Location: 2 days in Bournemouth office / 3 days optional WFH
Role Overview
As SEO Manager / Lead, you will set the strategic direction for SEO, lead the SEO team, and ensure SEO is delivered consistently, confidently and commercially across both ongoing SEO retainers and new website builds.You will work closely with Production, Paid Media and Client Services to ensure SEO is integrated early into website discovery and workshops, supports strong launch performance, and transitions smoothly into post-launch retainer strategies where appropriate.
Key Responsibilities
SEO Strategy
- Own SEO strategy for our portfolio of retainer clients, ensuring each strategy is appropriate to the client’s size, ambition and commercial goals
- Set clear SEO priorities and roadmaps across ecommerce and lead generation, B2B and B2C
- Regularly review performance and evolve strategies based on data, market changes and algorithm updates
- Ensure SEO retainers deliver clear value and support long-term growth
Website discovery, workshops & launches
- Lead SEO input into website discovery and workshops for new website builds
- Shape site architecture, content structure and SEO foundations during the planning phase
- Ensure SEO best practice is considered throughout the design and build process, not retrofitted post-launch
- Own the SEO launch and post-launch approach, ensuring smooth handover into ongoing optimisation or retainer support
Team development
- Lead, mentor and develop the SEO team, including technical specialists and SEO executives
- Set clear standards for quality, delivery and ways of working
- Run regular training sessions and SEO team meetings to build confidence, consistency and shared learning
- Support progression, performance and accountability within the team
SEO delivery oversight & quality
- Define how SEO work is delivered across the agency, ensuring consistency and high standards across technical, on-page and content-led SEO
- Oversee technical SEO delivery including audits, migrations and site health, providing direction and escalation support where required
- Work closely with technical SEO specialists to guide decisions around performance, indexing, schema and tracking
- Ensure SEO implementation aligns with agreed strategy and client priorities
Data, tools & reporting
- Set expectations for how SEO tools and data are used across the team
- Ensure effective use of platforms such as Google Search Console, GA4, Looker Studio and third-party SEO tools
- Guide the evolution of SEO reporting to focus on insight, impact and decision-making rather than raw metrics
- Confidently interpret performance and communicate outcomes to clients and internal stakeholders
Tracking, data & measurement ownership
- Define how GA4, Google Search Console and supporting tools are used to inform SEO strategy and client decisions
- Ensure UTM standards are clearly defined and used correctly across website launches, campaigns and content
- Work with technical specialists and production teams to ensure tracking is implemented correctly, without personally owning day-to-day setup
- Maintain confidence around cookies, consent and attribution, ensuring SEO data remains reliable and compliant
- Act as the escalation point when data looks wrong, unclear or misleading, and guide teams toward the right solution
Client leadership & new business
- Act as the senior SEO voice in client conversations, reviews and workshops
- Build trusted relationships with clients through clear thinking and confident communication
- Support new business activity including SEO audits, recommendations and pitch input
- Identify opportunities to grow SEO accounts or transition website clients into ongoing SEO retainers
Innovation & AI
- Stay informed on changes in search, including AI-driven search developments
- Explore where AI and automation can improve SEO workflows, efficiency and insight
- Encourage a culture of curiosity, testing and continuous improvement within the SEO team
What we’re looking for
- Proven experience leading or owning SEO within an agency environment
- Strong understanding of SEO strategy across retainers and website projects
- Comfortable leading SEO sections of workshops, discovery sessions and strategic client conversations
- Experience managing and developing SEO team members
- Confident with SEO tools and data
What benefits can Upperdog offer you?
- Hybrid and flexible working – working in our Bournemouth office Tuesday and Wednesday, with optional WFH for remainder of the week
- Private healthcare – Including mental health support, therapies and diagnostic
- 30 days of annual leave from your first day, plus Bank Holidays
- Development and events contribution – towards any additional learning such as online courses, subscriptions or reading materials to help you expand your knowledge
- Gym membership / subsidised parking
- Referral fee – bonus referral for any new starter or client
- Monthly team lunches
- Quarterly team building – from the New Forest water park to crazy golf!
- Regular appraisals – which clear objectives, training and development plans
- Pension scheme
- Good office location in central Bournemouth with nearby shops and cafes, located next to the gardens and 5 minutes from the beach
- And more…
Salary: Dependent on the candidate
For more information and to ensure your details reach the correct person, please email careers@upperdog.co.uk with a copy of your CV and an introductory email. You will hear back within 14 days to confirm if we’d like to invite you to interview.
Please no recruitment agencies.
Job Type: Full-time
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Bournemouth BH2 5BD: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Experience:
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Bournemouth BH2 5BD
