SEO Lead
The first SEO role accountable for other people's technical output, while still substantially hands-on. 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 SEO 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 applies the craft through Executives and makes sure the delivered output is as expected. The SEO Strategist holds the craft as the account's thinking, with no reporting line, so the recommendation has to carry itself.
Roles and responsibilities
- Own technical health across your accounts and prioritise fixes by likely impact.
- Direct Executives through technical and on-page delivery, and review it before it reaches a client.
- Teach the principle behind a fix, so the same mistake stops recurring in the team.
- Lead migrations and other high-risk work, with Executives delivering parts of it.
- Sequence SEO work across the people available, and flag when it will not fit.
- 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 the team 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.