SEO Strategist — Multi-Site Local News

We are a growing Australian technology and local-media company building a large network of city-focused news websites. We are seeking an experienced SEO strategist to create and guide an evidence-based organic-search programme across the network.

This is a long-term, remote, full-time independent-contractor role. It is a senior strategy position—not a bulk-content, link-spam or junior keyword-list role. You will turn search data, competitor evidence and site observations into clear priorities that editorial, research and engineering teams can implement safely.

THE ROLE
You will develop the SEO strategy for a multi-site local-news network. Your work will cover technical SEO, information architecture, local search intent, content planning, internal linking, structured data and performance measurement. You will balance organic growth with editorial quality, geographic relevance and sustainable search practices.

WHAT YOU WILL DO
• Audit public websites for crawlability, indexation, duplication, canonicalisation, internal-linking and template-level risks.
• Build practical keyword and topic frameworks for cities, local services, events, news and evergreen information.
• Identify search intent, content gaps, cannibalisation and opportunities across many related sites without creating thin or repetitive pages.
• Recommend scalable information architecture, taxonomy, navigation and internal-linking improvements.
• Prepare clear technical briefs for engineers covering metadata, sitemaps, robots directives, structured data, page templates and performance priorities.
• Create editorial SEO guidance that supports accurate, genuinely local content rather than keyword stuffing.
• Define useful KPIs, reporting methods and test plans for rankings, impressions, clicks, index coverage and qualified traffic.
• Prioritise work by expected impact, effort, risk and confidence.
• Review the work of keyword/SERP researchers and turn findings into decisions.
• Monitor major search changes and explain their likely impact without chasing short-term tactics.

WHAT YOU WILL BRING
• Demonstrated experience leading SEO strategy for content-rich, publishing, marketplace or multi-location websites.
• Strong technical SEO knowledge, including crawling, indexation, canonicals, redirects, sitemaps, structured data and JavaScript-rendering considerations.
• Strong keyword research, SERP analysis, information-architecture and content-brief skills.
• Experience diagnosing traffic changes and separating correlation from likely cause.
• Familiarity with tools such as Google Search Console, GA4, Screaming Frog, Ahrefs, Semrush or comparable platforms.
• Excellent written English and the ability to explain priorities clearly to editorial and engineering teams.
• Sound judgement about search-engine guidelines, content quality and reputational risk.
• Reliable availability and disciplined timekeeping.

HELPFUL EXPERIENCE
• Local SEO or multi-location publishing.
• News SEO, Google Discover, Google News or fast-changing editorial environments.
• Large-scale site networks, programmatic templates or international/localised content.
• SQL, Looker Studio or spreadsheet-based analysis.

ACCESS AND SECURITY
This role does not require privileged production access. Initial work will use public websites, public search results and supplied or redacted reports/exports. Never include passwords, API keys, private analytics exports, confidential client data or proprietary materials in your application. Shortlisted applicants may be asked to sign confidentiality and intellectual-property terms before receiving scoped internal information.

HOW SUCCESS WILL BE MEASURED
• A clear, prioritised SEO roadmap that teams can implement.
• Improved crawl efficiency, index quality and search visibility.
• Growth in qualified organic traffic without sacrificing local relevance or editorial standards.
• Fewer duplicate, thin or competing pages across the network.
• Technical and content recommendations that are specific, evidence-based and measurable.
• Clear communication and dependable follow-through.

HOW TO APPLY
Apply through this platform with a short introduction, your CV or work history, your hourly rate within the advertised range, your weekly availability, and brief answers to all three screening questions below. Please keep each answer to 2–4 sentences. Generic applications that do not answer the questions will not be considered. Include links or anonymised examples where relevant, but do not disclose another client's confidential information.

1. Describe an SEO programme you led for a large website. What did you personally d ---------- , and what measurable result followed?
2. A network has hundreds of city sites using similar templates. How would you identify and prioritise duplication, cannibalisation and weak local relevance?
3. Organic traffic falls sharply across many sites. What evidence would you collect before d ---------- whether the cause is technical, algorithmic, seasonal or content-related?

PAID STRATEGY ASSESSMENT
Shortlisted applicants may be invited to a paid, time-boxed assessment using a small set of public pages and supplied context. You will identify the highest-priority opportunities, explain the evidence, and propose a practical 30-day plan. The assessment does not require access to any live production system.

We offer long-term work, competitive senior SEO rates, clear ownership, respectful collaboration across time zones and the opportunity to shape organic growth across an expanding Australian local-media network.