Fractional Head of SEO / GEO Needed to Build Agency SEO Department & SOPs

We are a digital marketing agency looking for a senior-level SEO strategist with strong experience in traditional SEO, AI search optimization (AIO), and Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) to help us build a scalable SEO service and operating system. This is not primarily an execution role. We are looking for someone who can work with us for approximately 1 to 6 months to design the strategy, processes, reporting structure, SOPs, and workflows that our team can continue operating after the engagement ends. Our goal is to work with a highly experienced U.S.-based strategist who can help us build the right system first, rather than immediately hiring lower-cost SEO execution staff without a strong strategic framework. Once the system is established, documented, and validated, we want to be able to train other team members to execute much of the ongoing work while senior-level strategic decisions remain clearly defined. Where We Are Today We currently have the ability to: Run technical SEO audits and identify many website-level issues Use AI tools to assist with technical analysis and research Send technical recommendations to developers for implementation Manage websites, landing pages, content, paid media, and marketing technology for clients What we do not currently have is a comprehensive, repeatable SEO strategy and operating system. We need someone who can help us determine what should happen, why it should happen, how frequently it should happen, how it should be measured, and who should be responsible for each component. What We Need You to Build We want to create a complete SEO/AIO/GEO framework that can eventually be deployed across multiple client accounts. This may include: SEO Strategy Develop a repeatable framework for: Technical SEO On-page SEO Keyword and search-intent research Content strategy Content optimization Internal linking Local SEO where applicable Off-page SEO and authority building Link acquisition strategy Competitor analysis Site architecture Schema and structured data E-E-A-T / authority signals Conversion considerations related to organic traffic AI Search / AIO / GEO Strategy We also want a strategy specifically designed for the changing search environment. This should include how we improve client visibility within platforms and experiences such as: Google AI Overviews / AI Mode ChatGPT Perplexity Gemini Other generative and answer-engine search experiences We are particularly interested in understanding: What actually influences AI citations and brand mentions Entity and topical authority development Structured data and content architecture for AI retrieval Citation and source authority Brand/entity signals across the web Content formats that AI systems are more likely to reference How traditional SEO and GEO/AIO strategies should work together How GEO/AIO performance should realistically be measured We are not looking for someone simply using "GEO" as a new label for traditional SEO. We want someone who is actively studying and testing how generative search is evolving. Systems & SOP Development A major part of this engagement will be turning your expertise into a repeatable operational system. We want your help developing things such as: Initial client SEO audit process Client onboarding checklist 30/60/90-day SEO roadmap Monthly SEO workflow Quarterly SEO strategy process Keyword research SOPs Competitor research SOPs Technical SEO SOPs Content brief templates Content optimization processes Internal linking processes Link-building / digital PR processes GEO/AIO optimization processes Reporting dashboards and KPIs Quality-control checklists Recommended AI prompts and workflows Recommended SEO software stack Task assignment guidelines Escalation criteria for when senior SEO expertise is required The final system should be structured well enough that a competent SEO specialist can follow the process without needing to be a senior strategist. Delegation & Team Design We also want your input on how the SEO function should ultimately be staffed. For example: Which tasks require senior strategic expertise? Which tasks can be delegated? Which tasks can be AI-assisted? Which tasks can be handled by developers? Which tasks can be handled by content writers? What skills should we look for when hiring ongoing execution staff? What quality-control processes should be used? The objective is to separate strategy from execution and build an efficient delivery model without sacrificing quality. Initial Client Implementation Ideally, we would like to build and validate the system against one or more real client accounts. Instead of developing everything theoretically, we want to: Audit the account. Develop the strategy. Implement the strategy. Measure what happens. Improve the process. Document the final workflow. Train our team on how to operate it. Who We're Looking For You should have significant hands-on experience developing and managing SEO strategy. We're particularly interested in candidates who have experience with: Agency SEO Multi-client SEO management Enterprise or sophisticated local/service-business SEO Technical SEO Content strategy Search intent and topical authority Google Search Console GA4 Ahrefs and/or Semrush Screaming Frog Schema / structured data Link acquisition / digital PR Local SEO AI-assisted SEO workflows AI search visibility Generative Engine Optimization Google AI Overviews / AI Mode ChatGPT / Perplexity / Gemini search visibility Experience building SEO departments, agency processes, SOPs, or delivery systems is highly valuable. What We Are NOT Looking For Please do not apply if your primary approach to SEO is: "We'll publish X blog posts per month" Buying backlink packages Running an automated audit and sending us the report Generic keyword research Mass AI-generated content Outsourced link spam Reporting rankings without tying the work back to strategy We already have access to tools that can generate reports. We are hiring you for judgment, strategy, systems thinking, and experience. Engagement Structure Contract / consulting engagement Approximately 1–6 months U.S.-based candidates strongly preferred Potential for ongoing strategic consulting after the initial system is built The first phase will likely involve reviewing our current capabilities, evaluating several client accounts, and helping us determine the appropriate SEO service model. To Apply Please answer the following questions in your proposal. 1. Tell us about an SEO system, department, or service offering you have built from scratch or significantly redesigned. Do not just tell us about an SEO campaign. We specifically want to understand your experience building processes that other people could execute. 2. How has your SEO strategy changed because of Google AI Overviews, ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, and other generative search platforms? Be specific. 3. What do you believe most agencies misunderstand about GEO/AIO today? 4. If you were building an SEO department where junior or offshore specialists handled most execution, what responsibilities would you keep with the senior strategist? 5. What SEO tools would you consider essential for this type of operation and why? 6. Please provide one or two examples of SEO programs you have personally led and the measurable results. 7. What would you expect to accomplish during the first 30 days of an engagement like this? Please begin your proposal with the words "SEO SYSTEM" so we know you read the full description. We are planning to interview qualified candidates shortly after applications are reviewed.