The opportunity This is a rare chance to step into a genuine leadership role at one of Melbourne's most forward-thinking independent digital agencies. We are recruiting on behalf of a boutique performance marketing agency that has built a market-leading AEO practice and is looking for the right person to own and grow it. This business is not experimenting with AI search. They have a codified methodology, proprietary frameworks, defined SOPs and their own agentic AI tools already in market. The demand for what they do is growing faster than their current team can supply, and this hire is about bringing in someone with the seniority and passion to lead the function through its next phase of growth. About the role Reporting directly to the Managing Director, the Senior AEO / SEO Manager will own end-to-end organic search delivery across a portfolio of clients. You will lead a small team of SEO specialists, set the strategic direction for each account, and be the driving force behind the agency's AEO capability. Day to day you will be responsible for: Building and executing 1 and 2-year SEO strategies for clients and translating those into clear delivery plans for your team Leading full technical SEO audits across crawl, indexation, Core Web Vitals, structured data and site performance Owning on-page optimisation, content planning and briefing, and off-page authority building Designing and executing AEO tactics using the Answer Architecture Blueprint, including entity optimisation, fan-out sub-query mapping and content structuring for AI citation Monitoring and improving client AI Share of Voice across Google AI Overviews, ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini and Copilot Coaching and developing a small team of SEO specialists to deliver consistent quality across the portfolio Collaborating with Paid Media, Analytics, Content, Design and Development teams to deliver integrated outcomes for clients About you You will have at least three years of SEO experience in an agency environment, working across multiple clients and industries simultaneously. You know how to operate at pace, manage competing priorities and deliver results without waiting for direction. You will bring: Strong technical SEO capability including crawl, indexation, Core Web Vitals and structured data Hands-on experience with on-page optimisation and content strategy Off-page SEO experience including link quality, risk management and digital PR A working understanding of AEO and how AI engines surface and cite content, with genuine curiosity and comfort in a fast-changing space Confidence with GA4, Google Search Console, Screaming Frog and keyword tools such as Ahrefs or Semrush Experience leading or mentoring a small team Strong communication skills and confidence working directly with clients Benifits Lead a function, not just a team Report directly to the MD with real influence over the direction of the practice Join a business that is genuinely ahead of the market, not catching up to it Work with a diverse portfolio of clients across multiple industries Competitive salary and super, commensurate with experience Hybrid working, based in Melbourne's inner south east How to apply This is a confidential search being managed exclusively by Miller Leith. To apply or find out more, please contact Josh Devlin at josh@millerleith.com.au or apply via the link below. By engaging Miller Leith for recruitment services and/or career support, you are agreeing to our Privacy Policy and Candidate Consent Form. For more information, please contact hello@millerleith.com.au. Privacy Policy: https://www.millerleith.com.au/privacy/ Consent Form: https://www.millerleith.com.au/candidate-consent/ Consultant josh@millerleith.com.au Reference number: 7400 Profession:DigitalSEO Company: Miller Leith Date posted: 18th Mar, 2026
