SEO Director

Overview

Assembly is made of the ingredients of the modern agency, bringing together data, talent, and technology to deliver a connected set of solutions for media + more to the best brands on the planet. We’re home to more than 1,800 of the industry’s top talent across 30+ offices, who bring unmatched global omnichannel media expertise + data, technology, and business consulting capabilities that find change and fuel growth for brands worldwide. Assembly is a proud member of Stagwell, the challenger network built to transform marketing. Learn more about Assembly here: We are currently recruiting for a forward-thinking SEO Director to be based in Dubai , to lead advanced strategies that drive measurable organic growth in the MENA region. This role demands a deep understanding of regional search behaviors, international and multilingual SEO, and the evolving landscape of search, including the integration of AI, large language models (LLMs), and cross-channel integration to drive organic growth for high-profile clients across diverse industries.

Responsibilities

Leadership (Strategy & Team):

• Develop and implement SEO strategies considering regional search trends, cultural nuances, local consumer behavior and that account for the growing influence of AI-powered search engines, LLMs (e.g., ChatGPT, Bard), and voice search in user journeys.
• Align SEO efforts with clients’ broader business and digital transformation objectives, making SEO a core driver of regional growth.
• Build and manage a high-performing SEO team, ensuring expertise in both technical and content-related aspects and emerging AI-driven trends.
• Foster a culture of innovation, encouraging the adoption of new tools and techniques that keep clients ahead in a changing search landscape.

Adaptation to Emerging Search Trends:

• Stay ahead of changes in search behavior driven by AI, conversational search, and zero-click searches, and incorporate these trends into SEO strategies.
• Optimize for AI-generated answers (Featured Snippets, People Also Ask) and ensure content aligns with LLMs to increase brand visibility across emerging platforms.
• Explore opportunities for clients to leverage generative AI tools in content creation and optimization, maintaining authenticity and regional relevance.

Technical SEO Expertise:

• Conduct comprehensive technical audits, optimizing site architecture, crawl efficiency, and indexing for large-scale, multilingual websites.
• Implement solutions for challenges like structured data for AI-driven answers, Core Web Vitals, and regional hosting impacts

Data-Driven Insights:

• Utilize advanced analytics platforms and custom reporting tools to track SEO performance across traditional and AI-driven search engines.
• Provide insights on how organic search contributes to business outcomes, adapting strategies based on performance trends and evolving algorithms.
• Help develop custom dashboards to track local and regional KPIs, presenting results in a clear, client-friendly manner.

Cross-Channel Integration:

• Collaborate closely with Paid Media, PR, Content, and Social Media teams to ensure SEO is fully integrated into broader marketing campaigns.
• Support clients in aligning SEO with regional Martech stacks to enhance personalization and user experiences.

Client & Stakeholder Management:

• Act as a trusted advisor to clients, addressing complex SEO challenges such as adapting to AI-powered algorithms, regional competition, and emerging search behaviors.
• Present SEO strategies and results to senior stakeholders, clearly linking efforts to business growth and competitive advantages.

Thought Leadership:

• Stay up-to-date with the latest trends in search engine algorithms (Google, YouTube, other search engines), and consumer behavior.
• Represent the agency in regional conferences, industry events, and webinars, showcasing thought leadership in the digital space.
• Stay at the forefront of search industry changes, including developments in LLMs, conversational AI, and search engine algorithms.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in SEO, including leadership roles.
• Proven expertise in managing enterprise-level, international and multilingual websites.
• Strong technical SEO knowledge, including JavaScript frameworks, Core Web Vitals, and structured data.
• Deep understanding of regional search behavior, local SEO, and the cultural nuances of MENA markets.
• Experience with enterprise SEO tools (e.g., OnCrawl, Ahrefs, Semrush, Screaming Frog, etc.) and analytics platforms.
• Excellent stakeholder management and presentation skills, with experience influencing C-suite executives.
• Fluency in English is mandatory; knowledge of Arabic is a strong advantage.

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