Search & AI Strategist

Search and AI Strategist at Whole Whale

Whole Whale is a certified B Corp digital agency dedicated to amplifying the impact of social impact organizations. By leveraging data, technology, and digital strategies, we empower nonprofits to maximize their resources and drive meaningful change. Our expertise in web analytics, digital advertising, SEO, and content marketing helps organizations build capacity and create measurable results.

Role Description

We're looking for a sharp, curious, and mission-aligned SEO, AEO & AI Strategist to join our fully remote team. This is a mid-level role at the intersection of traditional search optimization, emerging answer engine optimization (AEO), AI and data-driven strategy. You'll work directly with nonprofit and social impact clients to build and execute strategies that drive meaningful, measurable results, not just traffic for traffic's sake.

If you've been watching how AI and LLM tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Google's AI Overviews are reshaping how people find information — and you're already thinking about what that means for content strategy — this role is for you.

What You'll Do

• Develop and execute SEO and AEO strategies for nonprofit and for-good clients, with a focus on increasing visibility in both traditional search and AI-powered answer engines (ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews, Claude, and others)
• Conduct technical SEO audits, keyword research, and content gap analyses tailored to mission-driven organizations
• Structure and optimize content to grow visibility in AI and search platforms
• Guide AI strategy and create custom AI tools (e.g. CauseWriter.ai) and agentic solutions to automate and improve nonprofit and business processes
• Develop custom reports and dashboards using Google Analytics 4, Looker Studio, SEMRush, AI and other tools
• Translate data into clear, actionable insights for clients who may not have deep technical backgrounds
• Collaborate with content, ads, and technical infrastructure teams to align strategy across channels
• Stay ahead of the curve on algorithm updates, AI search trends, and emerging best practices — and bring those insights back to the team and our clients

What We're Looking For

• 2–4 years of hands-on SEO experience, ideally in an agency or multi-client environment
• Working knowledge of AEO and GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) principles; you understand that ranking #1 in traditional search engines and being cited by an AI are increasingly different goals
• Proficiency with advanced Analytics and SEO tools like Google Search Console, Bing Webmaster Tools, Moz, SEMrush, Ahrefs, Moz, GA4, and Looker Studio
• Familiarity with how to refine and build the skill.md files that inform agentic systems to improve tools and reports with Claude/Cowork/CODEX
• Strong analytical mindset: you're comfortable in a spreadsheet and know how to tell a story with data
• Experience with or a genuine understanding of the nonprofit sector and the unique strategic challenges mission-driven organizations face
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills: you can explain a technical rec to a non-technical person without making their eyes glaze over
• Self-directed and organized: fully remote means we trust you to manage your time and your client work well
• Comfort with AI tools as part of your daily workflow (not just a buzzword - you actually use them)

Bonus Points

• Direct experience working with nonprofits, NGOs, or social impact organizations
• Familiarity with Google Ad Grants and how search ads intersect with SEO strategy
• Experience with structured data and schema markup for AI discoverability
• Experience or understanding of Google Tag Manager and how it is used to easily improve visibility on web analytics
• Hands-on experience building or customizing AI tools, whether that's configuring Google Gems, working with Claude Projects, or experimenting with Claude Code to automate workflows and solve real problems

How To Apply

Send an email to jobs@wholewhale.com with the subject line “Search and AI Strategist”. Please include each of the following elements:

• Resume
• Salary requirements (see salary band)
• Responses to the following:
• What is your personal experience with SEO, AEO, or Analytics? Please share examples.
• How are you currently thinking about AEO or AI search visibility in your work? Give an example, even if it’s experimental or early stage.
• Please share an example of an AI solution you have personally developed recently, and how that has changed your workflow.

Whole Whale is an impact-driven B-corp digital agency that is committed to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive team. While we strive for a diverse mix of candidates, all employment decisions are made without regard to race, sex, or other protected characteristics. Having different backgrounds, life experiences, knowledge, capabilities, and talents is what gives our team its unique strength and allows us to best serve our diverse clients and causes. Candidate applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

Salary + Benefits

All full-time hires are subject to a 90-day probationary period but are eligible to enroll in core benefits like health, vision, and dental care right away. Whole Whale’s full awesome benefits for full-time employees include:

• 100% Paid Health, vision, dental care: Base plan premiums fully covered along with additional plans to meet your needs.
• Unlimited PTO: Minimum of 10 vacation or sick days must be taken each year with more time encouraged. We count work getting done, not working days.
• Technology budget: New employees get a tech allocation for a computer and equipment as needed to facilitate better work-from-home productivity.
• Learning budget: $750 a year to spend on approved educational activities, books, classes, or conferences. We’re serious about learning.
• Wellness budget: $400 a year to spend on enhancing your physical and mental wellbeing.
• Cell phone: Coverage of phone costs up to $700/year for any employees who choose to join the company Verizon phone plan.
• 401k with 4% company match: 401k with Betterment matching up to 4% of salary and an option for a socially responsible investment portfolio.
• Annual profit share: Percentage of company profits shared annually as a 401k distribution to full-time employees who qualify.
• Student loan assistance: Up to $600/yr ($50 off monthly payment) after 1 year of service to support student loan repayment (up to $1800/yr after 3+ yrs).
• Commission: 5% commission fee up to $5,000 for new business generated by the employee.
• Paid parental leave: Up to 12 weeks of paid leave for new parents, and up to 3 months of flexible time as required.

Key skills/competency

• SEO Strategy
• AEO Strategy
• AI Tools
• Data Analysis
• Content Optimization
• Google Analytics 4
• SEMrush
• Looker Studio
• Nonprofit Sector
• Client Communication