The Evolution of Search Marketing Careers in 2026
The digital marketing landscape is currently navigating one of its most transformative eras. As artificial intelligence continues to reshape how users discover information, the demand for skilled professionals who can navigate both traditional search engines and new AI-driven discovery platforms has never been higher. From the rise of Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) to the increasing complexity of multi-channel paid media, the roles currently available in the market reflect a sophisticated shift in strategy.
Whether you are a seasoned SEO veteran looking for a leadership position at an enterprise brand or a PPC specialist eager to manage large-scale budgets in the e-commerce sector, the current job market offers a diverse range of opportunities. Companies are no longer just looking for “traffic drivers”; they are seeking growth architects who can translate data into revenue and build authority in a fragmented digital world.
In this week’s roundup, we explore the latest openings across the search marketing spectrum, providing insights into the roles, responsibilities, and compensation packages offered by leading agencies and in-house teams.
Newest SEO Jobs
Search Engine Optimization is no longer a siloed discipline. Modern SEO roles now require a deep understanding of content strategy, technical site architecture, and the emerging field of Answer Engine Optimization (AEO). The following positions represent the cutting edge of organic growth hiring.
Digital Marketing Manager (SEO, Content, Social) at Zgraph
Zgraph is currently seeking a Digital Marketing Manager to lead a team focused on holistic digital initiatives. This role is ideal for a candidate who thrives in a multi-industry environment, as the position involves managing search marketing, social media, email marketing, and lead management for a diverse portfolio of clients. The focus here is on leadership—managing multiple team members and simultaneous projects while ensuring that client goals are met with precision and creativity.
Manager, Digital Marketing (SEO/SEM, Growth) at HighLevel
HighLevel, a prominent cloud-based white-label marketing and sales platform, is looking for a growth-oriented Digital Marketing Manager. Supporting a community of over 2 million businesses, this role is central to the platform’s mission of empowering agencies and entrepreneurs. The candidate will be responsible for elevating the digital presence of HighLevel itself, using a blend of SEO and SEM to drive sustainable growth. This is a high-impact role within a fast-scaling tech environment.
Organic Growth Strategist at Omniscient Digital
Omniscient Digital, an agency known for partnering with heavyweights like SAP, Adobe, Loom, and Hotjar, is hiring an Organic Growth Strategist with a specific focus on outreach and link building. This role involves partnering with high-authority brands to secure high-quality backlinks, which remain a cornerstone of organic authority. If you are a specialist in building relationships and understand the nuances of B2B SaaS growth, this position offers a chance to work with some of the most ambitious companies in the software space.
Digital Marketing Manager (SEO/SEM) at Tanvex Biopharma USA Inc
In the biopharmaceutical sector, Tanvex Biopharma is looking for a Digital Marketing Manager who can evolve into a strategic marketing leader. Working closely with the Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), the successful candidate will shape the company’s go-to-market strategy while executing high-impact SEO and SEM programs. This role highlights the growing importance of search marketing in specialized industries like life sciences, where precision and authority are paramount.
Digital Marketing Manager (SEO/Graphic Design) at Happy Camper
Blending creativity with technical optimization, Happy Camper—a restaurant group known for its art-inspired spaces—is seeking a manager who can handle both SEO and graphic design. This unique combination of skills is becoming more common in the lifestyle and hospitality sectors, where visual branding must go hand-in-hand with digital discoverability. If you have a “marinara-muddled mind” and a passion for social gatherings, this creative role offers a refreshing take on the standard marketing position.
Law Firm Digital Marketing Manager (Content, SEO/SEM) at Fischetti Law Group
Legal marketing is a highly competitive niche, and Fischetti Law Group is looking for a results-driven manager to lead its digital presence. Based in-office, this role focuses on expanding the brand of a fast-growing Personal Injury and Estate Planning firm. The position offers performance-based bonuses and emphasizes lead generation through a combination of content strategy and search optimization.
