SEO Strategy Manager

Given that this position requires English proficiency, we are only considering CV's provided in English. Thank you, and we look forward to your submission About Olly OllyReady to roll up your sleeves and help transform local marketing forever? At Olly Olly, we're blending technology and real-world expertise to empower small businesses across the U.S. like never before.We believe small businesses are the backbone of our economy. That's why we're on a mission to provide them with tools, strategies, and insights that help them rank higher, generate high-quality leads, get calls and reviews, and grow sustainably without the hassle.Our VisionWe aim to be the ultimate all-in-one platform for small-business growth where automation, AI, and human expertise work hand-in-hand to deliver consistent, measurable results.Why We Need YouGreat SEO strategists are rare. A leader who can multiply their impact across a team? Even rarer.As SEO Strategy Manager , you're not just managing people—you're building the strategic brain trust that keeps our Strategic and Elite clients ranking, converting, and renewing. You'll lead a team of SEO Strategists & Problem Solvers who handle our most complex accounts, toughest technical challenges, and highest-stakes client situations.This role is about elevating expertise, not enforcing checklists . You're coaching senior-level thinkers through difficult diagnostic problems, helping them see patterns they're missing, and teaching them to communicate strategy in ways that build client confidence. You're the person they come to when they're stuck on a ranking mystery or need a second opinion on a high-risk recommendation.Beyond team development, you're also building the strategic infrastructure : refining our approach to competitive analysis, documenting what actually works across different verticals, and translating field insights back to Product so our automation gets smarter.You understand that managing strategists is different from managing executors. These aren't people who need task lists—they need thought partnership, skill development, and someone who can challenge their thinking to make it sharper.If you're a world-class SEO strategist who's discovered you love teaching as much as doing, and you want to scale your impact beyond what you can personally deliver, this role is your next move.The Impact You'll HaveStrategic Leadership & Team DevelopmentLead, manage, and develop a team of 6-10 SEO Strategists across multiple time zonesConduct regular 1:1s focused on strategic problem-solving coaching—helping strategists level up their diagnostic skills and business thinkingReview complex strategies before client delivery, serving as the "does this logic hold up?" quality gateIdentify knowledge gaps and create learning programs that deepen team expertise (technical SEO, competitive intelligence, vertical-specific strategies)Build a culture where strategists challenge each other's thinking constructively and continuously raise the barHire and onboard senior SEO talent who can think independently and solve ambiguous problemsManage performance issues directly—coaching improvement or making tough calls when expertise isn't where it needs to beTechnical SEO implementation: Ensure your team correctly implements schema markup, meta tags, heading hierarchy, and other on-page SEO elements that affect ranking and visibilityStrategic Quality & Client ImpactOwn the quality of strategy output across Strategic/Elite accounts—ensuring recommendations are sound, achievable, and ROI-positiveServe as escalation point for the hardest SEO problems: algorithm volatility, technical mysteries, competitive impassesReview strategies for at-risk accounts and develop "save plans" that address root causes, not just symptomsPartner with Account Management to diagnose why Strategic/Elite clients aren't seeing results and architect solutionsMonitor portfolio performance metrics (rankings, traffic, conversions) and identify patterns that inform team approachMake the final call on strategic direction when team members disagree or client situations are high-stakesKnowledge Building & Process EvolutionDocument proven strategies and diagnostic frameworks that become team training resourcesIdentify what's working across different verticals (legal, medical, home services, etc.) and codify best practicesTranslate field insights to Product: "here's what our automation should recommend differently based on what we're learning"Refine the strategic brief format and QA process so Web Production Specialist get clearer, more actionable directionBuild case studies and post-mortems (wins and losses) that help the team learn fasterStay ahead of algorithm updates and industry shifts, then translate implications for your team's day-to-day workCross-Functional CollaborationPartner with Web Production Specialist to ensure strategic intent translates accurately into executionWork with Account Management to