SEO & AI Search Strategist

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The SEO & AI Search Strategist develops and implements search optimization strategies that improve the discoverability, accessibility, and performance of UWM's digital content across traditional search engines and emerging AI-powered search platforms. Serving as the university's subject matter expert for SEO and AI search, this position provides content recommendations, analytics insights, and guidance on best practices to improve how audiences discover and engage with UWM content. The position collaborates with MarComm’s Marketing, Web, and Communications’ teams, schools and colleges, and campus units to strengthen UWM's digital presence and support institutional priorities. 

Key Job Responsibilities:

Search & AI Visibility Strategy 

• Develop and lead SEO and AI search optimization strategies that improve UWM's digital discoverability.  
• Lead and manage projects focused on SEO and AEO optimization, including establishing priorities, coordinating stakeholders, and ensuring timely implementation. 
• Conduct keyword, topic, entity, and prompt research to identify opportunities for improving search visibility. 
• Establish best practices for optimizing content across search engines, AI-powered platforms, and emerging discovery channels. 

Website & Content Strategy 

• Provide recommendations to improve website content, information architecture, accessibility, and overall discoverability for SEO and AEO.  
• Write, edit, and optimize web content using SEO best practices, including SEO recommendations, keyword targeting, metadata, and content structure.  
• Conduct website and content audits to identify opportunities for improved search performance, user experience, and AI-powered search visibility. 

Analytics & Performance Optimization 

• Develop measurement frameworks and reporting strategies for SEO and AI search performance.  
• Analyze search, website, content, and conversion data to identify trends and optimization opportunities through Google Search Console and Google Analytics. 
• Translate performance insights into actionable recommendations that improve digital content. 

Campus Consultation & Digital Governance 

• Serve as UWM's subject matter expert for SEO, AEO, GEO, and AI search optimization and provide training to MarComm team members and campus units on emerging trends, best practices, and performance insights. 
• Collaborate with MarComm's Marketing, Web, and Communications teams, schools and colleges, and campus units to integrate search best practices into subsites. 
• Develop and implement training for web content editors to build SEO and AEO skills. 
• Develop resources and standards that support UWM's web governance and consistent implementation of SEO and AI search optimization practices across campus.

Department:

Marketing & Communications (MarComm) builds the UWM brand by sharing stories of student and faculty success. We also:

• foster enrollment and retention
• support University Advancement
• help campus units tell their stories

Compensation:

$60,000 - $70,000 (Final salary offer will be determined based on qualifications and experience)

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, Journalism, Digital Media, English, Information Science, or a related field.  
• Four years of progressively responsible experience developing and implementing SEO, digital content strategy, or organic search optimizations. 
• Experience analyzing website performance data and applying insights to improve digital content and user experiences. 
  

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated knowledge of technical SEO, on-page optimization, content strategy, and search performance measurement. 
• Experience developing SEO and AI search optimization strategies, including Answer Engine Optimization (AEO), Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), and optimization for large language model (LLM) platforms.
• Experience using analytics and SEO tools such as Google Analytics 4, Google Search Console, Data Studio, Scrunch, or comparable platforms. 
• Demonstrated ability to write and optimize web content for SEO and AI search, including developing content that meets search intent and supports organic search visibility. 
• Demonstrated ability to communicate complex SEO and AI search concepts and present strategies, recommendations, and performance insights to technical and non-technical audiences. 
• Experience leading and managing projects involving content writers, web developers, marketing teams, and other stakeholders to achieve digital content and search optimization goals. 
• Understanding of structured data, schema markup, entity optimization, topical authority, and E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness and Trustworthiness) principles. 

How to Apply:

Complete application materials must include the following:

1. Resume

2. Cover Letter

3. Writing samples (Please see the instructions listed below)

Please submit the following materials as part of your application:

1. SEO/AEO Strategy and Optimization Project

Provide one example of a SEO or AEO optimization project you developed or contributed to. Describe the objectives, your specific role, the strategies or recommendations implemented, who you collaborated with (for example, marketing, web, communications, content teams or other stakeholders), and the results achieved, where measurable. Relevant metrics may include organic traffic, rankings, conversions, and/or visibility in AI-generated answers.

2. Website Audit or Performance Analysis

Provide one example of a webpage or content audit, analytics report, or performance analysis you conducted. Describe the key findings, recommendations, and how they informed improvements to search visibility, website performance, or user experience. Include any measurable results or other evidence of impact, where available. Examples may include keyword research, search-intent analysis, content structure, metadata, internal linking, or other optimization opportunities. Please identify your specific contributions to each example, any other team members involved and their roles, and any AI tools used in your workflow. Please do not share confidential or proprietary information without authorization.

Finalist candidate(s) being considered for hire will be required to provide three professional/supervisor references through an external reference checking tool. References will not be contacted prior to candidates being notified.

In instances where the Search and Screen Committee is unable to ascertain from a candidate’s application materials whether they meet any of the qualifications, they will be evaluated as not meeting such qualifications.

Applications missing any of the required documents listed prior to the application deadline will be marked as incomplete and will not be considered.

Contact Information:

For any questions regarding the position, please contact Tom Schwartz (schwa282@uwm.edu).

Reasonable Accommodations
Pursuant to university policy, UWM provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities who are employees or applicants for employment. Employment opportunities will not be denied because of the need to make reasonable accommodations for a qualified individual with a disability. If you need assistance or accommodation in applying because of a disability, please contact uwm-jobs@uwm.edu or 414-229-4463. This job announcement and other material on this site will be made available in alternate formats upon request to an individual with a disability.

Confidentiality of Applicant Materials
UWM is a State agency and subject to Wisconsin’s Open Records Law. UWM will not, however, reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing except as may be required by Wisconsin’s Open Records law. In certain circumstances, the identities of “final candidates” and/or the identity of the appointed applicant must be revealed upon request.

CBC and Reference Check Policy
Employment will require a criminal background check. UWM takes the prevention of sexual misconduct seriously. As such, you and your references will be required to answer questions regarding any past findings of sexual violence and sexual harassment or any pending allegations of sexual violence or sexual harassment.

Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (Clery Act)
For the UWM Annual Security and Fire Safety Reports (i.e., Clery Report), which includes statistics about reported crimes and information about campus security policies, see http://www.cleryact.uwm.edu/, or call UWM’s Dean of Students Office, Student Union 345 at (414) 229-4632 for a paper copy.

Employment Authorization
In compliance with federal law, all persons at the time of their start date will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.

UW is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other bases protected by applicable federal or State law and UW System policies. We are committed to building a workforce that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills, and encourage all qualified individuals to apply.

About Us

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) is Wisconsin’s second-largest university, with a unique dual mission of access and research to provide high-quality education for students from all backgrounds. UWM is one of 187 top research universities recognized as “R1” by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.

At UWM, we are committed to creating positive employee experiences, so our team members are able to thrive and excel in their work. UWM offers a comprehensive benefits package and contributes toward the cost of several benefit plans. Employees with a qualifying position also receive an extensive leave package including vacation, sick leave (with no expiration), personal holiday, and paid legal holidays. Please visit this link to view summary benefits information (Compensation figures are for example purposes only).