Digital Marketing Manager (SEO, SEM, Social, Programmatic) at American Water Resources LLC
Oncourse Home Solutions (OHS), a $500M organization owned by Apax Partners, is hiring for its brand American Water Resources. This role covers a broad spectrum of digital marketing, including programmatic advertising. With a customer base of over 1.9 million, the focus is on large-scale customer acquisition and brand management across multiple digital channels.
SEO/GEO/AEO Digital Marketing Manager at AppFolio
Perhaps one of the most forward-looking titles on this list, AppFolio is hiring a manager specifically focused on SEO, GEO (Generative Engine Optimization), and AEO. This role is dedicated to carrying real estate technology into the future by ensuring the brand is visible across AI-powered search surfaces. This is a clear indicator of how industry leaders are beginning to prioritize “modern discovery” over traditional rankings alone.
Sr. Manager of Digital Marketing (SEO, SEM, Content, Technical) at VeSync
VeSync, the company behind popular wellness brands like Levoit and COSORI, is seeking a Senior Manager to oversee its digital marketing portfolio. This role requires a strong technical SEO foundation and the ability to manage complex content and SEM strategies. As a young and energetic company, VeSync offers a dynamic environment for someone looking to impact the health and wellness consumer market.
Senior SEO Strategist at Mad Fish Digital
Mad Fish Digital is looking for a veteran to lead enterprise-level organic strategies. This role focuses heavily on AI-powered SERPs, Google AI Overviews, and Large Language Models (LLMs). As a trusted advisor to high-growth clients, the Senior SEO Strategist will own both the high-level strategy and the granular execution required to stay ahead of Google’s rapidly changing algorithms.
Newest PPC and Paid Media Jobs
Paid media remains the fastest way to drive results, but the complexity of platforms like Meta, Google Ads, and TikTok requires specialized expertise. This week’s listings show a strong demand for managers who can balance budget pacing with high-level creative strategy.
Digital Paid Media Manager at Buzz Franchise Brands
Located in Virginia Beach, Buzz Franchise Brands is offering a salary between $70,000 and $90,000 for a Digital Paid Media Manager. This in-office role involves managing campaigns for a multi-brand franchise company. The benefits package is comprehensive, including 401(k) matching and various wellness resources, making it an attractive option for those in the Virginia area looking for a stable, growth-oriented environment.
Account Manager, Paid Social at DEPT®
DEPT®, a global agency known for its “born digital” philosophy, is hiring a remote Account Manager for its Paid Social department. With a salary range of $70,000 to $80,000, this role is perfect for a self-driven individual who wants to work at the intersection of technology and marketing. DEPT® prioritizes curiosity and innovation, making it a great fit for pioneers in the social ad space.
Paid Search Manager at Nutricost
Nutricost, a supplement brand with high-profile partnerships like Shaquille O’Neal and the Utah Jazz, is seeking a Paid Search Manager in Vineyard, UT. Offering a salary of $50,000 to $70,000, this role involves leading the strategy and execution of paid search campaigns to promote health and performance products nationwide. This is a great opportunity to work with a brand that has significant national visibility.
Paid Search Manager at Dell Technologies
For those looking for enterprise-level responsibility, Dell Technologies is hiring a Paid Search Manager in Round Rock, TX. With a salary range of $148,750 to $192,500, this onsite position involves supervising a team of specialists and managing massive budgets to meet strict business objectives. This is a high-level leadership role requiring significant operational rigor and the ability to collaborate across large internal departments.
Manager, Digital Media – Paid Search at Sam’s Club
Sam’s Club is hiring a Senior Manager in Bentonville, AR, with a salary range between $80,000 and $155,000. This role sits at the intersection of marketing planning, analytics, and technical enablement. The focus is on measurement enablement—ensuring that every dollar spent on paid search is tracked and optimized for maximum growth. It is a vital position for one of the company’s largest growth engines.
Other Specialist Roles in the Search Ecosystem
Beyond traditional SEO and PPC, there are several specialized and executive roles that highlight the current trends in search marketing, including a heavy emphasis on AI and high-end content strategy.
