Search & Discoverability Lead (SEO/AEO/GEO)

Search & Discoverability Lead (SEO / AEO / GEO)    Location: UK / EMEA (Remote / Hybrid)  Type: Full-Time, Permanent  Function: Strategy / Data & Discoverability  Level: Senior Consultant / Lead    At Horizontal Digital, we hold ourselves to one key belief: You’re only as good as your worst customer experience. This mantra is what drives our digital consultancy to think beyond the easy answers and instead create websites, apps, portals and other experiences that solve customer needs for Fortune 500 companies in intuitive and empathetic ways. And we make this lofty standard a reality by fusing strategy, data, design and technology together to arrive at solutions that set the bar higher for everyone.    We use these values to fuel superior results:    Lock arms  We forge relationships that make our impact 1,000x stronger. This means working across departments and engaging both our clients and our communities to deliver the greatest good.  Show hustle  We’re not ones to sit on our hands and wait. Instead, we anticipate opportunities, collectively roll up our sleeves and find ways to execute the exceptional.  Embrace change  From new technologies to workplace philosophies, we welcome the unexpected and constantly anticipate what’s next.  Elevate empathy  We listen before we take action. This means understanding a variety of perspectives and holding ourselves to a higher standard of accountability.  Never settle  We motivate each other to push past the easy answers and collectively arrive at bigger, more inspiring ideas.     But enough about us. Let’s talk about you.      As our Search & Discoverability Lead, you'll shape how we deliver visibility across search engines, answer engines and AI-driven platforms for ambitious brands across Healthcare, Financial Services, Property, Travel & Hospitality and beyond. You'll own the full technical SEO lifecycle, from audit and diagnosis through to prioritised roadmaps and continuous optimisation, working closely with Content, UX, Data and Technology teams and with a strong focus on Sitecore environments. It's a chance to define and scale a modern search and discoverability practice as demand grows.      What you’ll do:   - Lead comprehensive technical SEO audits across crawlability, indexation, rendering and site architecture  - Define and deliver strategies aligned to SEO, AEO and GEO best practice, translating findings into prioritised, actionable roadmaps  - Own SEO strategy across site migrations and replatforming projects, defining redirect mapping and validation processes to protect equity and minimise risk  - Monitor performance using GA4, Search Console, Ahrefs, SEMrush, Screaming Frog and AI/LLM visibility tools, driving continuous optimisation cycles  - Partner with Content Strategists on keyword research, intent mapping and SERP analysis to align content with search intent  - Advise on SEO best practice within Sitecore XP, XM Cloud and Sitecore AI, working with developers on rendering, crawlability and structured data  - Present audit findings and recommendations to clients, support pre-sales, and act as a thought leader on the evolution of SEO, AEO and GEO      Who you are:   - A strategic thinker who can translate complex technical findings into clear, prioritised roadmaps  - Collaborative by nature, equally comfortable working with Content, UX, Data and Technology teams  - A confident, credible communicator able to present audits and strategy to clients and senior stakeholders  - Curious and proactive, staying ahead of algorithm updates, AI search trends and evolving discoverability practice  - Commercially minded, quick to spot opportunities for retainers and scalable service offerings  - A natural mentor who enjoys building capability and upskilling colleagues  - Comfortable owning ambiguity, and confident defining new frameworks and ways of working from scratch     What you bring:    - 7+ years' experience in SEO with a strong technical focus, ideally within an agency or consultancy environment  - Deep expertise in technical SEO including migrations, redirect mapping, indexation and site architecture  - Strong hands-on experience with tools such as Ahrefs, SEMrush, Screaming Frog, GA4 and Search Console, plus AI/LLM visibility platforms such as Scrunch, Peec or Profound  - Understanding of structured data, semantic search and AI-driven discoverability (AEO/GEO)  - Hands-on experience delivering SEO within Sitecore environments (XP, XM Cloud or Sitecore AI)  - Familiarity with JavaScript SEO, rendering challenges and modern web architectures  - Strong collaboration and communication skills across technical and non-technical teams    Our UK Benefits include:    - 22 days holiday  - 2 floating holiday days   - 2 volunteering days    - Defined contribution pension scheme   - Flexibility + remote working     Application Tips     To help us review your application as smoothly as possible, we recommend submitting a clear, ATS-friendly CV using a simple format and standard headings such as Experience, Skills, and Education. Avoid complex layouts or graphics so your experience is captured accurately.    If you're unsure how to make your CV ATS-friendly, this guide provides helpful practical tips:  https://www.myperfectresume.com/career-center/resumes/how-to/ats-friendly        The above description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.