Associate Director, SEO/AEO

Job Description Read This Before ApplyingThis is a high-bar leadership role.We are not looking for a traditional SEO manager who focuses on rankings, audits, or reactive execution.We are looking for an AI-native operator who can own a portfolio like a business, drive revenue growth, and proactively lead clients through the next era of organic visibility including SEO, AEO, Reddit, and LLM-driven discovery.Your job is to grow and retain a $1M+ book of business while building systems that make the team faster, smarter, and more proactive.If your experience is primarily:Executing SEO tasks without tying them to revenueReacting to client requests instead of leading strategyManaging deliverables rather than owning outcomesAvoiding AI or only using it at a basic levelThis role is likely not the right fit.Strong candidates for this role:Have owned or led a portfolio of high-value accountsCan connect organic visibility to pipeline, revenue, and business outcomesAre early adopters of AI and actively use it to increase leverageOperate proactively and take full ownership of resultsOur portfolio includes:Single Grain AgencyEnterprise digital marketing services including:SEOPaid mediaCreativeCROAI-driven growth strategyOur clients include companies looking for serious, scalable growth, not basic marketing support.ClickFlowOur AI-powered content optimization platform. ClickFlow helps companies unlock hidden growth from their existing content by identifying high-impact SEO opportunities and improving rankings with AI insights.KarrotA LinkedIn advertising and landing page platform built specifically for B2B companies running demand generation programs. Karrot helps companies scale LinkedIn campaigns with better targeting and conversion infrastructure.We are actively evolving into a tech-enabled services (TES) company where software, automation, and services combine to create leverage.Our CEO Eric Siu hosts the Leveling Up podcast and co-hosts Marketing School with Neil Patel, reaching millions of marketers and founders every month. This brand ecosystem gives us reach most agencies don't have.What You'll DoAs Associate Director, SEO / AEO, you operate as a mini-GM of your portfolio.You are responsible for growth, retention, and strategic direction across 4–6 high-value accounts.Core responsibilities:Own and grow a $1M+ portfolio of strategic accountsDrive ≥20% portfolio growth through expansion and new business contributionIncrease Net Revenue Retention to ≥110%Act as the primary escalation point, reducing Head of SEO involvementBuild proactive account strategies with clear forward-looking roadmapsIdentify risks and opportunities early and act before issues ariseLead expansion initiatives across AEO, Reddit, and LLM visibilityPartner with sales on new business and revenue opportunitiesBuild systems and workflows that improve team efficiency by ~50% using AIElevate manager-level performance without becoming a bottleneckOutcomes You'll Be Responsible ForPrimary KPIGrow portfolio revenue from $1M to $1.2M+GuardrailsNet Revenue Retention ≥110%Client retention ≥95%Reduce Head of SEO firefighting to ≤10%Improve operational efficiency by ~50% through AI6-Month ExpectationsFully own 4–6 strategic accountsNo unforced churnAct as the primary escalation layer for clientsClose 2–3 revenue expansion or new business eventsEstablish proactive account management across all accountsDeliver clear roadmaps with no reactive surprisesImprove client confidence and trust12–18 Month ExpectationsGrow portfolio to $1.2M+Build a repeatable expansion engineSystematize how opportunities are identified and convertedStandardize AEO, Reddit, and LLM visibility monetizationDeliver ~50% efficiency gains across the teamImprove account margins and output per managerEliminate reactive behavior across accountsWhat We're Looking ForStrategic ThinkingYou go beyond surface-level SEO and identify real business problems. You connect organic visibility directly to revenue and growth.InfluenceYou build trust with senior stakeholders and expand accounts through insight, not just execution.OwnershipYou anticipate problems before they happen and take full accountability for outcomes.EQ & CommunicationYou create confidence with clients, handle pressure well, and communicate clearly and directly.Talent DevelopmentYou elevate the people around you and improve output without slowing things down.Domain ExpertiseYou are an AI-native organic visibility operator with deep experience across:SEOAEO (Answer Engine Optimization)Reddit and community-driven discoveryLLM visibility and AI searchYou actively use AI to:Increase speed and efficiencyImprove quality of outputDrive measurable business resultsApplySubmit your application at singlegrain.com/apply by completing our Beat Claude Challenge. Select the "seo-strategy-003" assessment.BenefitsMedical, dental and vision insurance after your first month of employment401k with 100% match up to 4% of your salary$50K life insurance policy, paid 100% by the company12 weeks of paid family leave, effective after the first year of employmentFlexible Unlimited Paid Time Off$100 utilities stipend paid out as an extra $50 per paycheck$60 UberEats credit each monthA Macbook, keyboard plus mouse$500 WFH Office Reimbursement