SEO Account Director

SHREWSBURY, UK (Hybrid Working - 3 days in the office per week) 

A benchmarked salary between £49,250 - £54,250. Your salary level is determined by skills and experience within our progression framework.

COMPANY OVERVIEW

Croud is a global, full service digital marketing agency with a unique business model that helps businesses drive sustainable growth in the new world of marketing. Croud was recently named a Sunday Times Best Place to Work for the second year in a row, and was named Performance Marketing Employer of the Year by PMW.

At Croud, we unlock potential by elevating our people, clients, and communities within a rapidly advancing and complex economy. We operate as a unique scaled network of Intelligent, Creative Specialists, enabling us to deliver superior brand outcomes and unlock potential for our people, our clients and our communities.

Our culture is strategically driven and inspired by a shared long-term vision. It is collaborative and connected, with a focus on continuous learning and mutual support.

We are energised by future thinking, driving innovation to achieve better outcomes. We are instinctively generous, actively including and empowering our people. Above all, we are purpose-driven, committed to positively impacting our people, the planet, and our global communities.

ROLE OVERVIEW

We are looking for a highly intelligent, charismatic and creative-thinking individual who is passionate about digital marketing, in particular SEO/ GEO. The successful candidate will be keen to learn, want to strive for success and have a desire to question everything. An analytical mind-set coupled with a creative flair is a must for this role along with a proactive, can-do attitude to everything, willing to take a risk, challenge and push through change.

The overall purpose of this role is to support the Head of Organic, Strategy Director and a team of Senior Account Managers, Managers and Executives in implementing a best in class SEO/ GEO strategy for key clients. You will be responsible for the management and delivery of SEO scopes for our clients, using both internal resource and our network of specialists, in order to achieve client business objectives and targets.

You will be responsible for the build and effective implementation of client Account Development Plans (ADPs) in order to achieve client’s annual business objectives and targets as well as contributing to new business pitches and our innovation processes to ensure we always remain cutting edge in our craft. You will have excellent knowledge of all component parts of SEO (from technical, to content & PR to LLMs) and work with our specialist teams in these areas to lead on delivering a unified Organic Search strategy for clients.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Development and execution of client strategy to increase commercial performance, and provide great customer service to clients

• Work together with wider teams to devise and deliver Account Development Plans (ADPs) for each client to sustain and grow client performance

• Manage profitability of client accounts, ensuring resource is paced correctly to avoid under or over service

• Work with the Director of Organic Performance and our Strategy Directors to input into overall direction of department

• Pioneer direction of department across the team

• Develop, mentor and train team members, both remotely and in person

• Ensure client accounts are following SEO best practice, ensuring that hygiene factors are monitored and managed accordingly

• Play an active role in defining SEO best practice and scalable processes

• Stay up to date with new market tools and opportunities, which would support client strategy or Croud’s product offering, and share to the wider team

• Surprise and delight clients through innovation, knowledge share & insight; highlighting successes on a weekly basis (monthly for smaller clients)

• Support SEO Managers & Executives to adopt this approach to client management & performance

• Provide reporting and measurement of the effectiveness of campaigns, ensure client reports are delivered on time and accurately

• Share learnings with the wider Social, Display, PPC and Analytics teams to drive performance and efficiencies

• Provide direction and guidance to the SEO Executives and Managers to deliver excellence in required communication and client service standards for each client as well as generally

• Direct line manage a team of SEO Executives and Managers, managing monthly 1:1s and Quarterly Performance Reviews (QPRs), mentor new team members to become operational in their roles quickly and efficiently

• Advocate knowledge share, drive delivery of cross channel processes and sharing of tools. Lead by example and drive the team to share knowledge cross team and cross channel

• Innovate new technologies and ways of working, monitor market trends in order to support internal growth and efficiency strategies. Support and contribute to the development of the tech roadmap

• Oversee regular or ad hoc projects and delivery of projects within the team.

