Lead SEO Strategist/ digital marketing agency

Location: Toronto, Canada
Work format: Hybrid
Employment: Full-time

About the Company

Our client is a fully integrated performance marketing agency combining SEO, Paid Media, Creative, Brand Strategy, Web Development, CRO, and Data Analytics.

The agency works with clients across North America and Europe and is continuing to grow its service offering and internal teams.

About the Role

Our client is looking for an experienced SEO leader who combines strong technical expertise with people management and client-facing skills.

You will lead an established team of nine full-time SEO specialists, shape SEO strategy across key accounts, and remain actively involved in complex client work. This is not a purely managerial position: the successful candidate will be comfortable reviewing strategy, solving technical challenges, guiding execution, and stepping into priority projects when needed.

The role is hybrid in North York, Toronto, with two to three office days per week preferred. Remote candidates may also be considered.

Key Responsibilities

Lead and Develop the SEO Team

• Manage, mentor, and develop a team of nine SEO specialists.

• Set clear priorities and maintain a consistently high standard of delivery.

• Review strategies, audits, recommendations, and client-facing materials.

• Delegate effectively while remaining available for guidance and escalation.

• Support hiring, onboarding, performance development, and process improvement.

Own SEO Strategy and Delivery

• Develop short-, medium-, and long-term SEO strategies for local, national, and international clients.

• Lead technical SEO, on-page optimization, content strategy, Local SEO, authority building, and link acquisition initiatives.

• Conduct and review keyword research, competitor analysis, technical audits, and opportunity assessments.

• Translate findings into practical roadmaps aligned with client objectives.

• Remain hands-on with strategic or technically complex accounts.

Lead Cross-Functional Execution

• Work closely with content, development, UX, analytics, paid media, creative, and CRO teams.

• Prioritize technical and content recommendations based on expected business impact.

• Help teams implement structured data, site architecture, internal linking, performance, and content improvements.

• Establish scalable workflows and quality standards across SEO projects.

Support Modern Search Strategies

• Help clients adapt to AI-powered search experiences and changing search behavior.

• Develop approaches for improving visibility across traditional search engines, AI Overviews, and emerging search platforms.

• Evaluate new SEO tools, research, and methods before introducing them into client strategies.

• Guide the team in using AI responsibly to improve research, analysis, content planning, and delivery.

Act as a Trusted Client Advisor

• Serve as the senior SEO consultant for key client accounts.

• Present strategies, performance results, insights, and recommendations to stakeholders.

• Explain complex SEO topics clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.

• Build trusted, long-term client relationships and proactively identify risks and growth opportunities.

• Support the sales team with audits, assessments, pitches, and proposals.

Required Experience

• At least five years of SEO experience within a digital marketing or performance marketing agency.

• At least one to two years of experience leading, managing, or formally mentoring an SEO team.

• Strong hands-on expertise across technical SEO, on-page SEO, content strategy, Local SEO, and authority building.

• Experience managing multiple client accounts and competing priorities.

• Proven experience presenting SEO strategy and performance directly to clients.

• Experience working cross-functionally with content teams and developers.

• Strong knowledge of Google Search Console, GA4, Ahrefs, Semrush, Screaming Frog, and comparable SEO platforms.

• Strong analytical, communication, and project-management skills.

Additional Expertise

The ideal candidate will also have experience with several of the following:

• Google Business Profile optimization and Local SEO programs.

• Structured data and schema implementation.

• Website architecture and internal linking.

• Server technologies, caching, environments, logging, and website performance.

• Digital PR, outreach, backlink analysis, and sustainable link acquisition.

• Enterprise or multi-location SEO.

• AI-powered search, AI Overviews, and emerging search platforms.

• PR outreach targeting North American markets.

• Supporting new-business pitches and SEO assessments.

What Makes Someone Successful in This Role

The successful candidate will:

• Lead by example and remain close to the work.

• Enjoy mentoring and developing SEO professionals.

• Balance technical depth with commercial thinking.

• Take ownership rather than wait for detailed direction.

• Communicate confidently with clients and senior stakeholders.

• Prioritize effectively and turn analysis into clear action.

• Build trust with both the team and clients.

• Stay current without chasing every new SEO trend.

What the Company Offers

• Competitive base salary and performance-based bonus.

• Flexible working arrangements, with hybrid work preferred and remote candidates considered.

• Medical and dental benefits.

• An established SEO team with real depth and room for further development.

• Close collaboration with specialists across Paid Media, Creative, Brand Strategy, Development, CRO, and Analytics.

• A direct opportunity to influence the agency’s SEO standards, processes, and future direction.

• Career growth into broader senior leadership as the company expands.