SEO Lead

Climbing Trees  |  Earls Colne, Colchester  |  Hybrid (2–3 days/week)  | Circa £40,000

We're Climbing Trees, an independent, purpose driven digital agency doing work that genuinely matters. We've built a strong reputation for high quality SEO, Digital PR, and Paid Media, and we're now looking for an SEO Lead to take full ownership of our organic search offering.

This is a rare opportunity to step into a role with real strategic scope. You'll shape how SEO works across the agency, build and develop a talented team, and run campaigns for clients you'll actually believe in.

Our Mission

To do work that matters, for our clients, our people, and the planet. As we grow, we're doubling down on team development and well-being, creating an environment where everyone can do the best work of their careers.

Our Values

Ethical.  We lead with honesty, kindness, and integrity, always considering the wider impact of what we do.

Curious.  We never stop learning,  whether it's AI, SEO, or the next big trend, we're always exploring.

Caring.  We genuinely care about our clients' success and take pride in work that makes a real difference.

Client-focused.  We build lasting partnerships with clients who share our values and trust us to deliver.

The Role

As SEO Lead, you'll own Climbing Trees' entire organic search function,  from strategy and team leadership to client performance and innovation. You'll work closely with our Digital PR, Content, and Paid Media teams to create genuinely integrated campaigns.

This isn't a role where you execute someone else's playbook. You'll define it.

What You'll Be Doing

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop the SEO team,  building clear structures for delivery, quality, and accountability.
• Support team members' career growth and foster a culture of curiosity and continuous improvement.
• Work cross functionally with Digital PR, Paid Media, and Content to deliver joined-up strategies.

Client Strategy & Growth

• Act as the strategic SEO lead on key accounts, owning performance, narrative, and direction.
• Lead strategy conversations and present results in a way that's compelling and tied directly to clients' business goals.
• Spot and develop opportunities to deepen client relationships and grow accounts through smart SEO thinking.
• Contribute sharp SEO insight to new business pitches.

SEO Strategy & Delivery

• Define and lead organic search strategy across the full Climbing Trees client portfolio.
• Own campaign performance against client KPIs, traffic, rankings, visibility, conversions, and engagement.
• Ensure technical SEO, content optimisation, and link acquisition are all executed to a consistently high standard.
• Oversee team delivery, ensuring SLAs and client deliverables are met on time.

AI, Innovation & Thought Leadership

• Keep Climbing Trees at the forefront of SEO, from AI driven search to LLM visibility and emerging SERP features.
• Develop forward looking strategies that help clients stay ahead of where search is heading.
• Contribute to agency thought leadership and stay genuinely plugged into the industry.

About You

You're an experienced SEO leader who knows how to turn organic search into real business results. You lead with clarity and hold yourself and your team accountable, but you also know that great leadership means investing in the people around you.

You're commercially minded without being sales led, and just as comfortable in a client boardroom as you are deep in a technical audit. Most importantly, you care about doing excellent work, and doing it the right way.

Skills & Experience

Essential

• Proven experience leading SEO strategy in an agency environment
• Strong expertise across technical SEO, content optimisation, and search strategy
• Experience managing or mentoring an SEO team
• Ability to translate SEO data and insights into clear, compelling client narratives
• Confident presenting SEO strategies and results to clients or senior stakeholders
• Strong analytical skills using tools such as GA4, GSC, Ahrefs, Screaming Frog
• Track record of managing performance against client KPIs and SLAs
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills

Desirable

• Experience integrating Digital PR and SEO strategies
• Involvement in new business pitches or commercial strategy
• Knowledge of AI, LLM visibility, and emerging search trends
• Experience working with purpose-driven brands or B Corp organisations
• Thought leadership through speaking, writing, or industry participation

Why Join Us?

You'll join a team that cares about the work, about each other, and about impact. You'll have genuine ownership of the SEO function, a supportive leadership team behind you, and the chance to build something you're proud of.

Perks & Benefits

• 
  
• Private healthcare and well-being support
• 3:30pm Friday finishes, every week, without guilt
• Hybrid working (2 - 3 days in our Earls Colne office)
• Tailored training and development plan
• Volunteering days for causes you care about
• Annual team trips and socials
• Emergency loan and support when life throws curveballs
• Sabbatical after 10 years, because loyalty should be recognised

If you're excited by the idea of doing high quality digital marketing with purpose and integrity behind it, we'd love to hear from you.