Senior Management and Director Roles
The market for senior leadership is particularly strong. Kennison & Associates is looking for a Senior Manager of SEO in Boston with a salary range of $150,000 to $180,000. This hybrid role focuses on “search-powered performance” and AI initiatives. Similarly, Turo is hiring a Senior Manager of SEO in San Francisco ($168,000 – $210,000) to own the entire organic growth strategy, from technical SEO to authority building.
In the content space, ClarityPay is hiring a Senior Content Marketing Manager/Director in New York ($95,000 – $135,000) to create high-quality narratives across web, LinkedIn, and SMS. TrustedTech is also looking for a Senior Content Manager in Irvine, CA ($110,000 – $130,000) to develop strategies that support demand generation and sales enablement.
AI Search and GEO Specialists
Reflecting the shift toward AI, Big Think Capital is hiring an SEO and AI Search Optimization Manager in New York ($100,000). The focus of this role is specifically on GEO (Generative Engine Optimization). Similarly, NoGood is seeking a remote Search Engine Optimization Manager (£80,000 – $100,000) to build and execute GEO/AEO strategies that maximize brand visibility across Large Language Models and AI search surfaces.
Niche and Execution Roles
For those who prefer specialized execution, there are several noteworthy openings:
- Backlink Manager (Remote): SEOforEcommerce is offering $60,000 for a manager to oversee backlink production and outreach-based link building.
- PPC Specialist (Remote): BrixxMedia is hiring for a role paying $80,000 – $115,000, focusing on bid strategies, audience segmentation, and remarketing programs.
- Performance Marketing Manager (Remote): Mailgun by Sinch is looking for a manager ($100,000 – $125,000) to optimize campaigns across YouTube, Google Ads, and Connected TV (CTV).
- Senior Copywriter (Hybrid): Viking is seeking a copywriter in Los Angeles ($95,000 – $110,000) for editorial features and travel articles.
- Paid Search Marketing Manager (Remote): LawnStarter is offering $90,000 – $125,000 for someone to manage complex SEM and Local Services Ads (LSA) at scale.
The Shift Toward AEO and GEO: What You Need to Know
One of the most significant trends in these job listings is the recurring mention of AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) and GEO (Generative Engine Optimization). As Google integrates Gemini into its search results and platforms like Perplexity gain traction, companies are realizing that traditional blue-link SEO is no longer sufficient.
Managers in these new roles are expected to understand how LLMs process information. This involves optimizing for brand mentions within AI-generated responses, ensuring that technical data is easily “scrapable” by AI bots, and creating content that serves as a definitive “answer” rather than just a topical guide. If you are applying for roles in 2026, demonstrating a working knowledge of these surfaces will be a major competitive advantage.
Salary Trends and Remote Work Reality
The salary data from this week’s listings shows a healthy range for search marketing professionals. Entry-to-mid-level management roles are typically hovering in the $70,000 to $95,000 range, while senior strategist and director roles at enterprise companies like Turo or Dell are reaching well into the $150,000 to $200,000+ bracket.
In terms of work environment, the “Remote vs. Hybrid vs. Onsite” debate continues. While many agencies like DEPT® and NoGood remain fully remote, large enterprises and specialized firms (Dell, Sam’s Club, Fischetti Law Group) are increasingly requiring onsite or hybrid presence. This suggests that while the flexibility of remote work is still available, high-level leadership and enterprise-level execution often still happen in a physical office setting.
Preparing for Your Next Step in Search
If you are looking to apply for one of these positions, your portfolio needs to reflect more than just “improved rankings.” Modern hiring managers are looking for:
- Full-Funnel Thinking: Can you connect an SEO strategy to actual revenue or LTV (Lifetime Value)?
- Technical Adaptability: Are you familiar with AI search surfaces and how they differ from traditional SERPs?
- Cross-Channel Proficiency: Can you manage a PPC budget while understanding its impact on organic brand lift?
The search marketing world is moving fast, and these listings show that the industry is leaning into a future defined by AI, data-driven measurement, and high-quality content. Stay updated, keep refining your technical skills, and check back regularly as the market continues to evolve.