SEO - AEO Manager

Backbone Media•Carbondale, CO

3d•$55,000 - $60,000•Hybrid

About The Position

SEO + AEO Manager Carbondale, CO or Denver, CO. This role requires in-person work from our office 2+ days/week, with remote flexibility the rest of the week. At Backbone, we live by the mantra that passion drives results. We are insiders of the outside and it’s our job to advocate for the brands we believe in. But to us, it's more than just a job, because we live those brands day in and day out. We've always believed it's possible to bridge the gap between work and personal passions, and our team is full of talented people who share in that vision. Ours is a team of smart, driven marketers, drawn together by a passion for the outdoors and doing great work for great brands. Find out more about us at backbone.media The Role The SEO + AEO Manager supports the execution of modern organic discovery strategies for Backbone clients. This includes traditional search engine optimization as well as emerging opportunities in generative search, AI-powered discovery, and Answer Engine Optimization (AEO). Reporting to the Senior SEO Manager, this role focuses on implementing SEO initiatives, conducting research and analysis, and executing optimization recommendations across client accounts. The SEO + AEO Manager works closely with the team lead to translate strategic direction into actionable tasks that improve visibility, traffic, and discoverability across search engines, ecommerce environments, and evolving AI-driven search experiences. This position is ideal for a candidate with a strong foundation in SEO who is interested in expanding their expertise across technical SEO, content optimization, structured data, and emerging AI search ecosystems.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree preferred:
1–2 years of SEO experience within an agency environment preferred
2–3 years of SEO experience overall (agency or in-house)
Solid understanding of SEO fundamentals including technical SEO, on-page optimization, and search intent
Experience working with SEO tools such as SEMrush, Ahrefs, Moz, Screaming Frog, and Google Keyword Planner
Familiarity with structured data, schema markup, and how machine-readable content impacts discoverability
Understanding of how content structure, product data, and site architecture influence visibility in search engines and AI-powered search experiences
Ability to analyze performance data and translate insights into actionable optimization recommendations
Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines
Clear and effective communication when working with internal teams and contributing to client deliverables
Detail-oriented with strong analytical and problem-solving abilities
Proficiency in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Excel
Experience working with Google Analytics and reporting platforms

Nice To Haves

Experience working with ecommerce websites or product-driven brands
Experience implementing or recommending schema and structured data
Basic understanding of PR, affiliate marketing, paid search, community management, and integrated media strategies
Experience working with reporting platforms such as Google Data Studio / Looker Studio
Understanding of Backbone’s core values
A love of the outdoors

Responsibilities

Execute SEO and AEO initiatives across client accounts based on strategic direction from the Senior SEO Manager
Conduct SEO audits to identify opportunities across site architecture, internal linking, technical SEO, and content structure
Support optimization of product pages, category pages, and content hubs to improve organic visibility and conversion
Perform keyword, topic, and search intent research to inform optimization and content opportunities
Translate research insights into actionable recommendations for site improvements and new content initiatives
Assist in identifying opportunities to improve client visibility across generative search results and AI-powered answer engines
Recommend improvements to structured data, schema markup, and content formatting to support rich results and AI-readable content
Support entity and topic mapping initiatives that strengthen brand authority across key subject areas
Monitor organic performance against KPIs and identify trends, opportunities, and optimization priorities
Prepare performance reports and insights for internal teams and client updates
Support client communication by contributing analysis, recommendations, and reporting for client meetings
Collaborate with internal teams including content, PR, paid media, and analytics to support integrated marketing initiatives
Assist with SEO audits and analysis for new business opportunities
Stay informed on evolving SEO, generative search, and AI discovery trends and share insights with internal teams