Manager, SEO

Be essential at Cars Commerce

At Cars Commerce, we’re fanatical about simplifying everything about car buying and selling. We do right by our customers and consumers to better connect the industry with simplified and tierless technology to enhance, measure and drive local automotive retail. Whether through our No.1 most recognized marketplace, Cars.com, our industry-leading digital experience, Dealer Inspire, our trade and appraisal technology, AccuTrade, or our new Cars Commerce Media Network, Cars Commerce is essential for success in the automotive industry.  

No one ever travels alone here: at its core, Cars Commerce is collaboration. In fact, it’s built into the very fabric of our shared values. We like to say we Rise Together – putting people at the center of what we do, from consumer to customer to community. Life at Cars Commerce makes it easy when we share the ethos to be Open to All, encouraging open-minded communication because we know diverse thinking yields better outcomes. But critical to our success is Caring to Challenge and Taking Ownership, fueling a competitive spirit in a respectful environment where we think about tomorrow but act today. At our foundation, we have integrity, Doing the Right Thing, even when it’s hard. It’s our shared commitment to these values that makes Cars Commerce a place where growth becomes not only possible, but downright unavoidable.

But don’t take our word for it. As a U.S. News & World Report Best Company to Work For in 2024, we're obsessive about the employee experience. We are among the top 20% being declared “Best” of our industry based on six critical factors that are important to employee wellbeing, like quality of pay, benefits, work life balance and more.

Overview

The primary function of an SEO Manager is to support the professional development of SEO Specialists that report to this role, and through excellence in coaching, drive retention for the regional accounts. The SEO Manager is a mentoring/development focused role, where the majority of time is spent working one on one with direct reports on two main goals: ensuring direct report’s success in their current role and professionally developing them for their future goals.

In addition to the people-development responsibility the Manager is responsible for ongoing development of efficiencies as well as an increase in effectiveness of our digital marketing strategies.  From these initiatives they will be responsible for the development of innovative case studies, projects and experiments that bring exceptional value to all clients, and recognition to the company.

The SEO Manager will also work with the SEO and Managed Services Senior Director on specially assigned projects or initiatives focused on department improvement. 

Duties

• Hold structured one on ones with each direct report focused on:

  • Daily task execution

  • Employee growth/development goals and related action items

  • Blockers/needs

• Develop clear, actionable development plans for employees to improve their performance as an SEO Specialist by:

  • Reviewing work product for process accuracy

  • Reviewing work product for speed against guidelines

  • Reviewing work product for SEO quality/critical thinking against best practices

  • Identifying clear strengths and weaknesses

  • Providing feedback on strengths/weaknesses to encourage continued growth

  • Working with training manager as needed to create a development plan to take advantage of opportunities

• Create and coach employees towards stretch assignments to foster growth

• Conduct a monthly review of Accounts KPIs, strategies and deliverables to ensure they’re up to the highest possible standards of excellence, providing feedback to Strategists on areas of growth or opportunities. 

• Serve as second escalation step for client issues, concerns or other account-related critical situations, exercising sound judgement in communication, response and escalation.

• Compete DI-required employee performance reviews 

• Identify opportunities for and assist with innovation, testing, case studies and service development

• Manage, train-on, improve on and innovate SEO Specialist processes, including documentation 

• Coach Specialists through deep dives, using the situation as a development opportunity to improve Specialist’s skills

• Serve as support for Specialist or contact for client calls as needed

• Assist in setting and executing department OKRs

• Advocate to Department leadership on behalf of SEO Specialists for needs, issues, blockers, etc. that need resolution or attention

• Cascade departmental policy/process changes to team and demonstrate effective/clear communication in Slack, in person, and in remote collaboration settings

• Ensure work is being completed according to schedule by Specialists

• Manage individualized projects, initiatives or responsibilities as assigned by the Director

• Other administrative duties, as assigned, such as: approving employee time sheets, approving time off requests, balancing employee work schedules, employee reprimand escalation, etc. 

What Determines Success As a Manager?

• Client Success

  • Because Managers are directly responsible for coaching their Specialists to professional excellence, the clients that their Specialists work for should have strong, positive KPIs.

• Employee Satisfaction & Retention

  • Through Up Level Reviews and skip-level meeting input, Managers should be seen by their team to demonstrate the 8 Habits of Effective Managers

    • Being a good coach, empowering without micromanaging, showing interest in employee’s well being, being results oriented, being a good communicator/effective listener, assisting with career development, have a clear vision for the team, have key technical skills.

• Outcome Focused Departmental Improvement

  • SEO Managers, in addition to being mentors/coaches for their SEO Specialists, are key administrative personnel for the department. Managers will have an ongoing focus to improve processes, resolve departmental blockers and innovate service delivery and services overall. 

Necessary Skills and Requirements

• Passion for SEO

• Passion for mentoring and employee development

• Minimum 3 years in an SEO service role preferred

• Minimum 2 years in a management/supervisor role preferred

• Advanced SEO Skills

  • Google Business Profile, Citation Management, Technical, Content, Strategy, Research, Analytics

  • Demonstrated understanding of critical thinking as it applies to SEO

  • Knowledge and understanding extending past definitions and into practical application and advanced problem solving using skills/knowledge

  • Deep understanding how to read digital marketing analytics and develop effective strategies

• Ability to self-manage under limited supervision

• Creative ideation

• Confidence and comfort speaking with clients

• Comfortable delivering critical feedback upwards and downwards

• A drive to find creative and new ways to deliver results for clients, without fear of changing the status quo

• An ability to embrace change with a positive, excited attitude, and to get their team to do the same

#LI-Remote #LI-EJ

Our Comprehensive Benefits Package includes:

• Medical, Dental & Vision Healthcare Plans
• New Hire Stipend for Home Office Set-Up
• Generous PTO
• Refuel - a service based recognition program where employees receive additional paid time away to learn grow and reset
• Paid Holidays, Floating Holiday, Volunteer Day, Recharge Day

Learn more about our Benefits, Perks, & Culture on our LinkedIn Life Pages!

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. California Applicants: Click here to review our California Privacy Policy for Applicants. For current employees, please click here to review our California Privacy Policy for Employees.