Staff Consultant, SEO

The purpose of this role is to lead and manage the implementation and execution of SEO strategies and the day-to-day communication with clients to help achieve their goals.

Job Description:

Merkle Cardinal Path, part of Dentsu Aegis Network, is a leading digital analytics and marketing firm focused on delivering insight, understanding and outcomes that create competitive advantage for our clients. We engage at the strategic, business, and technical levels to generate tangible and quantifiable value for our partners. Cardinal Path’s mission is: To know. To Share. To be our Partners’ competitive advantage. And our company culture reflects the importance of our people’s expertise, wellness, and happiness in everything we do.

Role Overview

We’re looking for a data-savvy, AI-aware SEO Staff Consultant to support our growing SEO team. This role is ideal for someone who understands the evolving search landscape and is eager to apply both technical and content-driven strategies to improve organic visibility and performance.

Key Responsibilities

• Execute and support technical SEO audits; monitor site health, Core Web Vitals, and structured data implementation.
• Conduct advanced, intent-focused keyword research using industry-standard SEO tools and sources.
• Develop and implement internal and external linking strategies that align with semantic SEO and topical authority.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with content, UX, analytics, and development teams to ensure SEO is embedded in all digital initiatives.
• Stay ahead of algorithm updates and AI search trends, including voice search, and visual search optimization.
• Create and present performance reports using tools like Looker Data Studio; provide actionable insights based on data.
• Support content optimization with a focus on E-E-A-T principles, entity-based SEO, and user intent.
• Evaluate and test emerging SEO tools and AI technologies to improve workflow efficiency and performance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in digital marketing, communications, or a related field.
• 2–4 years of hands-on SEO experience (agency or in-house).
• Strong understanding of modern SEO: semantic search, structured data, Core Web Vitals, and the implications of JavaScript heavy websites.
• Proficiency with tools like Screaming Frog, Ahrefs, Semrush, MajesticSEO and more for SEO workflows.
• Experience with GA4 (or other Analytics platforms such as Amplitude or Adobe),
• Google Search Console, Looker Studio. Familiarity with SQL or BigQuery is a plus.
• Comfortable working across CMS platforms (e.g., WordPress, Shopify, Contentful) and basic HTML/CSS.Strong communication skills with the ability to explain technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.
• Bonus: Familiarity with AI content workflows, prompt engineering, or SEO
• automation tools.

The annual salary range for this position is ($51,000-$83,375). Placement within the salary range is based on a variety of factors, including relevant experience, knowledge, skills, and other factors permitted by law.

Benefits available with this position include:

• Medical, vision, and dental insurance,
• Life insurance,
• Short-term and long-term disability insurance,
• 401k,
• Flexible paid time off,
• At least 15 paid holidays per year,
• Paid sick and safe leave, and
• Paid parental leave.

Dentsu also complies with applicable state and local laws regarding employee leave benefits, including, but not limited to providing time off pursuant to the Colorado Healthy Families and Workplaces Act, in accordance with its plans and policies. For further details regarding Dentsu benefits, please visit

To begin the application process, please click on the “Apply” button at the top of this job posting. Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis, and qualified candidates will be contacted for next steps.

Location:

Chicago

Brand:

Cardinal Path

Time Type:

Full time

Contract Type:

Permanent

Dentsu is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees. We do this without regard to race, color, national origin, sex , sexual orientation, gender identity, age, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, ancestry, physical or mental disability, marital status, political affiliation, religious practices and observances, citizenship status, genetic information, veteran status, or any other basis protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.

 

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