SEO Manager

Location

Lake Forest, IL  / Chicago, IL

Work Location Type:
Hybrid

W.W. Grainger, Inc., is a leading broad line distributor with operations primarily in North America, Japan and the United Kingdom. At Grainger, We Keep the World Working® by serving more than 4.5 million customers worldwide with products and solutions delivered through innovative technology and deep customer relationships. Known for its commitment to service and award‑winning culture, the Company had 2024 revenue of $17.2 billion across its two business models.

In the High‑Touch Solutions segment, Grainger offers approximately 2 million maintenance, repair and operating (MRO) products and services, including technical support and inventory management. In the Endless Assortment segment,  offers customers access to more than 14 million products, and  offers more than 24 million products. For more information, visit

The anticipated base pay compensation range for this position is $ to $.

With benefits starting on day one, our programs provide choice and flexibility to meet team members' individual needs, including:

• Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans with coverage starting on day one of employment and 6 free sessions each year with a licensed therapist to support your emotional wellbeing.
• 18 paid time off (PTO) days annually for full‑time employees (accrual prorated based on employment start date) and 6 company holidays per year.
• 6% company contribution to a 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan each pay period, no employee contribution required.
• Employee discounts, tuition reimbursement, student loan refinancing and free access to financial counseling, education, and tools.
• Maternity support programs, nursing benefits, and up to 14 weeks paid leave for birth parents and up to 4 weeks paid leave for non‑birth parents.

The Search Engine Optimization Manager is responsible for implementing and managing the end‑to‑end organic search strategy, delivering strong gains in visibility, traffic quality, and revenue. This role pairs technical Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and content expertise with a forward‑looking approach that embraces innovation and emerging AI‑driven search experiences. Through strong cross‑functional leadership, the SEO Manager drives organizational alignment on SEO priorities and oversees the roadmap and investments required to scale our capabilities and accelerate long‑term business growth.

This is a hybrid position that is based onsite in Lake Forest or Chicago 3 days a week.

• Own the enterprise SEO program by defining objectives, KPIs, and governance; monitor performance and report progress against goals.
• Execute integrated initiatives across technical SEO, content, and UX to improve organic visibility, engagement, and conversion; track impact using agreed metrics and dashboards.
• Partner with cross‑functional teams (Technology, Merchandising, Marketing) to prioritize SEO work; document decisions, dependencies, and timelines.
• Lead SEO testing and roadmap by defining hypotheses, test plans, and success criteria; publish results and recommendations to stakeholders.
• Inform site architecture, internal linking, and taxonomy changes through documented requirements and acceptance criteria to support SEO and user navigation.
• Oversee local listings management to maintain accurate data and improve local search visibility; define escalation and audit routines.
• Maintain standard processes, reporting, and alerts to monitor site health and SEO performance; drive remediation for issues discovered.
• Monitor search trends and algorithm updates (incl. AI‑driven changes) and provide evidence‑based recommendations for program adjustments.
• Set clear expectations for a team, coach on SEO standards, review work quality, and support performance management processes.

• Bachelor's Degree or equivalent experience in marketing or related field required.
• 5+ years experience managing large‑scale organic search program for well‑established online retailer(s) required.
• Experience operating organic search programs for an established online retailer;…