SEO Manager (HR Title: SEO Strategist III

Job Description - SEO Manager (HR

Title:

SEO Strategist III) (DEA)

Job Description

Description

Salary commensurate with experience and qualifications

SMU’s more than 12,000 diverse, high-achieving students come from all 50 states and over 80 countries to take advantage of the University’s small classes, meaningful research opportunities, leadership development, community service, international study and innovative programs.

SMU is data driven, and its powerful supercomputing ecosystem – paired with entrepreneurial drive – creates an unrivaled environment for the University to deliver research excellence.

Now in its second century of achievement, SMU is recognized for the ways it supports students, faculty and alumni as they become ethical, enterprising leaders in their professions and communities. SMU’s relationship with Dallas – the dynamic center of one of the nation’s fastest-growing regions – offers unique learning, research, social and career opportunities that provide a launch pad for global impact.

SMU is nonsectarian in its teaching and committed to academic freedom and open inquiry.

As SMU continues its academic ascent, Marketing and Communications plays a central role in elevating the University’s profile and advancing its institutional priorities. Working collaboratively across campus, the team leads communications, marketing, media relations, digital and reputation-building efforts that showcase academic excellence, research, the student experience and SMU’s impact.

Through integrated planning, creative marketing and communications, proactive engagement and issues management, the team builds and protects SMU’s reputation and strengthens connections with audiences locally, nationally and globally.

This role is an on-campus, in-person position.

The SEO Manager will lead SMU’s university-wide strategy for Search Engine Optimization (SE) and Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) driving the institution’s visibility across traditional search engines and emerging AI-powered search experiences. Reporting to the Executive Director, this role is responsible for developing and executing a data-driven search strategy that advances SMU’s goals for student recruitment, academic reputation, alumni engagement, and philanthropic support.

Working closely with University Marketing and Communications, Office of Information Technology, academic schools, and administrative stakeholders, the SEO Manager will enhance the discoverability, authority, and performance of SMU.edu through technical optimization, content strategy, competitive analysis, user behavior insights, and AI search citation initiatives. The position will lead efforts to improve search rankings, increase high-quality web traffic, strengthen topical authority, and maximize lead generation opportunities.

This role will drive initiatives that will raise visibility and engagement among key audiences, including higher education leaders, top-tier prospective undergraduate and graduate students, alumni, donors, and SMU supporters and advocates.

The successful candidate will serve as the University's subject matter expert on SEO and GEO best practices, partnering with content creators, social media professionals, web developers, and school leadership to optimize digital experiences and ensure SMU maintains a strong and growing presence in an evolving search landscape shaped by generative search engines.

Work closely with the web development and Office of Information Technology teams to analyze SMU.edu website performance, develop and execute a multi-year university-level SEO and GEO strategy that attains high quality web traffic and leads to growth in program enrollment, alumni engagement, and fundraising activities.

Under the Executive Director's general directions, the SEO Manager is responsible for SEO and GEO strategy that delivers on web traffic, search ranking, and AI search citation goals. The approaches include but are not limited to keyword research, competitive analysis, industry trend analysis, user behavior analysis, and the latest AI search trends.

Audit and optimize…