Search Engine Optimization Specialist

Search Engine Optimization Specialist 1905 New Media Chicago, IL Job Details Full-time $45,000 - $60,000 a year 1 day ago Benefits Health savings account Health insurance Dental insurance 401(k) Paid time off Parental leave Vision insurance Flexible schedule Life insurance Qualifications Technical SEO CMS Bachelor's degree Attention to detail Marketing analytics Content strategy AI Cross-functional collaboration SEO schema markup Google Analytics Full Job Description 1905 New Media, an integrated marketing firm headquartered in St. Louis with an office in Chicago, is seeking an SEO Specialist to join our team. At 1905 New Media, we value a supportive and inclusive environment. We foster a culture that embraces change, experimentation, and continuous learning while encouraging creative problem-solving in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. The SEO Specialist is responsible for implementing, managing, and optimizing modern search strategies that increase organic visibility, qualified website traffic, and meaningful conversions for our clients across a variety of industries. In addition to having strong foundational SEO principles, this role requires an understanding of advanced technical SEO; schema markup implementation; and how search is evolving through AI-powered results, user intent, and experience-driven ranking signals. The ideal candidate understands that SEO now encompasses traditional search engines, AI-generated search experiences (Google AI Overviews), and large language models (ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity) as discovery channels. The ideal candidate is process- and detail-oriented, highly analytical, adaptable to change, and have a proven track record of delivering SEO programs that drive measurable business outcomes.

Job Responsibilities:

SEO Strategy Development and Execution:

Develop and execute comprehensive SEO strategies aligned to client business goals, including keyword and entity research, on-page optimization, technical SEO audits, content optimization, internal linking, and authority-building initiatives. Adapt strategies to evolving search experiences, including AI-generated results, featured snippets, AI Overviews, LLM-powered search tools, and zero-click searches.

Keyword, Entity & Search Intent Research:

Conduct in-depth research using modern SEO tools to identify high-value keywords, entities, and topics across the full search journey. Analyze trends, SERP features, and intent signals to inform content planning, information architecture, and optimization opportunities. Develop SEO Content Briefs that detail competitive benchmarks including target word count, FAQ requirements, internal linking opportunities, and media suggestions for content teams.

On-Page & Content Optimization:

Optimize on-page elements (title tags, meta descriptions, headings, internal links, structured content) to improve visibility, engagement, and click-through rates. Ensure content aligns with search intent, EEAT principles, accessibility standards, and SEO best practices across traditional and AI-influenced SERPs. Structure content for AI extraction including FAQ sections, Quick Facts panels, and entity-rich formatting that supports featured snippets and AI Overview citations.

Technical SEO:

Perform regular technical SEO audits to identify and resolve issues impacting crawlability, indexation, site performance, Core Web Vitals, mobile usability, and accessibility. Collaborate with developers to implement solutions related to site architecture, schema markup, structured data, and performance optimization. Run and manage scheduled site crawls using Screaming Frog or similar tools. Maintain Crawl Org documentation for each client, monitor crawl health metrics, and build reporting dashboards (Looker Studio) to track technical SEO improvements over time.

Schema Markup & Structured Data:

Implement, maintain, and validate schema markup (JSON-LD) across client websites using tools like SASWP, Schemantra, and Google's Rich Results Test. Develop structured data strategies for Person, Organization, FAQPage, LocalBusiness, Service, and other schema types to improve rich result eligibility and AI system visibility. Coordinate with development teams on schema deployment across WordPress, headless CMS, and custom environments.

Site Architecture & URL Strategy:

Analyze and recommend site architecture improvements, including URL structure optimization, internal linking strategies, content consolidation, and redirect management. Document architecture decisions in shared Crawl Org spreadsheets and coordinate with development teams and account managers on implementation. Manage redirect cleanup across client sites, prioritizing global/menu-level redirects and systematically addressing content-level redirect chains. AI Optimization (AIO) &

LLM Visibility:

Develop and execute optimization strategies for AI-powered search experiences including Google AI Overviews, ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity. Implement AIO best practices including structured FAQ content, entity optimization, llms.txt files, and content formatting that improves AI system citation and reference. Support LLM visibility monitoring and reporting initiatives across the client portfolio.

Authority & Digital PR Support:

Support and execute scalable authority-building strategies focused on quality, relevance, and brand credibility. Monitor backlink profiles, brand mentions, and competitive link landscapes to identify opportunities and risks.

Content Collaboration & Optimization:

Partner closely with content strategists, writers, and designers to optimize existing assets and guide the creation of new SEO-driven content. Provide keyword insights, optimization recommendations, and content briefs that align with user intent and business goals.

Performance Tracking and Reporting:

Monitor and analyze organic performance using GA4, Google Search Console, and SEO platforms to evaluate traffic quality, rankings, engagement, and conversions. Build clear, actionable reports and insights for internal teams and clients, translating data into recommendations and next stepsContribute to Looker Studio dashboards that integrate crawl data, ranking trends, and technical health metrics for client-facing reporting.

Stay Up-to-Date:

Stay current on SEO trends, Google algorithm updates, AI-driven search experiences, and emerging best practices. Leverage AI tools to increase efficiency in keyword research, content brief development, schema generation, technical audit analysis, and reporting. Proactively test, learn, and adapt strategies to ensure long-term performance and competitive advantage.

Development Team Collaboration:

Collaborate closely with development teams on technical implementations including plugin deployment, staging/production/dev workflows, CMS configuration, and WordPress environments. Navigate hosting platforms (WP Engine) and structured deployment processes. Communicate technical SEO requirements clearly and coordinate across staging, QA, and production environments to ensure schema, redirects, and site changes are implemented correctly.

Required Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, or a related field. Proven experience (3+ years) as an SEO Specialist or similar role. Strong understanding of modern on-page, off-page, and technical SEO best practices Experience with tools such as Google Analytics (GA4), Google Search Console, Ahrefs, SEMrush, Moz, Screaming Frog, and CMS plugins (Yoast, RankMath, etc.) Familiarity with Core Web Vitals, schema markup, structured data, and accessibility considerations Experience implementing schema markup (JSON-LD preferred) and validating with Google Rich Results Test or Schema.org validator Strong analytical mindset with the ability to interpret data and turn insights into action Excellent problem-solving, communication, and organizational skills Ability to manage multiple priorities independently while collaborating across teams Demonstrated understanding of how AI systems (Google AI Overviews, LLMs, voice assistants) consume, reference, and display web content, including implications for content strategy and technical optimization Comfort working with remote team members across time zones Desire to work in a collaborative and inclusive team environment

Preferred Qualifications:

Agency experience Knowledge of Local SEO, business listing optimization, Google Business Profiles, and map-based search optimization Familiarity with WordPress and modern CMS platforms Experience with Looker Studio or similar reporting tools Experience with Screaming Frog or similar crawling tools for scheduled technical SEO auditing Experience implementing structured data across multi-location and multi-site client portfolios Familiarity with AI-powered SEO tools and workflows (using AI for schema generation, content briefs, audit analysis) Google Analytics or other relevant certifications

Pay:

$45,000.00 - $60,000.00 per year

Benefits:

401(k) Dental insurance Flexible schedule Health insurance Health savings account Life insurance Paid time off Parental leave Vision insurance

Education:

Bachelor's (Required)

Experience:

SEO:

3 years (Required) Ability to

Commute:

Chicago, IL 60647 (Required)

Work Location:

Hybrid remote in Chicago, IL 60647