Organic Search Lead
The first integrated role accountable for other people's output across both disciplines. You are accountable for a portfolio of client accounts managed by your team, and set the direction of the people working on them. It is the first role where you are responsible for the output of others, so you must communicate process and output expectations clearly. You keep your own expertise in integrated organic search sharp while building it in the Executives you direct.
How this role differs
You move from being trusted on complex work yourself to being accountable for the output of Executives, while staying substantially hands-on.
The Lead runs the hand-offs between two teams and answers for their output. The Organic Search Strategist owns the integrated thinking and has to win agreement from two delivery teams who do not report to them.
Roles and responsibilities
- Build one plan across SEO and Digital PR for your accounts, sequenced so each side sets the other up.
- Direct Executives on both sides through delivery, and hold the hand-offs between them.
- Decide how budget and hours split between the two disciplines, and flag when the split stops working.
- Review output from both sides before it reaches the client, including the discipline you came from less recently.
- Step into hands-on SEO and Digital PR delivery where the plan needs it.
- Present one organic story to the client rather than two updates in the same meeting.
- Hold weekly one-to-ones with one or two Executives, setting clear objectives and giving feedback close to the work rather than saving it for a review.
- Write briefs both teams can act on without a follow-up conversation, with clear acceptance criteria and deadlines.
- Oversee day-to-day client communication (status updates, weekly calls, reporting and reactive queries), with Executives running it and you stepping in on anything sensitive.
- Track performance against agreed KPIs across your team's accounts, and raise risks with the account senior before they become client problems.
- Be accountable for a portfolio of a minimum of 3 client accounts (or £10k MRR) managed by your team, including scope and hours, and flag commercial risk early.
- Make sure the team members on your accounts follow the client quality SOPs for reporting, communication and daily work.
- Onboard new Executives onto accounts and into the agency process, and be their first point of escalation.
- Sit on interview panels for Executive hires and review candidate task submissions.
Entry requirements
Gateway skills needed at 8+ in the previous role to step into this one.
How this role is weighted
Immediate growth path
Operates across multiple accounts. Consistent, not occasional, performance at level 4 behaviours.
First step beyond own output. The Strategist owns the thinking. Same level, no drop in title or reward.