The Search and Discovery Lead is a senior, hands-on role for an experienced practitioner who understands how modern buyers discover, research, and purchase products online, and how search, content, and owned media contribute to commercial outcomes.

This role sits at the intersection of delivery and leadership. You will own delivery for key clients, lead by example through the quality of your work, and set the standard for how search and discovery is approached across the team. While not a line management position, the role carries clear responsibility for influencing quality, professionalism, and capability through mentoring, guidance, and shared ownership of outcomes.

You will help ensure Velstar remains at the front of the curve as search and discovery continues to evolve, from traditional SEO to GEO, AI-driven search, and social-first discovery, translating change into practical advantage for our clients.

Core objectives for the role:

• Own delivery for a portfolio of key search and discovery clients, acting as their senior day-to-day partner.

• Lead discovery, planning and optimisation with a clear focus on commercial outcomes.

• Quickly diagnose performance issues and prioritise the most likely causes, focusing effort where it will have the biggest impact.

• Translate complex search and discovery work into clear, confident narratives that clients can easily understand and explain internally.

• Design and deliver approaches across:

  • SEO

  • GEO, AI and LLM-driven search visibility

  • Social search and discovery platforms

  • Content and on-site experience

• Translate insight and data into clear, prioritised actions that drive measurable impact.

• Deliver audits and reviews that are decisive, focused, and actionable.

• Ensure reporting is clear, meaningful, and outcome-led.

What we're looking for:

Essential

• Proven experience delivering search-led growth for eCommerce clients.

• Deep SEO expertise with a strong understanding of GEO, AI search, and social discovery.

• Clear commercial awareness and comfort owning outcomes.

• Confidence leading senior client conversations.

• A proactive subject matter expert who stays ahead of industry change and shares insight.

• Experience mentoring and raising standards without formal line management responsibility.

• Ability to deliver fast, effective audits and reporting that drive action.

Desirable

• Shopify experience (Velstar is a Platinum Shopify Partner).

• International SEO experience.

• Strong working knowledge of GA4, Google Search Console, and eCommerce merchandising implications.

• Experience working across multiple platforms and markets.

What success looks like

• Clients clearly understand how search and discovery supports their commercial goals, and can see the value delivered through measurable impact and ROI.

• Clients feel well supported, confident in the direction, and clear on what is happening, why it matters, and what to expect next.

• Delivery is sharper, more focused, and more effective, with audits and reporting leading to clear action and outcomes.

• Team capability and confidence improves through shared standards and example.