Senior Manager of AEO & SEO

About the opportunity

Contentful is searching for an AEO SEO Lead to join our Brand Studio team. As generative engines answer engines and AI-powered interfaces become the primary way people discover information brands need a new kind of search leadership one that goes beyond rankings and traffic and focuses on visibility authority and influence in both human and AI-experiences. You will own the strategy evolution and execution of Contentfuls approach to Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) and AI Optimization (AIO) with SEO as a critical supporting foundation. This includes direct ownership of search and discovery performance for Contentfuls marketing website . Youll deeply impact the entire lifecycle from inclusion and citation in AI-generated responses to measurable impact on traffic engagement conversions pipeline and closed-won revenue.

You will design and lead a modern discovery program that spans AI search engines and answer engines structured content for machine interpretation brand authority and trust signals and traditional SEO where it still matters.

This is a strategic programmatic and leadership role. Youll work cross-functionally with content product marketing web brand cross-functional technical teams and demand generation to ensure Contentful is discoverable citable and authoritative in all the ways people find information today.

What to expect

Lead our AI-era discovery strategy

• Own the design and execution of a multi-quarter roadmap for GEO AEO AI discovery and traditional search initiatives including priorities success metrics and operating models
• Lead ongoing performance measurement and analysis defining success beyond traffic including AI visibility citations authority and downstream impact like conversions pipeline and revenue.
• Design and run experiments analyze outcomes and refine strategy based on results; share learnings with leadership to inform content web and product strategy
• Establish clear guidance for how Contentful content should be created structured optimized and distributed to maximize visibility in AI-generated responses
• Create operating rhythms documentation and enablement so best practices are consistently adopted across teams
• Identify and implement improvements with web team to allow AI agents including search bots LLM crawlers and conversational assistants to efficiently interpret index and act on Contentful content
• Own Contentfuls search and discovery tooling strategy including evaluation selection and ongoing use of platforms across SEO GEO and AI discovery (e.g. Profound AirOps Ahrefs Screaming Frog Search Console Contentful Analytics and emerging AI search analytics tools)

Thought leadership and external visibility

• Serve as an internal and external subject matter expert on modern search GEO and AI discovery
• Partner with Brand Comms and Product Marketing to shape POVs content talks and narratives about the future of search
• Act as a visible authentic Customer Zero representing how Contentful uses its own platform to power a cohesive search and discovery program in customer conversations webinars and events

Cross-functional partnership and leadership

• Influence and align senior stakeholders around priorities tradeoffs and investment decisions
• Directly manage a team of agencies contractors and full-time employees supporting search and discovery initiatives
• Partner closely with Demand PMM and Product to connect discovery efforts to pipeline impact revenue and product adoption
• Serve as a subject matter expert to the Product team to inform product roadmap decisions and innovation

SEO foundations

• Ensure strong SEO fundamentals across technical health content performance and site structure
• Use SEO insights as inputs to broader GEO and AEO strategy and consistently advise the team on best-practices and data-driven decision making

What you need to be successful

• 10 years of experience in search with deep expertise in SEO and a clear informed point of view on how search is evolving in the age of AI including GEO AEO and emerging discovery models
• Proven ability to design and lead strategic multi-quarter programs translating complex systems into clear priorities roadmaps and measurable outcomes
• Strong analytical judgment with a track record of interpreting data running experiments and turning insights into clear actionable recommendations
• Experience leading and influencing cross-functional teams including direct management of agencies contractors or full-time contributors
• Executive-level communication skills with the ability to clearly explain complex technical and AI-driven concepts to senior stakeholders
• Comfort operating in ambiguity building structure where none exists and evolving strategy as platforms algorithms and behaviors change
• Solid technical fluency across modern web and content systems including CMS platforms structured content and the fundamentals of HTML CSS and JavaScript
• Hands-on experience with search analytics and modern discovery tooling including traditional SEO platforms and AI-driven discovery evaluation and measurement tools

Strong pluses

• Direct experience optimizing content for LLMs answer engines or AI-powered discovery platforms
• Background in content strategy information architecture or structured content design experience with Contentful app is a huge plus!
• Experience influencing product or platform roadmaps without direct ownership
• Public thought leadership through writing speaking research or industry contribution

What success looks like

• Contentful is consistently visible cited and referenced in AI-generated answers and summaries
• Search strategy evolves proactively
• Contentful has a credible differentiated POV on AI-era discovery
• Drive quality traffic that ultimately converts into closed-won customers

Whats in it for you

• Join an ambitious tech company reshaping the way people build digital experiences
• Full-time employees receive Stock Options for the opportunity to share in the success of our company
• Comprehensive healthcare package covering 100% of monthly health premiums for employees and 85% of costs for your dependents.
• Fertility and family building benefits including a lifetime reimbursable wallet to support your growing family.
• We value Work-Life balance and You Time! A generous amount of paid time off including vacation days sick days compassion days for loss education days and volunteer days
• Company paid parental leave to care for and focus on your growing family
• Use your personal annual education budget to improve your skills and grow in your career
• Enjoy a full range of virtual and in-person events including workshops guest speakers and fun team activities supporting learning and networking exchange beyond the usual work duties
• An annual wellbeing stipend to care for your physical financial or emotional health
• A monthly communication stipend and phone hardware upgrade reimbursement.
• New hire office equipment stipend for hybrid or distributed employees. Get the gear you need to work at your best.

This role will need to be conducted in a state in which we are currently registered to do business.

New York Salary Statement: The salary range displayed is specifically for those potential hires who will work or reside in the state of New York if selected for the role. Any offered salary is determined based on internal equity internal salary ranges market data/ranges applicants skills and prior relevant experience certain degrees and certifications (e.g. JD/technology) for example.

New York Salary Range: $170000 - $230000
This position is eligible for equity awards in accordance with the terms of Contentfuls equity plans.

Who are we

Contentful is a leading digital experience platform that helps modern businesses meet the growing demand for engaging personalized content at scale. By blending composability with native AI capabilities Contentful enables dynamic personalization automated content delivery and real-time experimentation powering next-generation digital experiences across brands regions and channels for more than 4200 organizations worldwide. More than 700 people from more than 70 nations contribute their energy and creativity to Contentful working from hubs in Berlin Denver San Francisco London New York and distributed worldwide.

Everyone is welcome here!

Everyone is welcome here is a celebrated component of our culture. At Contentful we strive to create an inclusive environment that empowers our employees. We believe that our products and services benefit from our diverse backgrounds and experiences and we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applications will receive consideration for employment without regard to race color national origin religion sexual orientation gender gender identity age physical disability or length of time spent unemployed. We invite you to apply and join us!

If you need reasonable accommodations at any point during the application or interview process please let your recruiting coordinator know.

Please be aware of scammers who may fraudulently allege to be from Contentful. These types of fraud can be carried out through copycat websites fake email addresses claiming to be from our company or social media. We do not ask for your personal information such as bank account numbers identification numbers etc through social media or chat-based apps nor do we request or send money for the purchase of business equipment. If you suspect fraud please report it to your local authorities as well as reach out to us at with any information you may have.

By clicking Apply for this job I acknowledge that I have read the Contentfuls Candidate Privacy Notice and hereby consent to the collection processing use and storage of my personal information as described therein.