SEM Senior Specialist

Development Counsellors International (DCI), headquartered in New York City, is looking to hire a remote SEM Senior Specialist to join our place marketing team in Ontario. For more information about DCI visit

Do you want to impact how communities grow? Are you interested in playing a role in creating jobs? Do you want to learn what motivates people to move locations, and then use that knowledge to help them find their ideal landing spot?

We’re looking for a data-driven, detail-oriented SEM Senior Specialist with strong SEO experience and working knowledge of paid media. This role requires someone who can independently manage SEO programs, support client communication, and contribute strategic insight across campaigns. The ideal candidate has solid technical experience, is comfortable taking ownership of client deliverables, and thrives in a fast-moving agency environment.

As an SEM Senior Specialist, you will manage multiple SEO programs and support integrated SEM campaigns targeting corporate executives, skilled workers, and leisure travelers. This role includes client communication, SEO strategy execution, content optimization, performance reporting, and collaboration across paid media initiatives.

You will report directly to the Director of SEM & Media but will work alongside client strategy and client success leads as well as the performance team. In addition, you will collaborate with DCI’s other service teams, like social/content, PR, and more.

As a firm that specializes in attracting visitors, businesses and a talented workforce to communities around the world, we’re looking for someone who has a passion for places and a keen understanding of what motivates a tourist, business executive or employee to pick a destination. The SEM Senior Specialist will have at least 3-4 years of SEO experience, preferably with some knowledge of economic development, talent attraction and/or the tourism/travel marketing industry and at least 1 year of experience in paid advertising.

• Lead day-to-day project management for assigned SEO accounts, ensuring deliverables are on time, organized, and aligned with strategy and scope.
• Manage day-to-day SEO execution across multiple client accounts, including keyword research, on-page optimization, technical recommendations, and content strategy implementation.
• Conduct SEO audits and translate findings into clear recommendations and actionable plans.
• Support implementation of AI-era SEO best practices, including content structuring, authority-building, and emerging GEO considerations to improve visibility in both traditional and AI-driven discovery environments.
• Write and optimize SEO-driven content for economic development and talent attraction clients.
• Draft SEM and performance insights for client reports, and support client communication in collaboration with Client Success Leads and Strategists.
• Support paid media execution across Google Ads, Linked In, and Meta platforms, including audience development, campaign setup, budget tracking, and optimization support.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with strategy, client success, PR, and social teams to ensure integrated digital performance.
• Contribute to internal process improvements and evolving SEO and GEO best practices as part of DCI’s modernization efforts.

• Strong working knowledge of SEO, with 3–4 years of hands-on experience in on-page optimization, SEO content strategy, and technical implementation.
• Experience with tools such as SEMRush, Clearscope, or similar platforms required.
• Familiarity with how AI-driven search experiences are reshaping content visibility and a willingness to adapt SEO strategy accordingly.
• Proficiency or familiarity with paid ad platforms:
  Google Ads, Linked In Campaign Manager, and/or Facebook Business Manager.
• Experiencing using Google Analytics 4 & Google Ads;
  Google Tag Manager experience a plus.
• Highly proficient in Microsoft Suite, with at least intermediate knowledge of Excel;
  Microsoft Teams experience a plus.
• A self-starter with strong organizational skills and extreme attention to detail.
• Strong client management and communication skills.
• Basic understanding of Google…