Manager, SEO
Starcom, Chicago, IL, United States
Company Description
Starcom is the world's first standalone media agency, a storied innovator that continues to lead the way for many of the world's best brands.
Starcom has long been the professional birthplace and proving ground for marketing leaders – CEOs, CMOs, sales leaders, and technology pioneers – and we continue to drive the industry with peerless talent and relentless innovation.
From the start, we've known that achieving growth for our clients requires understanding and connecting with real people where they live and work, in ways they value.
In an AI era, we remain "Guided By Humanity," a phrase that describes our foundational belief that human expertise must remain in the driver's seat, supported by the best processes and technology.
With our proprietary capabilities and Publicis Media's industry-leading resources and clout, we create ideas that move people and drive transformative business outcomes for brands.
Overview The SEO Manager leads the execution and optimization of SEO programs across client accounts, partnering closely with SEO leadership to translate strategy into action. This role balances hands‑on SEO oversight, client relationship management, and people leadership, while ensuring best practices are applied across technical, content, and performance initiatives.
As a key point of contact for clients, the SEO Manager drives performance through data‑driven insights, mentors and develops SEO Analysts, and collaborates cross‑functionally to ensure SEO efforts align with broader media and marketing objectives.
Responsibilities
Lead the execution and optimization of SEO programs in support of client business objectives
Oversee on‑page and off‑site SEO initiatives, including metadata, keyword strategy, internal linking, content recommendations, and link development, incorporating evolving search behaviors such as AI‑generated results
Conduct and review technical SEO audits, translating findings into clear, actionable recommendations
Monitor organic search performance across rankings, traffic, and conversions, using data to inform ongoing optimization
Develop insights and recommendations to improve SEO performance across both traditional rankings and AI‑driven search experiences, and guide future strategy
Leverage enterprise SEO and analytics platforms, including AI‑assisted features (e.g., forecasting, opportunity identification, reporting efficiencies), to support scalable analysis and inform optimization strategies across traditional and AI‑driven search environments
Identify and prioritize opportunities to optimize content for visibility in AI‑driven search experiences
Serve as the primary day‑to‑day SEO contact for assigned clients, presenting performance updates and recommendations across both traditional SEO and evolving AI‑driven search landscapes
Collaborate with cross‑functional teams and external partners to ensure integrated execution
Manage, mentor, and develop SEO Analysts, ensuring quality, consistency, and growth across deliverables
Contribute to new business initiatives and support process improvements across the SEO team
Qualifications
3+ years of SEO‑specific experience, preferably within a media or digital agency environment
Hands‑on experience managing on‑page and off‑site SEO initiatives
Strong working knowledge of enterprise SEO platforms (e.g., BrightEdge, Conductor, Moz)
Experience with web analytics tools such as Google Analytics or Adobe Analytics
Understanding of technical SEO fundamentals, including site architecture, crawling, indexing, and redirects
Familiarity with content management systems and SEO‑friendly content development
Strong understanding of how SEO integrates with paid search and broader digital media strategies
Understanding of how emerging AI‑driven and generative search experiences are impacting SEO, with the ability to incorporate these considerations into recommendations
Proven people management or mentorship experience
Excellent written, verbal, and client‑facing communication skills
Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities
Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint
Bachelors degree preferred
Additional Information Starcom is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our employment decisions are made without regard to actual or perceived race, color, ethnicity, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, disability, medical condition as defined by applicable state law, genetic information, marital status, military service and veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws and ordinances.
Benefits
Paid Family Care for parents and caregivers for 12 weeks or more
Monetary assistance and support for Adoption, Surrogacy and Fertility
Monetary assistance and support for pet adoption
Employee Assistance Programs and Health/Wellness/Comfort reimbursements to help you invest in your future and work/life balance
Tuition Assistance
Paid time off that includes Flexible Time off Vacation, Annual Sick Days, Volunteer Days, Holiday and Identity days, and more
Matching Gifts programs
Flexible working arrangements
'Work Your World’ Program encouraging employees to work from anywhere Publicis Groupe has an office for up to 6 weeks a year (based upon eligibility)
Business Resource Groups that support multiple affinities and alliances
The benefits offerings listed are available to U.S. based employees, are reviewed on an annual basis, and are governed by the terms of the applicable plan documents.
Compensation Compensation Range: $75,050 - $107,835 annually. This is the pay range the Company believes it will pay for this position at the time of this posting. Consistent with applicable law, compensation will be determined based on the skills, qualifications, and experience of the applicant along with the requirements of the position, and the Company reserves the right to modify this pay range at any time. Temporary roles may be eligible to participate in our freelancer/temporary employee medical plan through a third‑party benefits administration system once certain criteria have been met. Temporary roles may also qualify for participation in our 401(k) plan after eligibility criteria have been met. For regular roles, the Company will offer medical coverage, dental, vision, disability, 401k, and paid time off. The Company anticipates the application deadline for this job posting will be 4/30/2026.
