SEO Strategist (Off-Page + Authority Building)

Description We're a San Francisco CPA and fractional CFO firm serving the construction industry — contractors, developers, and property managers. We just launched new websites and want to build real organic visibility. We handle content writing and on-page SEO in-house. We need an experienced off-page SEO strategist to own the higher-leverage work: monthly reporting, competitor intelligence, backlink opportunity research, white-hat outreach, and visibility in AI search (AI Overviews, ChatGPT, Perplexity). This is not a bulk-backlink role. No packages, no PBNs, no link farms. We want safe, durable authority building that won't get us penalized — and a partner who understands how search is changing. If you've only ever done classic link building and haven't touched AI search optimization, this isn't the right fit. Responsibilities • Monthly SEO reporting using Google Search Console, GA4, and rank tracking • Competitor backlink and content-gap analysis • Local SEO and Google Business Profile recommendations • Backlink prospecting and white-hat outreach (industry/trade angle) • Digital PR and expert-quote opportunities (HARO-style) • AI search visibility: tracking and improving presence in AI Overviews and answer engines (GEO) • Citation opportunities and cleanup • Content direction for our in-house writers (topical authority, E-E-A-T) • Monthly action plan with prioritized next steps Required experience 1. Off-page SEO and white-hat link building 2. Local SEO and Google Business Profile 3. Google Search Console + GA4 4. Semrush and/or Ahrefs 5. Demonstrated work on AI search / generative engine optimization (AI Overviews, GEO) — recent, not theoretical 6. Plus: experience with professional-services or local B2B firms; construction, or trade-adjacent niches a strong bonus