holdings (part of the MTP family of agencies) | Hiring for Coegi | RADaR | True Media US |…

Location: Portsmouth, NH (Hybrid - 2 days in office, 3 days remote)

Employment Type: Contract Hire: 3-6 months, with potential to transition to full-time

About the Role

We're looking for a seasoned Senior SEO Specialist who is passionate about search visibility—and knows that the game has changed. You're someone who can craft a content strategy that achieves results while also diving into the technical trenches when needed. You understand that SEO in 2026 isn't just about Google anymore; it's about showing up wherever your audience is searching. This role is perfect for someone who gets genuinely excited about search intent, can explain E‑E‑A‑T without putting people to sleep, and knows their way around both a content brief and a site migration checklist.

What You'll Be Doing

• Demonstrate a holistic understanding of on‑site and off‑site SEO strategies.
• Create comprehensive SEO strategies and determine associated activities that are tailored to client objectives.
• Conduct competitive analysis to identify opportunities and gaps in search performance.
• Collaborate with clients to establish goals and select clear KPIs for evaluating the success of SEO campaigns.
• Routine assessment of new approaches and tactics that could improve efficiency and/or performance of SEO campaigns.
• Troubleshoot ranking drops and algorithm updates with a methodical approach.

Content SEO

• Develop and execute custom content strategies based on the clients industry, audience, goals & KPIs.
• Conduct keyword research that goes beyond search volume—understanding user intent, SERP features, and competitive landscapes.
• Curate a keyword library and map keywords to the most relevant pages.
• Create content briefs that give writers everything they need to produce ranking content.
• Build and maintain content calendars aligned with business goals and search opportunities.
• Evaluate content for AI extraction quality (conciseness, structure, entities, attributes).
• Author metadata and maintain Meta Map documents as needed.
• Optimize copy for specific keywords in accordance with SEO best practices.
• Identify opportunities to improve readability of content and outline associated tactics.
• Identify content duplication and outline associated remediation.
• Identify content bloat, opportunities to consolidate pages, and outline associated tactics.
• Bonus Points: Ability to author short or long form content in alignment with custom strategies and SEO goals if needed.

Technical SEO

• Conduct technical audits and prioritize fixes that actually move the needle.
• Advise on site architecture, ensuring website content is organized logically with clear hierarchy.
• Support web builds and consolidations when SEO is a major consideration.
• Execute full migration QA, including pre‑launch and post‑launch validation of redirects, indexation, metadata, structured data, site architecture, and tracking.
• Manage international SEO requirements, including hreflang implementation, multi‑regional structures, and country‑specific search considerations.
• Monitor site health, update associated documentation and work with developers to remediate issues as needed.
• Implement minor site updates that don't require advanced development knowledge.
• Manage Google Search Console and monitor indexation/core web vitals.
• Optimize crawlability and indexation.
• Strategize, code, implement and validate schema markup across diverse business models and CMS platforms using JSON‑LD.
• Maintain robots.txt and XML sitemap.
• Advise on URL structure and ensure URLs are SEO‑friendly.
• Advise on redirect strategy and map redirects when needed.
• Canonicalization strategy and implementation of associated canonical tags meant to indicate the preferred version of a page in cases of duplicate content.
• Ensure sites are secured with SSL certificate and use HTTPS.
• Ensure website is mobile‑friendly and responsive.

Off‑Site SEO

• Administer and optimize Google Business Profiles and other listings for NAP, keywords inclusion, imagery and branding.
• Develop and execute link‑building strategies that focus on quality and relevance.
• Conduct comprehensive backlink audits to assess link quality, toxicity, relevance, and competitive positioning.
• Build relationships with publishers, editors, and industry partners.
• Monitor and manage online brand presence, reputation and authority.

Analytics & Reporting

• Track, analyze, and report on SEO performance using GA4, Search Console, and your favorite SEO tools.
• Utilize Google Tag Manager (GTM) to validate, troubleshoot, and enhance tracking setups that support SEO measurement frameworks.
• Translate data into actionable insights and strategic recommendations.
• Lead performance reporting presentations to client stakeholders.
• Set up proper tracking and measurement frameworks for SEO initiatives.
• Administer and update reporting dashboards and documents on various platforms like Google Looker Studio.

Proactive Collaboration and Teamwork

• Work closely with web developers, design, UX, content creators, paid search specialists, and other subject matter experts to align efforts across digital channels.
• Anticipate challenges and opportunities before they become urgent—proactively identify potential SEO issues or strategic pivots early enough to implement solutions with proper planning rather than reactive firefighting.
• Mentor other team members in SEO best practices and execution.
• Document processes and create internal SOPs that capture best practices, streamline workflows, and elevate team capabilities by making specialized knowledge accessible and repeatable across the organization.

We're Looking For

Must‑Haves:

• 5+ years of hands‑on SEO experience with proven results.
• Deep expertise in content SEO—from strategy through execution.
• Strong technical SEO foundation (you know what a robots.txt file does and why hreflang tags matter).
• Client Leadership & Account Ownership: Proven ability to independently own and manage client relationships, lead strategic planning sessions and serve as the primary strategic advisor on accounts.
• Analytical Mindset: Proficiency in tools like Google Analytics, Search Console, and SEO‑specific platforms to analyze performance and inform strategy.
• Problem‑Solving: Ability to troubleshoot complex SEO issues and provide actionable recommendations.
• Communication: Strong verbal and written communication skills to present strategies and reports to clients and internal teams. Comfort and experience in occasional client‑facing capacity.
• Project Management: Detail‑oriented with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously.
• Experience with SEO tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, Screaming Frog.
• Understanding of AI search optimization and how LLMs are changing search behavior.

Bonus Points:

• Experience with ecommerce SEO.
• Familiarity with Python or other scripting for SEO automation.
• Understanding of conversion rate optimization (CRO).
• Experience training or mentoring junior team members.
• You've successfully navigated a major algorithm update (or five).

Why Saltwater?

We're not going to promise ping pong tables that nobody actually uses. What we will offer is interesting client work, a team that genuinely collaborates, and the chance to stay on the cutting edge of a field that's evolving faster than ever. We invest in learning, celebrate wins, and when something doesn't work, we figure out why and do better next time.

Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at Saltwater by 2x

Seniority level: Mid‑Senior level

Employment type: Temporary

Job function: Advertising, Strategy/Planning, and Information Technology

Industries: Advertising Services