Search & Performance Strategist

Reports to: Director, Digital

Direct Reports: Bench of search and web content contractors. 

We are seeking a highly analytical, proactive Search & Performance Strategist to drive organic visibility, search performance, and digital growth across our clients’ programs. You will operate at the intersection of traditional SEO, AI-powered search, website strategy, and conversion thinking to bring a connected, forward-looking view of how users find, evaluate, and act across the full search landscape.

You’ll be the person who spots the opportunity before the client does, flags the site issue before it becomes a problem, and brings a point of view on where search is heading before the industry has caught up. You’ll develop and lead search strategies that span traditional engines, AI-generated overviews, LLM-driven experiences, and on-site performance. You’ll partner cross-functionally with content, development, and client service teams to make those strategies land.

Responsibilities

Search Strategy & AI Search Optimization 

• Proactively develop and evolve comprehensive search strategies spanning traditional SEO (technical, on-page, content, off-page) and AI search — including Google AI Overviews, generative engine optimization (GEO), and LLM-driven search experiences.
• Bring new ideas, competitive intelligence, and emerging search trends to clients and internal teams without being asked — staying consistently ahead of the curve.
• Structure content recommendations for AI comprehension: clear definitions, Q&A formats, entity salience, factual accuracy, and strong topical authority signals.
• Track and report on brand mentions, citations, and visibility within AI-generated search results as a core performance indicator.
• Continuously monitor algorithm updates, LLM advancements, and the evolving search landscape — adapting strategies and communicating implications proactively.

Technical SEO & Website Fluency

• Conduct in-depth SEO audits covering crawlability, indexability, Core Web Vitals, site architecture, URL structure, redirect logic, and information architecture — with a deep understanding of how site decisions affect both search and user experience.
• Collaborate confidently with development teams on technical implementations while being mindful of potential budget vs value implications: schema markup, hreflang, canonicalization, page speed improvements, structured data, and more.
• Evaluate and advise on site architecture from a search-first lens — understanding how content hierarchy, internal linking, and navigation structure influence rankings and discoverability.
•  Use tools like SE Ranking and Google Search Console, alongside behavioral tools (e.g., Hotjar) to diagnose both search and on-site performance issues.
• Evaluate content’s suitability for LLM comprehension and recommend structural improvements to enhance AI search visibility.

Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO) — Strategic Guidance

• Think cross-functionally about how search and website experience connect — identifying where friction, misaligned intent, or poor page experience is costing conversions.
•  Identify CRO opportunities and develop prioritized hypotheses in collaboration with design and development teams, without necessarily owning test execution.
• Bridge the gap between SEO and CRO by ensuring pages optimized for traffic are equally optimized for conversions.
• Translate behavioral and analytics data into actionable recommendations for content structure, UX improvements, and landing page effectiveness.
• Act as a strategic bridge between search performance and on-site conversion — connecting the dots for client service and internal teams.

Content & Authority Strategy

• Partner with content teams to develop SEO-driven, LLM-optimized content briefs focused on clarity, search intent, entity coverage, and authority signals.
• Proactively identify content gaps, competitive opportunities, and topical authority plays — bringing recommendations before clients ask.
• Develop and guide link-building strategies that improve domain authority and support Fvisibility in both traditional and AI-driven search results.

Reporting, Analysis & AI-Assisted Workflows

• Track and report on KPIs, including organic traffic, keyword rankings, conversion rates, Core Web Vitals, and brand visibility in AI-generated outputs.
• Use GA4, Google Search Console, Agency Analytics, SE Ranking, Gemini, and other tools to surface trends and deliver insights clients can act on.
•  Leverage AI tools and workflows to accelerate research, content analysis, competitive audits, and reporting — and bring those efficiency gains to the team.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work fluidly with content, development, marketing operations, account management, and (where applicable) paid media teams to ensure search strategy is integrated into the broader marketing picture.
• Advise clients and internal stakeholders on best practices, risks, and opportunities across the full search and performance landscape — translating complexity into clear direction.

Qualifications

•  6+ years of hands-on experience in SEO strategy and execution, with a proven track record of driving organic traffic and conversion growth, preferably in an agency environment.
• Deep expertise across all SEO pillars: Technical SEO (site audits, crawl budget, Core Web Vitals, site architecture), On-Page, Content SEO, and Off-Page/Link Building.
• Strong website fluency: you understand how sites are built, how architecture decisions affect search, and how to work productively alongside development and design teams.
• Demonstrated experience optimizing for AI-driven search — including structuring content for LLM comprehension, entity optimization, and generative search visibility.
• Solid understanding of CRO principles — enough to identify conversion opportunities, brief the right stakeholders, and connect search intent to on-site user behavior — without necessarily owning test execution.
• Proficiency with core tools: Gemini, GA4, Google Search Console, SE Ranking, Agency Analytics, and behavioral/UX tools such as Hotjar or similar. 
• Experience with common CMS platforms (WordPress, HubSpot, Shopify) and strong working knowledge of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript as they relate to SEO and site performance.
• A proactive communication style — you bring ideas and flag risks before being asked, and you’re comfortable presenting complex strategies to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Ability to manage multiple client workstreams simultaneously in a lean, fast-paced agency environment.

Ready to Apply?

If you check the boxes and are ready to apply, email your resume with a portfolio or work samples to careers@meetclearedge.com. Include Search & Performance Strategist in the subject line. 

 Our 5-step interview process includes:

1. Intro chat with our SVP of Recruiting.
2. Deep dive with our Marketing Engagements Manager.
3. Interview with our Director, Digital. 
4. Final round with our Chief Operating Officer.
5. Reference checks.

About ClearEdge 

ClearEdge ignites talent and HR tech brands with bright ideas and the people who bring them to life. We are a marketing agency. A search firm. And a leadership development community. That’s right, we’re a three-in-one partner in growth, transforming the business of talent from storyboards and whiteboards to boardrooms. ClearEdge provides expert strategies and guidance so companies, marketing teams, and leaders can stand out and rise up. We are a nationwide team of industry-focused strategists, marketers, creators, doers, coaches, and recruiters. But more than that, we’re people who love helping you craft the story of your success. Explore the possibilities at meetclearedge.com.