Senior AI Search & Local SEO Lead (Contract-to-Hire)

Senior AI Search & Local SEO Lead (Contract-to-Hire Leadership Track)

OVERVIEW

We are a U.S.-based company that owns and operates a large portfolio of local lead generation websites and Google Business Profiles across multiple home service industries.

We are seeking a Senior AI Search & Local SEO Lead to help improve visibility across traditional local search and emerging AI-powered search platforms.

This is a hands-on execution role. We are looking for someone who can build, optimize, solve problems, create systems, document processes, train tea ---------- mbers, and eventually become the owner of the AI Search and Local SEO function within the company.

Our long-term goal is to build a self-managing department with clear systems, measurable performance metrics, documented processes, and strong operational ownership.

Experience working with local service businesses, lead generation websites, or rank-and-rent websites is highly preferred.

This is a full-time contract-to-hire opportunity with significant long-term growth potential.

IMPORTANT

This is a full-time contract-to-hire position for an individual tea ---------- mber.

We are not seeking an SEO agency, white-label provider, fractional consultant, or outsourced SEO service.

We are looking for someone who wants to become a long-ter ---------- mber of our team, help build our AI Search & Local SEO department, develop team capabilities, create scalable systems, and eventually take ownership of this function inside the company.

RESPONSIBILITIES

AI SEARCH

• Improve visibility across ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews, Gemini, Perplexity, and other AI-powered search platforms
• Research and test emerging AI Search strategies
• Analyze entity, citation, schema, review, authority, trust, mention, and recommendation signals
• Develop repeatable AI Search optimization processes
• Track and measure AI Search visibility improvements
• Build strategies to increase AI recommendations and brand visibility

LOCAL SEO

• Improve Google Business Profile rankings
• Conduct SEO audits
• Improve local heatmap rankings
• Optimize local landing pages
• Improve topical authority and local relevance
• Develop authority-building strategies
• Implement content and internal linking improvements

WEBSITES & SYSTEMS

• Build and optimize WordPress websites and landing pages using Elementor
• Implement schema and SEO improvements
• Improve site architecture, internal linking, and user experience
• Troubleshoot website issues and identify root causes
• Create SOPs, workflows, and training documentation
• Build scalable systems and quality-control processes

LEADERSHIP

• Work closely with existing tea ---------- mbers
• Train and develop supporting tea ---------- mbers
• Establish standards and best practices
• Help build a scalable, self-managing department
• Help build a department that is not dependent on any one individual
• Develop processes, standards, and documentation that allow work to be delegated effectively
• Help identify hiring, training, and organizational needs within the SEO function
• Eventually become the owner of the AI Search and Local SEO function

REQUIRED SKILLS

• Strong Local SEO experience
• Google Business Profile optimization
• Local heatmap analysis and ranking improvement (Local Dominator, Local Falcon, or similar)
• WordPress website development and optimization
• Elementor page builder experience
• SEO auditing using Screaming Frog, Google Search Console, Ahrefs, SEMrush, Sitebulb, or similar tools
• Schema markup
• Citation management
• Strong AI prompting skills
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities
• Excellent written and spoken English
• SOP and documentation creation
• Ability to work independently and take ownership

HIGHLY PREFERRED EXPERIENCE

• Experience improving visibility in ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews, Gemini, Perplexity, or other AI-powered search platforms
• Experience with AI Search optimization concepts including entity optimization, citation building, brand mentions, review signals, schema, authority signals, and AI recommendation factors
• Experience measuring and tracking AI Search visibility over time
• Experience testing and validating AI Search recommendations using prompts and documented processes
• Experience working with local service businesses, lead generation websites, or rank-and-rent websites
• Experience training tea ---------- mbers and building scalable systems

SUCCESS METRICS

• Improved Google Business Profile rankings as measured through heatmaps
• Improved AI Search visibility and recommendations
• Creation of effective SOPs, systems, and documentation
• Ability to train and elevate supporting tea ---------- mbers
• Increased department autonomy through systems, documentation, and team development
• Reduced dependency on the owner for day-to-day SEO decisions
• Increased team capability through training, systems, and documentation
• Improved operational consistency and quality control across the portfolio

INITIAL 90-DAY EVALUATION

The selected candidate will complete company-provided AI Search and Local SEO training and then be assigned a small portfolio of websites and Google Business Profiles.

Responsibilities during this period will include:

• Auditing opportunities
• Creating implementation plans
• Executing improvements
• Tracking results
• Creating SOPs and documentation

Performance will be evaluated primarily on:

• Measurable improvements in Google Business Profile rankings (tracked through heatmaps)
• Measurable improvements in AI Search visibility and recommendations
• Quality of execution
• Quality of documentation
• Ownership and problem-solving ability

Candidates who demonstrate strong results, leadership potential, and system-building ability will have the opportunity to take ownership of this function long-term.

TO APPLY

1. SEO & GBP RESULTS (REQUIRED)

Provide 2–3 examples of local SEO campaigns you personally worked on, including:

• Website URL
• Google Business Profile URL (if applicable)
• Results achieved
• Your specific role in the project

Highly preferred evidence includes:

• Actual website URLs
• Actual Google Business Profile URLs
• Actual heatmap URLs showing ranking improvements over time
• Ranking history across multiple snapshots
• Traffic growth data
• Lead growth data

Candidates who provide verifiable URLs and ranking history will be given preference over candidates who provide screenshots only.

2. SOP EXAMPLE (REQUIRED)

Provide an example of a SOP, workflow, checklist, training document, process, or system you personally created.

3. AI WORKFLOW & TOOLS

Briefly explain how you currently use AI tools within your SEO workflow.

Include any AI tools you regularly use, such as ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity, or others.

4. AI SEARCH EXPERIENCE

Provide examples of businesses you have helped improve visibility in:

• ChatGPT
• Google AI Overviews
• Gemini
• Perplexity

Highly preferred evidence includes:

• Actual prompts used to test AI Search visibility
• Screenshots or recordings showing AI recommendations
• Before-and-after examples demonstrating measurable improvement
• Explanation of what changes were implemented and why
• Examples of recommendation tracking across AI platforms
• Any process used to measure AI visibility over time

We understand some candidates may be restricted by client confidentiality. If so, provide as much evidence as possible while protecting client information.

Candidates who provide verifiable examples and real-world proof of results will be given preference over candidates providing screenshots only.

5. LOOM VIDEO (REQUIRED)

Please record a 3–5 minute Loom video covering:

• Brief introduction
• Your Local SEO experience
• Your AI Search experience
• The SEO project you are most proud of
• Why you believe you are a strong fit for this role

Include the Loom link in your application.

6. WHY YOU ARE A STRONG FIT

Tell us why you believe you are a strong fit for this role.

Please begin your application with:

"I focus on results, systems, and ownership."

IMPORTANT

This position is for an individual applicant only.

Agencies, white-label providers, consultants, and firms offering SEO services should not apply.

Applicants must personally perform the work and be available to participate in interviews, training, team collaboration, and ongoing leadership development.

Applications that do not include the requested information may not be reviewed.