SEO & AI-Search Director – Contract

SALT is supporting a globally recognised advertising agency in the search for an experience freelance SEO & AI-Search Director to lead a major search programme for a large retail and lifestyle organisation operating across the GCC and MENA region.

You will initially support the development and presentation of the strategic proposal before taking responsibility for leading the account upon appointment. This is a highly visible position requiring strong Group-level search expertise, senior stakeholder management and the ability to coordinate activity across multiple brands, markets, domains and agency partners.

Key responsibilities

• Own and shape the Group-wide search strategy across SEO, App Store Optimisation and AI Search/GEO, ensuring individual brands operate within a coherent strategic framework.
• Lead a multidisciplinary delivery team comprising senior SEO, ASO, GEO and content specialists.
• Establish the account’s governance model, including reporting structures, quarterly business reviews, service-level agreements and brand approval processes.
• Act as the senior strategic contact for Group stakeholders and individual brand marketing teams.
• Manage the evolving scope of the programme as additional brands, markets and domains are introduced.
• Coordinate effectively with the organisation’s SEM and media agency, digital agency, technology teams and other specialist partners.
• Contribute to the development and presentation of the proposal, including the methodology, team structure and relevant case studies.
• Maintain a strong commercial overview of scope, deliverables, service levels and a substantial multi-business-unit retainer.

Essential experience

• Demonstrable experience leading Group-level or portfolio-wide SEO programmes across multiple brands, domains and international markets.
• Strong experience delivering search programmes within the GCC or MENA region, ideally across retail, lifestyle, entertainment, food and beverage, or real estate.
• Experience leading SEO programmes across both Arabic- and English-language markets.
• A well-developed perspective on AI Search, answer engines and Generative Engine Optimisation, supported by examples of relevant work.
• Proven experience leading multidisciplinary search teams.

*Rates depend on experience and client requirements