Saltwater · 2 weeks ago
Sr. SEO Specialist (contract)
Portsmouth, NH
Full-time, Contract
Hybrid
Senior Level
5+ years expSaltwater is looking for a seasoned Senior SEO Specialist who is passionate about search visibility. The role involves crafting content strategies, conducting technical audits, and collaborating with clients to enhance their SEO performance.
AdvertisingMarketing
Hiring Manager
Rachel Reid, M.S., SHRM-CP
Responsibilities
Demonstrate a holistic understanding of on-site and off-site SEO strategies
Create comprehensive SEO strategies and determine associated activities that are tailored to client objectives
Conduct competitive analysis to identify opportunities and gaps in search performance
Collaborate with clients to establish goals and select clear KPIs for evaluating the success of SEO campaigns
Routine assessment of new approaches and tactics that could improve efficiency and/or performance of SEO campaigns
Troubleshoot ranking drops and algorithm updates with a methodical approach
Develop and execute custom content strategies based on the clients industry, audience, goals & KPIs
Conduct keyword research that goes beyond search volume—understanding user intent, SERP features, and competitive landscapes
Curate a keyword library and map keywords to the most relevant pages
Create content briefs that give writers everything they need to produce ranking content
Build and maintain content calendars aligned with business goals and search opportunities
Evaluate content for AI extraction quality (conciseness, structure, entities, attributes)
Author metadata and maintain Meta Map documents as needed
Optimize copy for specific keywords in accordance with SEO best practices
Identify opportunities to improve readability of content and outline associated tactics
Identify content duplication and outline associated remediation
Identify content bloat, opportunities to consolidate pages, and outline associated tactics
Conduct technical audits and prioritize fixes that actually move the needle
Advise on site architecture, ensuring website content is organized logically with clear hierarchy
Support web builds and consolidations when SEO is a major consideration
Execute full migration QA, including pre-launch and post-launch validation of redirects, indexation, metadata, structured data, site architecture, and tracking
Manage international SEO requirements, including hreflang implementation, multi-regional structures, and country-specific search considerations
Monitor site health, update associated documentation and work with developers to remediate issues as needed
Implement minor site updates that don't require advanced development knowledge
Manage Google Search Console and monitor indexation/core web vitals
Optimize crawlability and indexation
Strategize, code, implement and validate schema markup across diverse business models and CMS platforms using JSON-LD
Maintain robots.txt and XML sitemap
Advise on URL structure and ensure URLs are SEO-friendly
Advise on redirect strategy and map redirects when needed
Canonicalization strategy and implementation of associated canonical tags meant to indicate the preferred version of a page in cases of duplicate content
Ensure sites are secured with SSL certificate and use HTTPS
Ensure website is mobile-friendly and responsive
Administer and optimize Google Business Profiles and other listings for NAP, keywords inclusion, imagery and branding
Develop and execute link-building strategies that focus on quality and relevance
Conduct comprehensive backlink audits to assess link quality, toxicity, relevance, and competitive positioning
Build relationships with publishers, editors, and industry partners
Monitor and manage online brand presence, reputation and authority
Track, analyze, and report on SEO performance using GA4, Search Console, and your favorite SEO tools
Utilize Google Tag Manager (GTM) to validate, troubleshoot, and enhance tracking setups that support SEO measurement frameworks
Translate data into actionable insights and strategic recommendations
Lead performance reporting presentations to client stakeholders
Set up proper tracking and measurement frameworks for SEO initiatives
Administer and update reporting dashboards and documents on various platforms like Google Looker Studio
Work closely with web developers, design, UX, content creators, paid search specialists, and other subject matter experts to align efforts across digital channels
Anticipate challenges and opportunities before they become urgent—proactively identify potential SEO issues or strategic pivots early enough to implement solutions with proper planning rather than reactive firefighting
Mentor other team members in SEO best practices and execution
Document processes and create internal SOPs that capture best practices, streamline workflows, and elevate team capabilities by making specialized knowledge accessible and repeatable across the organization
Qualification
Required
5+ years of hands-on SEO experience with proven results
Deep expertise in content SEO—from strategy through execution
Strong technical SEO foundation (you know what a robots.txt file does and why hreflang tags matter)
Client Leadership & Account Ownership: Proven ability to independently own and manage client relationships, lead strategic planning sessions and serve as the primary strategic advisor on accounts
Analytical Mindset: Proficiency in tools like Google Analytics, Search Console, and SEO-specific platforms to analyze performance and inform strategy
Problem-Solving: Ability to troubleshoot complex SEO issues and provide actionable recommendations
Communication: Strong verbal and written communication skills to present strategies and reports to clients and internal teams. Comfort and experience in occasional client-facing capacity
Project Management: Detail-oriented with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously
Experience with SEO tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, Screaming Frog
Understanding of AI search optimization and how LLMs are changing search behavior
Preferred
Experience with ecommerce SEO
Familiarity with Python or other scripting for SEO automation
Understanding of conversion rate optimization (CRO)
Experience training or mentoring junior team members
You've successfully navigated a major algorithm update (or five)
Company
Saltwater
Saltwater is a marketing and advertising company.
11-50 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Early StageTotal Funding
unknown2023-06-29Acquired
Leadership Team
Christopher Griffin
CEO
Recent News
Company data provided by crunchbase