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How to Hire a SEO Manager in the UK (2026)

Growing organic traffic and search visibility. Hiring an SEO Manager.
By Mark Wilkinson, Managing Director of Coburg Banks
Mark has over 30 years in recruitment, placing marketing professionals from executive to Marketing Director across the UK.
Mark's Linkedin Profile

An SEO Manager grows the traffic you don't pay for - technical, content and authority working together. Results take time, so you're hiring for genuine expertise and patience, not someone who promises page one next week.

⚡ In short

A UK SEO Manager typically earns £40k-£60k plus benefits. Expect a placement in 4-8 weeks. Coburg Banks recruits them with no fee until your hire starts.

£40k-£60k

Typical base salary

4-8 weeks

Time to hire

48 hrs

To first shortlist

12 wks

Replacement guarantee

What to look for in a SEO Manager

1

Proven results

Ask for specific traffic or ranking growth they delivered, with context.

2

Technical plus content

Good SEO spans both. Probe their strength across the two.

3

Honest, not hyped

Be wary of guarantees. Look for someone who explains SEO realistically.

How to run the hire

1. Define the goals
Be clear on the traffic and terms that matter, and your starting point.

2. Score for real results
Weight demonstrable growth over tools and jargon.

3. Source and screen
Approach candidates with relevant, provable SEO wins.

4. Test with your site
Ask what they'd prioritise on your site and why.

5. Reference growth
Confirm their work grew organic traffic sustainably.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to hire an SEO Manager?

Fees typically run 15-20% of first-year salary, capped and agreed upfront.

Nothing is due until your hire starts.

How long does it take to hire an SEO Manager?

Usually 4-8 weeks.

Whether you need technical, content or link-focused SEO is the main variable.

What does an SEO Manager do?

An SEO Manager grows a site's organic search visibility - improving technical health, content and authority so it ranks and attracts traffic.

They plan, execute and measure SEO, working with content, developers and sometimes paid teams.

How do I judge an SEO Manager's ability?

Ask for real, verifiable results and how they achieved them. Be sceptical of anyone guaranteeing rankings.

We screen for evidence of sustainable growth rather than tactics that risk penalties.

What should I ask an SEO Manager at interview?

Try: Tell me about traffic growth you delivered and how.
What would you prioritise on our site?
How do you approach technical versus content SEO? and How do you report progress when results take months?

Do you recruit SEO specialists and managers?

Yes, from hands-on specialists to managers leading an SEO function.

We match level and focus to your needs.

External citations

Ready to hire your next SEO Manager?

Tell us about your role and a specialist marketing recruiter will call you. No fee until your hire starts.