About the role
We are on the hunt for a Head of Search who thinks differently
At aip, we are at the forefront of innovation in the creative industry. Our team is dedicated to delivering cutting-edge solutions and nurturing creativity in an energetic and collaborative environment. With offices currently in Brighton, London, Manchester and Cape Town, we are a dynamic and rapidly expanding team.
Our mission is centred around fostering growth while consistently delivering excellent work. We are currently on the lookout for a distinctive individual, fueled by ambition and enthusiasm, ready to make a meaningful impact and contribute directly to the agency’s growth and success.
About Us
Anything is Possible. We believe it so much we made it our brand.
We partner with leading brands on media, creative and tech solutions that transform client outcomes. Now, we’re the youngest ever agency to receive Effectiveness Accreditation from the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising. And we’re still just getting started.
We’re on a mission to transform the industry. We need great clients and great colleagues to help us make it happen.
We are Possiblists.
Are you?
How to apply
About the role
Our innovative “360 Search” approach ensures our clients’ brands are discoverable across all platforms where consumers are searching, including AI-driven interfaces. This role is pivotal in driving our “360 Search” strategy, encompassing traditional search engines, social media platforms, e-commerce sites, app stores, visual discovery engines, and AI-powered search interfaces.
Key Responsibilities:
➔ Vision & Proposition Development: Evolve the 360 Search approach to stay ahead of the market, incorporating our beliefs, approach and ways of working to maintain an industry-best position
➔ Strategic Leadership: Develop, oversee and implement comprehensive client search strategies that align with our “360 Search” approach.
➔ Platform Strategies: Develop our approach to asset optimisation and findability across platforms to truly move beyond core search engines. In practice, this means understanding how to be found on Google, Amazon, AI platforms such as Perplexity or ChatGPT, and social networks such as TikTok.
➔ Team Management: Lead, mentor, and grow a high-performing search team, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and innovation.
➔ Client Engagement: Work closely with clients to understand their needs and deliver tailored search solutions that drive results.
➔ Performance Optimisation: Oversee the optimisation of brand assets across all search platforms, ensuring maximum visibility and engagement.
➔ AI Integration: Stay ahead of AI-driven search trends and integrate AI technologies into our search strategies.
➔ Collaboration: Collaborate with other departments (content & PR, social, media planning & buying and creative) to deliver cohesive and effective marketing campaigns.
➔ Analytics and Reporting: Monitor and analyse search performance data, providing actionable insights and regular reports to clients and senior management.
➔ Innovation: Continuously explore and implement new search technologies and methodologies to keep our services at the forefront of the industry.
➔ Sales: Actively develop new client opportunities, supporting client growth and new business to hit our departmental financial targets
➔ Financial Management: Oversee the P&L for the Search team, managing budgets and driving revenue growth.
The right candidate will have:
➔ Minimum 7 years of experience in search marketing: The candidate should have a proven track record of managing large-scale, complex search (SEO) campaigns and clear integration with paid (PPC), across multiple platforms.
➔ Leadership experience: At least 3–5 years in a senior leadership role, with experience managing and developing high-performing teams.
➔ Cross-platform expertise: Experience in optimising across diverse platforms including search engines (Google, Bing), social media (YouTube, TikTok), e-commerce (Amazon),
app stores, visual discovery engines (Pinterest), and AI-powered search tools (ChatGPT, Claude).
➔ AI-driven search knowledge: Familiarity with AI-driven search trends and practical experience in applying AI technologies to search strategies.
➔ Client-facing experience: Proven ability to manage large, high-value clients, with experience in building strong client relationships, presenting strategies, and driving results.
Skills & Expertise
➔ Search: Deep understanding of search engine algorithms, keyword research, on-page/off-page SEO, link-building strategies, and technical SEO.
➔ AI Integration in Search: Knowledge of how AI technologies impact search results, particularly in the context of conversational AI platforms (e.g., ChatGPT, Bard) and voice search optimisation.
➔ Content Strategy and Optimisation: Ability to craft a comprehensive content strategy, ensuring the content is optimised for search intent and discoverability across all platforms, including AI-generated results.
➔ Data Analysis and Interpretation: Proficient in using tools like Google Analytics, Google Search Console, SEMrush, Moz, or other search tools. Able to analyse data to extract actionable insights, track KPIs, and optimise search strategies based on performance.
➔ Technical SEO Proficiency: Knowledge of HTML, JavaScript, schema markup, site speed optimisation, and other technical aspects that improve search engine rankings and user experience.
➔ Cross-Platform Integration: Expertise in integrating search efforts across social media platforms, app stores, e-commerce sites, and visual platforms. Able to optimise assets for platforms like TikTok, Pinterest, and Amazon.
➔ Innovative Thinking: A track record of keeping ahead of emerging trends in search marketing, AI technologies, and platform updates to ensure the agency stays at the forefront of innovation.
Personal Attributes
➔ Strategic Vision: Able to see the big picture and develop long-term strategies that encompass multiple platforms, including AI-driven search interfaces, while aligning with client and company goals.
➔ Leadership and Mentorship: A strong, collaborative leader who can build, inspire, and grow a team, as well as create a culture of continuous improvement and innovation. ➔ Client-Centric Mindset: Excellent at understanding client needs, translating those into actionable search strategies, and delivering measurable results. Highly skilled at managing client relationships and building trust.
➔ Analytical and Results-Oriented: Strong problem-solving abilities with a focus on data-driven decision-making. Comfortable with setting KPIs, tracking performance, and using analytics to continually refine search strategies.
➔ Adaptability: The digital landscape is constantly evolving, especially with the rise of AI. The candidate must be comfortable with rapid change, learning new tools, and adjusting strategies quickly.
➔ Creative Thinking: Capable of thinking outside the box and developing innovative search solutions, particularly in integrating content for newer platforms like AI-powered search engines, voice search, and short-form video platforms.
➔ Strong Communication Skills: Able to articulate complex ideas in a simple, persuasive manner. Must be able to present strategies and performance reports effectively to clients, senior leadership, and cross-functional teams.
➔ Resilience and Drive: Demonstrates determination and persistence in driving projects forward, with the ability to navigate challenges and setbacks while maintaining momentum.
What else?
We want to take you out of your comfort zone, to stretch and to learn. You must believe that anything is possible.
In short, we want you to be the best person you can be.
We know we’re asking a lot. So we give a lot back.
In addition to a competitive salary we’ll give you everything you need to operate at the top of your game:
- Full IPA & BIMA Membership
- Ongoing dedicated training budget
- Regular agency socials (non-compulsory!) and all the perks of agency life
- Self-development funding
- Premier League football hospitality
- Headspace subscription
- Healthcare benefits
- Flexible working
- Generous holiday allowance
- Birthdays off
- London, Brighton and Manchester offices – flexible options available
- Office snacks and refreshments
- Access to a world-class research suite including Nielsen, Similarweb, WARC, IPA Touchpoints, BARB, SEMrush, SearchShare, LEAP, YouGov
- Access to aip’s business library – if we don’t have the book you want to read (unlikely!), we add it to the bookshelf.
We aren’t just any other agency. We are building a movement called Possiblism.
Ask us about it sometime. If you are ready to make a difference, get in touch today. Email jobs@aip.media