• Contribute to the new business process and oversee management of sales support delivery from the team as required / requested by the sales team.

• Identify areas of development within existing business to upsell digital services where relevant across your client portfolio

• Drive overall performance within the team to achieve margin and incremental revenue month on month

• Proactively identify workflow efficiencies to counter ineffective process within the team - new ways of working, continuous process improvement

• Proactively use all tools and technologies at your disposal, identify and share emerging tools and technologies that could contribute to the development of Croud’s SEO offering or workflows

• Contributing to and supporting Croud marketing activities including whitepapers, blog posts and speaking opportunities.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

• Currently operating at Account Director level (or equivalent), with proven experience leading accounts of similar scale and complexity

• Degree level education or relevant equivalent experience

• In-depth demonstrable experience in Digital Marketing

• In-depth demonstrable experience in SEO advertising

• Excellent communication, organisation, and presentation skills

• A mathematical and analytical mind

• Exceptional client service skills

• Highly organised and an ability to multitask

• Impeccable attention to detail

• Excellent Microsoft Office skills which must include Excel, Word and PowerPoint

• Proven track record of working to deadlines

• Proven time management skills

• Proven ability to negotiate

• The ability to autonomously identify opportunities, generate ideas and formulate strategies

• Leadership skills: managing direct reports, a motivator

• Demonstrable line management experience, mentoring & training

• Proven experience in client expectation management roles and situations, able to manage and direct client expectations

• Clear passion for digital marketing and SEO

COMPANY BENEFITS

Croud operates a hybrid working model with a minimum of 3 days a week based in our Shrewsbury office and the remaining days from home if you wish.

Croud offers a clear path to progression for all members of staff. We are committed to offering development opportunities alongside a support system of regular performance reviews. The opportunities are endless!

On completion of the three-month probation period, every employee is eligible for the benefits listed on our careers site which include:

• Sabbatical: Paid sabbatical at 7 years with an option to take it unpaid at 5 years

• 25 days holiday a year

• Discretionary annual performance based incentive

• Sale commission

• Recruitment referrals bonus

• Health & Wellbeing contribution

• 2 Recharge Days each holiday year

• Ride to Work scheme

• Railcard

• Season Ticket loan

• Home office screen

• Daily office perks: Free fruit, breakfast cereals, snacks, and tea & coffee

• Weekly treat: Enjoy a complimentary lunch on us every week

• Enhanced Primary and Secondary family leave as well as extended Parental Leave and Shared Family Leave

• Life insurance and income protection

• Medical Cash Plan

• Pension

• Curated 3rd party learning platform as well as access to Croud Campus (our bespoke learning and development platform)

• Peer to peer recognition scheme 'bonusly'

• Team off-sites/regular socials

• Year-round holiday parties

• Flexible working options

• Day to make a difference

Standard hours are from 9.00am to 5.30pm, there’s flexibility if agreed in advance with your line managers (it may also be necessary on occasions to work outside of these hours).

Croud is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the grounds of a person's gender, marital status, race, religion, colour, age, disability or sexual orientation. All candidates will be assessed based on merit, qualifications and their ability to perform the requirements of the role.

Please note: Internal candidates may be considered for this position as part of the selection process, in line with our commitment to transparent and fair recruitment.

OUR VALUES

At Croud, our vision centres around the idea of unlocking potential. We do this by elevating everyone in an inclusive and progressive culture, empowering individuals to deliver their best work. This means we build better brand outcomes, and unlock potential for our people, our clients and our communities.

We live and breathe five core values that foster a culture where everyone can thrive. Our commitment to elevating each other is fundamental to both our cultural and business success. The ideal candidate will excel in and demonstrate the following:

• In it together - our value on integration, collaboration and outcomes

• Eye on the future - our value on futurism, creativity and passion

• Generous in spirit - our value on people, development and inclusion

• Do what you say - our value on integrity and accountability

• Make a difference - our value on purpose and impact