Director of SEO & AI Search (Remote - West Coast Only & PST Hours)

Search is being rewritten. Come lead the team doing it.The way people find brands is changing faster than it ever has, and most agencies are scrambling to keep up. GR0 isn't.We're one of the fastest-growing digital marketing agencies in the country, and we're hiring a Director of SEO & AI Search to own the evolution of our core service line. This is the role for someone who sees what's coming in search, has the chops to build for it, and wants to lead a team doing work that actually matters.You'll have a real seat at the table. You'll own outcomes, not just tasks. And you'll have the resources, the team, and the client portfolio to prove what's possible when deep SEO expertise meets genuine AI fluency.What this role actually is:You're the head of SEO at a high-growth agency working with some of the most ambitious D2C brands in e-commerce. Your job is to make the department perform, scale, and stay ahead.That means leading a talented team of SEO managers, driving retention and results across a diverse client portfolio, and being the person in the room who knows both the technical fundamentals and where the industry is going next.You'll also be a builder. New processes, new capabilities, new revenue streams. If something isn't working, you fix it. If there's an opportunity no one has spotted yet, you find it.What you'll own:The team. Hire great people. Coach them well. Build a culture where high standards and psychological safety coexist. Weekly 1:1s are coaching sessions, not check-ins.The clients. Senior voice on strategy calls, QBRs, and escalations. You know which accounts are at risk before they churn, and you have a plan ready before anyone asks.The work. Full-funnel SEO strategies built on data: technical audits, content roadmaps, backlinking, digital PR, and cross-platform approaches spanning Google, Bing, Amazon, and beyond.The business. Department P&L, capacity planning, tooling decisions, sales pitches. You're not just running a service line. You're running a business unit.The future. AI search is not a side project. You'll lead GR0's point of view on generative engine optimization and make sure the team is ahead of every platform shift, not reacting to it.Who we're looking for:You have 5+ years of hands-on SEO experience, including 2+ years managing people, with agency experience that's non-negotiable. You've managed managers. You've owned a P&L. You've recovered at-risk campaigns and helped close new business.But beyond the resume, you're the kind of leader who gets energy from building. You're curious about AI search, not intimidated by it. You know how to win over a C-suite client and how to give a junior employee feedback they'll actually use. You hold a high bar and people still want to work for you.Required:5+ years of hands-on SEO experience, 2+ years in people managementAgency experience (required, not preferred)Proven track record managing managers and leading high-performing teams, including offshoreDeep expertise across technical SEO, content, and off-site disciplinesFinancial acumen with P&L ownership experienceGenuine enthusiasm for AI's role in search and the future of discoveryStrong executive presence: comfortable on pitch calls, client calls, and the conference stagePreferred:Experience with D2C brands and performance marketing environmentsPrior success managing offshore talent across time zonesEntrepreneurial background or history of launching new initiatives inside an agency or startupWhat winning looks like here?Team members promoted from within. 1:1s never skipped. SOPs that the team actually uses. And a department that's recognized, inside the agency and outside it, as the standard for what SEO looks like in the age of AI.Hiring Process:Stage 1 — Recruiter Screen After submitting your application, our People & Culture team will review and reach out to selected candidates. During this 30-minute call, we'll get to know your career journey, professional motivators, and what excites you about GR0 — while giving you a full picture of who we are and what we're building.Stage 2 — Panel Interview You'll meet with members of our leadership team for a deeper dive into your background and experience. Expect to walk through your technical skills, people management approach, and how you think about strategy — and of course, share why you're excited about this opportunity at GR0.Stage 3 — Co-Founders Connect The final conversation is always our favorite. You'll get to connect directly with our CEO & Co-Founder, Kevin Miller, and our Chief Growth Officer & Co-Founder, Jon Zacharias. This is your chance to ask big questions, share your vision, and see if the feeling is mutual.Stage 4 — Offer If a #GR0mance has brewed — we'll extend a competitive offer and hope you'll join the team!What's in it for you?Shared Financial Success - GR0 believes strongly in equal pay for equal work, and transparency in compensation is one vehicle to achieve that. Annual compensation for this role is market compe