Search Engine Optimization - Lead

We are looking for an SEO Lead who writes and edits with the precision of a senior newsroom editor and the clarity of a seasoned news anchor.

• Job Title: SEO Lead - Editorial
• Website: Globalindian.com
• Location: Hitec City, Hyderabad
• Employment: Full time
• Works with: Editors, Writers, Web Developer, Design, Social and Digital PR
• Experience: 6-10 years in SEO (News, Media or Large content side background is an added bonus)

About the Role:

As SEO Lead, you will own the site's organic growth. You will decide what we publish for search, shape how every headline and summary reads, and make sure our journalism is found by the readers it was written for.

This is not a keyword-stuffing role. We want someone whose English is flawless, whose instinct for a headline matches a front-page editor's, and who knows that the best-ranking page is usually the best-written one.

The language standard we expect

• Grammar, punctuation and usage that hold up to a senior copy desk, every time.

• Headlines and meta descriptions that are accurate, compelling and never clickbait.

• A clear, neutral, authoritative voice, in the manner of a respected news anchor.

• Command of a house style guide, and the discipline to enforce it.

Key Responsibilities:

SEO strategy and growth

• Own the organic search strategy for GlobalIndian.com and deliver sustained growth in traffic, visibility and engagement.

• Build quarterly SEO plans tied to editorial priorities and business goals.

• Track algorithm updates and adjust strategy quickly and calmly.

Editorial SEO

• Write and edit SEO headlines, meta titles, descriptions, URLs and summaries to a publication-ready standard.

• Brief writers on search intent, structure and angle before they start, not after they finish.

• Edit copy for clarity, accuracy and readability without diluting the story.

• Keep content aligned with Google's E-E-A-T and helpful-content principles.

News and Discover

• Optimise stories for Google News, Top Stories and Discover.

• Spot trending topics early and help the desk publish while interest peaks.

• Refresh and consolidate evergreen pages so they stay accurate and competitive.

Technical SEO

• Work with the web developer on site architecture, internal linking, Core Web Vitals, crawlability and indexing.

• Manage structured data (NewsArticle, Article, FAQ, Breadcrumb), sitemaps, canonicals and redirects.

• Audit the site regularly and resolve issues raised in Google Search Console.

Authority building

• Grow high-quality backlinks through Digital PR and earned media, not paid or guest-post links.

• Partner with the PR team to turn original stories and data into linkable assets.

Analytics and reporting

• Report weekly and monthly on traffic, rankings, CTR and conversions using GA4 and Search Console.

• Present findings in plain, precise English that senior leaders can act on.

Leadership and standards

• Own the SEO and style guidelines, and train writers and editors to apply them.

• Mentor junior SEO executives or freelancers as the team grows.

Required Skills and Qualifications

• Bachelor's or master's degree in English, Journalism, Mass Communication, Marketing or a related field.

• 6+ years in SEO, with at least 3 years on a news, media or high-volume content website.

• Exceptional written and spoken English: error-free, elegant and confident, at the level of a top-tier newspaper editor or national news anchor.

• A proven record of growing organic traffic, with figures you can show and explain.

• Deep knowledge of Google News, Discover, E-E-A-T and core algorithm updates.

• Hands-on with Google Search Console, GA4, Ahrefs or Semrush, and Screaming Frog.

• Working knowledge of WordPress, HTML, schema markup and Core Web Vitals.

• Sound editorial judgement on accuracy, tone and sensitive subjects.

• Ability to work to news deadlines without lowering standards.

Preferred Skills

• Newsroom experience as a sub-editor, copy editor or reporter.

• Knowledge of the Indian diaspora, global mobility, education abroad or international careers.

• Experience recovering organic traffic after a technical or algorithmic setback.

• Familiarity with Digital PR campaigns and earned-media link building.

• Experience with international and multilingual SEO.