SEO Editor

Reports to: Director of Audience and Video

Who We Are

The Standard is a media owner that provides Culture & News for Londoners everywhere.

Through our story-first digital centric publishing we deliver content across Digital, Audio, Video, Social platforms and are launching a new weekly print product.

We are based in Finsbury Square, London.

About you

The Evening Standard is seeking an experienced and strategic SEO Editor to lead our SEO efforts and drive significant growth in our search traffic and visibility.

Skills and experience

• Extensive experience in a senior SEO role, ideally within a news or media organization.

• Proven track record of developing and executing successful SEO strategies.

• In-depth knowledge of technical SEO best practices and their application.

• Strong ability to provide SEO support and guidance to editorial teams.

• Proficiency with SEO tools such as Google Search Console, Trisolute, and SEMRush.

• Excellent leadership and team management skills.

• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data and drive decisions.

• Up-to-date knowledge of the latest search trends and optimization strategies, including Google Discover and Search Generative Experiences.

• Exceptional communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively with both technical and editorial teams.

The team and role purpose

This senior role involves overseeing all aspects of SEO, from technical optimization to daily journalistic support, ensuring that our digital content reaches the widest possible audience. The ideal candidate will possess a deep understanding of SEO best practices, a proven track record of success, and the ability to collaborate effectively with both technical and editorial teams.

To build a collaborative team everyone will be expected to be in the office a minimum of four days a week when working week-day daytime shifts. This will apply on a pro-rated basis for those who are part-time.

Successful candidates will be expected to take a flexible approach to working patterns and to be available to work evenings and weekends if required by their departmental rota.

Key responsibilities and accountabilities

• SEO Strategy Development: Create and implement comprehensive SEO strategies that enhance search visibility, drive traffic, and support the Evening Standard’s digital goals.

• Technical SEO Optimization : Oversee technical SEO initiatives, including site architecture, crawlability, indexing, site speed, mobile optimization, and structured data implementation.

• Daily Journalistic Support: Provide ongoing SEO support to the newsroom, assisting editors and journalists with on-page SEO best practices to optimize content performance.

• Breaking News SEO: Quickly formulate and execute SEO strategies for breaking news to ensure timely and relevant content reaches the largest possible audience.

• Content Planning for Major Events: Plan and oversee SEO content strategies for major events such as elections, sporting tournaments, and other significant occurrences.

• Team Leadership: Lead and mentor the SEO function, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and excellence in SEO practices.

• SEO Tools Proficiency: Utilize and manage SEO tools such as Google Search Console, Trisolute, and SEMRush to monitor performance, identify opportunities, and implement improvements.

• Collaboration with Editorial and Technical Teams: Work closely with editorial, product, and engineering teams to ensure SEO considerations are integrated into all digital initiatives.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Use data analytics to inform SEO strategies and decisions, providing insights and recommendations to senior stakeholders.

• Up-to-Date with Search Trends : Stay current with the latest SEO trends, including optimization for Google Discover and strategies for addressing Search Generative Experiences.

Expected behaviours

• Continuous improvement – works in a smart, flexible, and focussed way, is curious, open to change and suggests ideas for improvements to the way things are done.

• Building capability – keeps own knowledge and skill set current and evolving and looks for ways to continue learning to support the achievement of business objectives.

• Quality service – delivers high quality and efficient service and takes account of the diverse client needs and requirements when looking at ways to improve service quality.

The Standard Values

Trust

Fair. Honest. Accurate. From our reporting to how we conduct our relationships, trust is in our DNA.

Diversity

We are London – the most diverse city in the world. Our commitment is to represent our city with a team and through content that reflects our readers.

Innovation

Ideas are our currency. In a city that is always evolving we embrace and drive change across all our platforms, within our team and as a business.

Collaboration

We’re in this together – as colleagues, stakeholders, and citizens of our great capital. Teamwork is key to our success – inside and outside of the building.

Resilience

Through every one of history’s landmark moments The Standard has responded and delivered. We’re proud to be a news brand with a powerful legacy – and a focus on the future.

Diversity Statement: our commitment to diversity and inclusion

At The Standard our ambition is to represent our city with a team and through content that reflects our audience. We want to attract those voices previously underrepresented in media, offering a rewarding career and opportunities for all.

Teamwork is key to our success. We want all our people to feel like they belong and that their voices matter.

If you need any assistance or adjustments during the process, please contact us.