Associate Director, Seo (Mat Leave Contract)

We're looking for an experienced SEO leader who thrives on blending technical expertise with strategic thinking, and who's excited to lead SEO and GEO initiatives across some of Canada's largest automotive accounts. If you're a confident, client-facing strategist who enjoys mentoring a team and staying ahead of how search is evolving, we'd love to hear from you
About usINNOCEAN Worldwide Canada is an award-winning global marketing and communications company based in Toronto with offices across 16 countries and growing. At Innocean, we believe the future of business belongs to companies and brands that understand how to create memorable customer experiences. We are passionate about creating extraordinary value to our clients, providing bespoke solutions that propel their business forward locally, nationally, and internationally.
Position SummaryWe are seeking an experienced and strategic associate SEO director to join our Digital Media team at Innocean on a
18 month full‑time contract, covering a maternity leave. This role owns SEO strategy and execution across some of Canada's largest automotive accounts, including OEM brand sites and their affiliated dealer networks. You will lead technical SEO, structured data, and generative engine optimization (GEO) initiatives, manage day‑to‑day client relationships, mentor junior team members, and contribute directly to new business development.
Reporting to the VP, Digital Media, you will set SEO strategy, oversee a team of 3 talented individuals, and act as the primary day‑to‑day SEO lead across accounts – balancing hands‑on technical work with client‑facing strategy and cross‑functional leadership within our media team of Planners, Buyers, Creatives, SEM, SMM, Programmatic Traders, and Data Analysts.
Key Responsibilities
Own end‑to‑end SEO strategy across OEM and dealer‑network accounts, translating business goals into prioritized roadmaps
Set direction on keyword strategy, content gap priorities, and site architecture recommendations
Manage, mentor, and review the work of the SEO team members, providing guidance on execution and professional development
Act as the primary SEO point of contact for clients, presenting strategy, performance, and recommendations directly
Technical SEO & GEO
Lead technical SEO audits and oversee remediation, partnering with web development on site speed, mobile experience, and crawlability
Direct structured data and schema markup strategy across brand and dealer sites
Own generative engine optimisation (GEO) strategy, including llms.Txt implementation and content structuring for AI‑driven search and answer engines
Reporting & Performance Analytics
Oversee SEO performance reporting across all accounts, ensuring insights are integrated into overall Digital Performance reporting
Translate data on rankings, traffic, and engagement into clear, actionable recommendations for clients and internal teams
Establish and monitor KPIs and QA standards for metadata, content, and technical implementation across accounts
Partner with web dev, content, design, and account service teams to align on optimisation priorities
Share SEO insights and keyword strategy with strategy, account services and other teams to inform integrated campaign planning
Represent SEO within broader account planning and strategy discussions
New Business Development
Support new business pitches and RFP responses, including SEO audits, opportunity assessments, and strategic recommendations for prospective clients
Identify and scope SEO growth opportunities within existing accounts, contributing to upsell and account expansion conversations
Contribute to proposal materials, capability decks, and competitive positioning related to SEO and GEO services
Industry Knowledge
Stay current on evolving SEO, GEO, and search engine algorithm developments, and translate implications into strategy
Identify and champion process and productivity improvements across the SEO function
Qualifications & ExperiencesSkills and Behaviour
Deep, current knowledge of SEO and GEO best practices, including structured data and schema.Org markup
Proven experience managing SEO strategy across multiple accounts or a large, multi‑site network
Experience leading or mentoring junior team members
Strong client‑facing communication and presentation skills, with the ability to translate technical findings for non‑technical stakeholders
Advanced proficiency with SEO and analytics tools (e.G. Screaming Frog, SEMrush, Google Analytics, Google Search Console)
Comfort contributing to new business pitches and proposal development
Highly organised, detail‑oriented, and capable of managing multiple accounts and priorities simultaneously
Education and Experience
4‑5 years of SEO experience, including demonstrated strategic and/or people‑leadership responsibility
University or college degree
Strong knowledge of the media industry and how advertising agencies operate
Experience in the automotive industry is an asset, but not required
What you’ll love about working at INNOCEAN Canada
People‑first and Inclusive of all — we’re proud to be recognised by ‘Great Places to Work’ FIVE years in a row and counting - overall, as well as for youth, inclusion, and as a Best Place to Work for Women
Flexible hybrid work set up (2 days in winter;
3 days in summer) with an awesome space at King Street West for collaboration and team get‑togethers
Generous time off plus an end of year winter break;
our people also get extra days off when they reach key work milestones!
Your Wellbeing is all-important - A Fully employer paid benefits coverage, flex spending wellness account, RRSPs, confidential individual counselling, and paid personal days
Learning and development fund, and coaching and mentorship in your day‑to‑day to fuel your growth
Additional information:This is an active, approved role.
Our recruitment team may use AI‑assisted tools to help identify and review candidate applications based on job‑related requirements and qualifications. All hiring decisions are made by humans.
INNOCEAN Canada is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity, inclusion, and teamwork. We encourage all qualified applicants to enquire below. Any disability‑related needs will be accommodated throughout the recruitment process.
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