proactively address Strategic/Elite client concerns before they escalateCollaborate with Sales to ensure realistic expectation-setting and smooth strategic onboarding for premium clientsCommunicate team capacity, strategic priorities, and client risk factors to Director of ProductionYour leadership determines whether we can deliver genuinely strategic SEO at scale—not just more audits, but actual problem-solving that clients can't get elsewhere.What We Really Need From YouSEO Mastery5+ years of advanced SEO strategy experience where you owned complex, high-stakes client outcomesDeep expertise in technical SEO (site architecture, JavaScript rendering, Core Web Vitals, schema, log analysis)—you can troubleshoot at the code levelProven track record of diagnosing and solving non-obvious ranking problems that stump other strategistsStrong understanding of competitive intelligence: reverse-engineering what's actually working, not just what tools reportExperience across multiple verticals with understanding of how local SEO strategy differs by industryComfort with AI-augmented workflows (Claude, ChatGPT) but you know when human judgment should override AI recommendationsLeadership Experience2-3+ years managing SEO strategists, specialists, or senior analysts (ideally in agency or multi-client environments)Track record of developing people's strategic thinking abilities, not just their task completionExperience managing remote/distributed teams with different cultural backgrounds and communication stylesComfort with coaching through ambiguity—helping team members think through problems without giving them the answerStrategic & Analytical ThinkingSystems-level thinker: ability to see patterns across accounts and can abstract lessons for the broader teamStrong business acumen: you understand client LTV, churn risk, and how SEO strategy connects to revenue outcomesData Focused: can interpret Analytics, Search Console, and ranking data to spot stories others missAbility to simplify complexity: translate intricate technical issues into clear strategic narrativesCommunication & TeachingExceptional English communication (written and verbal) for strategy review, client escalations, and team coachingNatural teacher who enjoys developing expertise in others and celebrating their breakthroughsSkilled at constructive critique that improves thinking without demoralizing peopleComfortable presenting to executive leadership about strategic performance, team capabilities, and client riskCultural LeadershipYou lead by example—your own strategic thinking sets the standard you expect from your teamBalanced leadership style: high support + high challenge (not just cheerleading or criticism)Build psychological safety where strategists admit when they're stuck and ask for helpComfortable with evolving best practices—you update your own thinking when evidence changesWhat Would Be Big PlusesExperience managing teams in offshore/nearshore environments (Philippines, LatAm, Nigeria)Background in agency or consultative SEO where strategy quality directly impacted retentionTrack record of winning in highly competitive verticals (legal, medical, enterprise services)Familiarity with Python, SQL, or advanced data analysis for custom reporting and insight generationExperience building training curricula or certification programs for technical teamsUnderstanding of AI prompt engineering and how to coach teams in effective AI utilization for SEO researchPrevious role in a company transitioning from services to SaaS—you understand the unique challenges of systematizing expertiseWhat You'll Love About Working at Olly OllySalary: Competitive Salary (based on experience) + performance incentives tied to team results and client retentionFlexible work: 100% remote with core collaboration hours (8 AM–5 PM EST, Mon–Fri)Work-life balance: 15 vacation days + U.S. holidaysStrategic influence: You're not just reviewing work—you're shaping how Olly Olly approaches SEO strategy across hundreds of clientsCareer growth: Clear path to Director of SEO Strategy or Director as the team scalesIntellectual challenge: Every week brings genuinely difficult problems—algorithm chaos, technical mysteries, competitive pivots—you'll never be boredAutonomy: Real decision-making authority over strategic direction, team structure, and how your department operatesWhy Choose Us?Most SEO managers spend their time in status meetings and task tracking. This role is different.You'll work with genuinely talented strategists who want to get better at their craft. You'll solve problems that actually require expertise. And you'll build the strategic playbook that defines how we deliver premium SEO at scale.Diversity and Inclusion at Olly OllyAt Olly Olly, we celebrate differences in background, culture, abilities, and perspectives because diversity drives innovation and creativity. Your voice matters here—and your unique perspective helps us shape the future of small business growth.