If you require accommodation or assistance with the application or onboarding process specifically, please contact USMSTACompliance@publicis.com.
All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Starcom has long been the professional birthplace and proving ground for marketing leaders – CEOs, CMOs, sales leaders, and technology pioneers – and we continue to drive the industry with peerless talent and relentless innovation.
From the start, we've known that achieving growth for our clients requires understanding and connecting with real people where they live and work, in ways they value.
In an AI era, we remain "Guided By Humanity," a phrase that describes our foundational belief that human expertise must remain in the driver's seat, supported by the best processes and technology.
With our proprietary capabilities and Publicis Media's industry-leading resources and clout, we create ideas that move people and drive transformative business outcomes for brands.
Overview The SEO Manager leads the execution and optimization of SEO programs across client accounts, partnering closely with SEO leadership to translate strategy into action. This role balances hands‑on SEO oversight, client relationship management, and people leadership, while ensuring best practices are applied across technical, content, and performance initiatives.
As a key point of contact for clients, the SEO Manager drives performance through data‑driven insights, mentors and develops SEO Analysts, and collaborates cross‑functionally to ensure SEO efforts align with broader media and marketing objectives.
Responsibilities
Lead the execution and optimization of SEO programs in support of client business objectives
Oversee on‑page and off‑site SEO initiatives, including metadata, keyword strategy, internal linking, content recommendations, and link development, incorporating evolving search behaviors such as AI‑generated results
Conduct and review technical SEO audits, translating findings into clear, actionable recommendations
Monitor organic search performance across rankings, traffic, and conversions, using data to inform ongoing optimization
Develop insights and recommendations to improve SEO performance across both traditional rankings and AI‑driven search experiences, and guide future strategy
Leverage enterprise SEO and analytics platforms, including AI‑assisted features (e.g., forecasting, opportunity identification, reporting efficiencies), to support scalable analysis and inform optimization strategies across traditional and AI‑driven search environments
Identify and prioritize opportunities to optimize content for visibility in AI‑driven search experiences
Serve as the primary day‑to‑day SEO contact for assigned clients, presenting performance updates and recommendations across both traditional SEO and evolving AI‑driven search landscapes
Collaborate with cross‑functional teams and external partners to ensure integrated execution
Manage, mentor, and develop SEO Analysts, ensuring quality, consistency, and growth across deliverables
Contribute to new business initiatives and support process improvements across the SEO team
Qualifications
3+ years of SEO‑specific experience, preferably within a media or digital agency environment
Hands‑on experience managing on‑page and off‑site SEO initiatives
Strong working knowledge of enterprise SEO platforms (e.g., BrightEdge, Conductor, Moz)
Experience with web analytics tools such as Google Analytics or Adobe Analytics
Understanding of technical SEO fundamentals, including site architecture, crawling, indexing, and redirects
Familiarity with content management systems and SEO‑friendly content development
Strong understanding of how SEO integrates with paid search and broader digital media strategies
Understanding of how emerging AI‑driven and generative search experiences are impacting SEO, with the ability to incorporate these considerations into recommendations
Proven people management or mentorship experience
Excellent written, verbal, and client‑facing communication skills
Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities
Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint
Bachelors degree preferred
Additional Information Starcom is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our employment decisions are made without regard to actual or perceived race, color, ethnicity, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, disability, medical condition as defined by applicable state law, genetic information, marital status, military service and veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws and ordinances.
Benefits
Paid Family Care for parents and caregivers for 12 weeks or more
Monetary assistance and support for Adoption, Surrogacy and Fertility
Monetary assistance and support for pet adoption
Employee Assistance Programs and Health/Wellness/Comfort reimbursements to help you invest in your future and work/life balance
Tuition Assistance
Paid time off that includes Flexible Time off Vacation, Annual Sick Days, Volunteer Days, Holiday and Identity days, and more
Matching Gifts programs
Flexible working arrangements
'Work Your World’ Program encouraging employees to work from anywhere Publicis Groupe has an office for up to 6 weeks a year (based upon eligibility)
Business Resource Groups that support multiple affinities and alliances
The benefits offerings listed are available to U.S. based employees, are reviewed on an annual basis, and are governed by the terms of the applicable plan documents.
Compensation Compensation Range: $75,050 - $107,835 annually. This is the pay range the Company believes it will pay for this position at the time of this posting. Consistent with applicable law, compensation will be determined based on the skills, qualifications, and experience of the applicant along with the requirements of the position, and the Company reserves the right to modify this pay range at any time. Temporary roles may be eligible to participate in our freelancer/temporary employee medical plan through a third‑party benefits administration system once certain criteria have been met. Temporary roles may also qualify for participation in our 401(k) plan after eligibility criteria have been met. For regular roles, the Company will offer medical coverage, dental, vision, disability, 401k, and paid time off. The Company anticipates the application deadline for this job posting will be 4/30/2026.
If you require accommodation or assistance with the application or onboarding process specifically, please contact USMSTACompliance@publicis.com.
All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.
#J-18808-Ljbffr