SEO Manager at M+C Saatchi Group in Washington, Americas

ABOUT M&C SAATCHI WORLD SERVICES

M&C Saatchi World Services is a full-service marketing company renowned for using commercial advertising to solve the world’s toughest challenges. World Services is a specialty branch of M&C Saatchi Group, and we provide strategic communications, behavior change, and marketing support to Public Sector clients with special emphasis on the US Federal Government and State, Local, Tribal, & Territorial leaders.

US is seeking an experienced and analytically driven SEO Manager. This role leads search optimization strategies that improve content discoverability, audience reach, and digital engagement across communications platforms, leveraging audience insights, search trends, technical optimization, and performance analytics to ensure content and digital experiences effectively support mission objectives and stakeholder needs.

THE ROLE

M&C Saatchi World Services is seeking a detail-oriented and analytically minded SEO Manager to support digital engagement, audience growth, and communications performance across a diverse portfolio of federal programs. Working closely with communications, content, analytics, creative, and stakeholder engagement teams, you will lead search optimization initiatives that improve content discoverability, audience reach, and digital performance across websites, platforms, and digital experiences. You will play a key role in developing and implementing data-driven SEO strategies, leveraging audience insights, search trends, technical optimization, and performance analytics to ensure content effectively supports mission objectives and stakeholder needs.

The ideal candidate combines strong technical SEO expertise with a passion for audience engagement, digital innovation, and performance optimization. They are comfortable translating data into actionable recommendations, identifying opportunities to improve organic visibility and user experience, and collaborating across multidisciplinary teams to maximize the impact of digital communications. Experience supporting broader digital marketing, content distribution, or communications initiatives, including email and audience engagement activities, is beneficial.

This is a hybrid role; however, the ideal candidate will live in the Washington DC area or the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) region.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute enterprise SEO strategies that improve organic visibility, search rankings, and qualified traffic across websites and digital properties.
• Conduct comprehensive keyword research, search intent analysis, and competitive assessments to identify opportunities for content growth and improved search performance.
• Lead on-page SEO initiatives, including optimization of page titles, meta descriptions, headings, internal linking, URL structures, and content to improve search engine visibility.
• Partner with content, creative, UX, and communications teams to ensure digital content is optimized for search while maintaining quality, accessibility, and user experience.
• Monitor website performance using SEO and analytics tools to evaluate rankings, organic traffic, user engagement, and conversion metrics.
• Conduct technical SEO audits and work with developers to resolve crawlability, indexing, site speed, structured data, Core Web Vitals, and other technical SEO issues.
• Develop and implement Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) strategies that improve content visibility across AI-powered search experiences and generative search platforms by optimizing content structure, authority, semantic relevance, and machine-readable metadata.
• Develop and implement content optimization strategies by identifying keyword opportunities, content gaps, and metadata improvements that increase digital discoverability.
• Monitor search engine algorithm updates, SEO trends, and industry best practices, adapting optimization strategies as needed.
• Maintain SEO documentation, keyword libraries, optimization standards, metadata governance, redirects, and technical SEO recommendations.
• Collaborate with developers, content teams, and digital platform owners to implement SEO enhancements and troubleshoot technical issues affecting organic search performance.
• Develop SEO dashboards, performance reports, and actionable recommendations that demonstrate business impact and guide continuous optimization efforts.
• Support integrated digital marketing initiatives by ensuring SEO best practices are incorporated across websites, landing pages, content campaigns, and other digital experiences.

Key Attributes

• Experience developing and executing SEO strategies for enterprise websites, digital platforms, or large-scale content ecosystems.
• Strong understanding of technical SEO, on-page optimization, keyword research, content strategy, and organic search performance measurement.
• Experience working with content management systems (CMS), SEO platforms, website analytics tools, and digital publishing environments.
• Experience leveraging AI-enabled media planning, audience targeting, campaign optimization, and performance measurement technologies.
• Strong understanding of the evolving search landscape, including AI-powered search experiences, generative search, and emerging SEO best practices.
• Experience using SEO platforms such as Google Search Console, Google Analytics 4, SEMrush, Ahrefs, Moz, Screaming Frog, or similar tools.
• Knowledge of technical SEO concepts including crawlability, indexing, site architecture, Core Web Vitals, structured data, XML sitemaps, canonicalization, and redirect management.
• Strong attention to detail with a commitment to quality, accessibility, and consistency.
• Experience analyzing organic search performance and translating data into actionable optimization recommendations that improve visibility and user engagement.
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to collaborate effectively across communications, content, analytics, creative, and stakeholder engagement teams.
• Working knowledge of HTML, CSS, JavaScript considerations for SEO, and web accessibility standards is preferred.
• Experience with analytics tools, dashboard platforms, or reporting technologies is preferred.
• Experience supporting federal government, public affairs, digital communications, or mission-driven programs is preferred.

• Experience: 4-6 years.
• Location: Hybrid, able to commute regularly to Washington DC or New York office spaces.
• Language Requirements: Fluent written and spoken English required.
• Educational Requirements: BA/BS in Marketing, Communications, Digital Media, Journalism, Public Relations, Business, or a related field preferred.

Eligibility Requirements:
• U.S. Citizenship: Must be a United States Citizen (required by government contract).
• Clearance Eligibility: Must be able and willing to obtain a U.S. Government Secret or Top Secret security clearance immediately upon employment.
• Background Screening: Must be willing to submit to a rigorous federal background investigation, which includes an in-depth review of personal finances, criminal history, employment history, and drug use.

The salary range provided reflects the anticipated compensation for this role across our Washington, DC and New York locations. Actual starting salary will be determined based on geographic location, relevant experience, skills, and other job-related factors.

WHY YOU'LL LOVE IT HERE

• Work on impactful programs supporting federal and defense-related initiatives.
• Collaborate with high-performing cross-functional teams across communications, digital and analytics disciplines.
• Opportunity to shape strategic public engagement initiatives at enterprise scale.
• Flexible hybrid working environment.
• Exposure to complex, mission-driven stakeholder engagement challenges.
• Career development opportunities within a fast-growing global organization.

WHAT YOU GET

• We offer a competitive salary and a benefits package designed to support your health, family life, financial wellbeing, and growth.

Family & parental support
• 12 weeks’ full pay for Primary Carers and 6 weeks for Secondary Carers (after one year of service; return requirements apply for subsequent leave)
• Applies to birth, adoption, and surrogacy
• Up to 10 days’ paid fertility leave per year (5 per cycle)
• 2 days’ paid leave for new grandparents
• $2,500 annual interest-free parental loan
• $6,000 interest-free fertility treatment loan

Healthcare & wellbeing
• Choice of three medical plans (HSA at $0 cost; EPO 75% employer funded; PPO 65% employer funded)
• 70% employer-funded dental and vision coverage
• Generous paid time off, sick leave, and company holidays, including an office closure between Christmas & New Year's
• Gym membership reimbursement and/or Wellhub subscription
• 401(k) with 4% employer match
• 24/7 mental health support through Self Space
• Social events, happy hours, professional development trainings, etc.
• Work from anywhere for up to 2 weeks per year (subject to approval)

Culture & development
• $300 annual cultural stimulation allowance (accrued monthly; available after 90 days)
• Weekly Thursday happy hour
• Mentorship and Buddy programs