Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Manager

About Ovative Group:

Ovative Group is an independent, full-funnel media, measurement, and creative firm transforming how brands grow. We partner with leading names like American Eagle, Best Buy, Domino’s, The Home Depot, Polaris, and UnitedHealth Group to build smarter media and measurement programs that drive real, profitable growth.

We don’t just track performance—we redefine it. Powered by our proprietary intelligence platform, EMRge, and our holistic metric Enterprise Marketing Return (EMR), we help brands connect revenue, customer, and brand outcomes into one clear picture of success. Our approach to full-funnel strategy, buying, and measurement delivers results that matter—and it’s getting noticed. Our work has been recognized by Digiday, Google, USA Today, Inc. 5000, and Search Engine Land.

Responsibilities of a SEO Manager :

Performance-driven SEO program management & execution:

Possess deep, results-oriented SEO and AI subject matter expertise with a proven track record of driving organic performance in enterprise settings

Demonstrated understanding of how large language models (e.g., AI assistants and conversational search tools) discover, evaluate, and extract information from websites.

Be familiar with technical and content-related factors that influence visibility in large language models, including crawl access, site architecture, structured data, content clarity, and authority signals.

Consistently develop high-impact SEO strategies to grow our client’s organic search performance

• •Lead day-to-day management of client SEO programs across an enterprise client portfolio including:
• •Client program strategy development and roadmap management
• •Technical auditing and optimizations on large sites (>100k pages)
• •On-page optimization activities, such as keyword research, metadata development, internal linking, and more
• •Content strategy development and execution, such as content auditing, gap analysis, strategy execution, and more
• •Local program optimization of site, partners, and tools such as Yext and Google Business Profile
• •Automating reporting views within analytics platforms to scalably identify key drivers of performance through impactful weekly & monthly insights
• •Off-page optimization activities, such as link building, link reclamation, and outreach

Ability to work closely with client-side implementation teams (development, product/UX, content, etc) to define requirements and brainstorm solutions to a variety of SEO recommendations

Be effective in driving change – navigate ambiguity and large organizations with ease to maximize the impact of our work

Regular analysis and effective communication of program performance at granular levels to audiences ranging from day-to-day stakeholders up to C-suite

Client relationship management:

Own, manage, and grow the overall relationship of some of Ovative Group’s largest clients

• •Lead day-to-day management of client organic search programs including:
• •Clearly defining program objectives, tactics, and KPIs
• •Developing and delivering client communication
• •Owning project management, communicating status / progress against open initiatives
• •Translate evolving AI search behaviors into actionable guidance, roadmaps, and measurable outcomes for stakeholders

Effectively manage client relationship and establish trust and credibility

Effectively influence client stakeholders to evolve strategies and measurement approach to drive enterprise impact

Deliver Ovative’s unique client experience by making their Ovative interactions the best part of their day

Team leadership and employee development:

• •Lead, manage, and grow an exceptional team of high-performing direct reports
• •Provide meaningful, impactful feedback proactively to direct and indirect reports
• •Review deliverables, align on strategies, be a thought partner, and remove roadblocks
• •Conduct regular development check-ins to ensure goals are on-track, including quarterly 360-degree feedback sessions

Manage, train, and support recruitment efforts of new Ovative team members

Foster a culture of open communication and 360-degree feedback

Inspire your team and direct reports to reach their quarterly, annual, and long-term goals

Requirements of a SEO Manager

5+ years of experience directly responsible for enterprise-level SEO programs

Proven track record of success driving strong positive results through SEO programs

• •Proven excellence in the following:
• •Performance-based, direct-response SEO strategies
• •All analytics tools (Adobe analytics, Google Analytics 4 / Google Search Console, server log analysis, etc)
• •Visibility monitoring tools (STAT, Conductor/Brightedge, etc), Auditing tools (DeepCrawl, Screaming Frog, Botify, etc), Keyword research tools (Adwords, Ahrefs, SEMRush, etc, and other analysis tools
• •Deep understanding of critical crawling/indexing/rendering factors
• •Understanding of schema.org structured markup, page speed optimizations, and other scalable technical tactics
• •Local search optimization platforms (Yext, Rio, etc)
• •Experience optimizing websites to be eligible, accessible, and trusted sources for AI-generated answers, summaries, and recommendations.
• •Writing/reading code (HTML, JS, etc) a strong plus

Previous experience in enterprise SEO programs, performance marketing, retail, eCommerce, etc. preferred

Minimum 1 year of experience managing direct reports

Understanding of paid search platforms, strategies, and tactics a p lus

Pay Transparency:

At Ovative, we offer a transparent view into three core components of the total compensation package: Base Salary, Annual Bonus, and Benefits.

For our Manager positions, including the position of SEO Manager, our compensation range is from $90,000 to $132,000 on an annualized basis, which is inclusive of an annual bonus opportunity of 20% of base salary.

Working at Ovative Group:

We provide strong, competitive, holistic benefits that understand the importance of your life inside and out of work.

At Ovative, culture isn’t a buzzword—it’s the reason we’ve been named a Top Workplace for ten years running. We lead with trust, transparency, and a commitment to doing the hard work others avoid.

We offer flexibility. You'll work from our Minneapolis, Chicago, or New York office on set days each week, and an option to work remote on others.

Our open floor plan reflects our open communication and flat structure—where interns collaborate with VPs, analysts partner with senior leaders, and our CEO engages with every team member. Together, we create an environment where smart, driven people can do their best work and support one another in the process.

We’re equally committed to inclusion and belonging. Ovative fosters a workplace where everyone can participate and thrive—regardless of ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression or other protected class status. Our benefits and policies reflect that commitment, from inclusive medical leave coverage for same-sex spouses to equitable care and support for all families.

Benefits:

We strive to hire and retain the best talent by offering fair, competitive compensation, a meaningful bonus program, and excellent health coverage. When the company performs well, we all benefit.

Some tangible benefits and amenities we enjoy:

Access to all office spaces in MSP, NYC, and CHI

Frequent, paid travel to our Minneapolis headquarters for company events, team events, and in-person collaboration with teams

Generous paid vacation policy

401k match program

Top-notch health insurance options, inclusive of same sex partners

Family formation benefits including reimbursement options for fertility, pregnancy, and parenting needs

Monthly stipend for your mobile phone and data plan

Sabbatical program

Charitable giving via our time and a financial match program

Shenanigan’s Day

Additional information can be found at Ovative's