Behind the 10 Day Search for a Senior SEO Strategist
Timmermann Group is a leading full service digital agency with a reputation for excellence in SEO, design, performance and creative execution.
When they needed to hire a Senior SEO Strategist capable of delivering world class strategy while still performing hands on technical work, they turned to SEO for Hire.
What followed was a highly competitive multi stage search that tested resilience, precision and deep industry knowledge.
This is the story of how we helped them secure their ideal A-player and later expand their paid media team.
Where Speed Meets Quality
Number of Hires
Timmermann Group first hired for an SEO Strategist, then returned a month later to hire a Paid Media Specialist. .
Time to Shortlist
Our team move with speed, securing top talent and shortlisting within 10 days.
Impact
Candidate exceeded technical benchmarks, and led to a second successful hire in Paid Media.
Timmermann Group is a well known US agency led by founder Rob Timmermann. The agency is recognized for:
- A strong brand with high visibility in the digital marketing space
- Deep expertise across local SEO, ecommerce SEO, design, content and performance
- A reputation for quality that attracts a large volume of inbound applicants
- A culture built on high standards, close client relationships and creative excellence
Their clients expect best in class work, and the team is composed of specialists who thrive in fast moving, quality driven environments. For an agency like this, the challenge is not attracting candidates, but attracting the right ones.
Timmermann Group's Hiring Challenges
Despite their strong brand, Timmermann Group needed a very specific type of hire. They required:
- A senior SEO strategist who was also highly technical
- Someone who could build strategy and execute it personally
- An operator who stays hands on, up to date and deeply involved in delivery
- A candidate capable of guiding local, ecommerce and complex SEO initiatives
The first search moved quickly as our team submitted several strong candidates, and one quickly became the frontrunner.
The agency moved to offer stage, but due to unforeseen circumstances, the candidate had another opportunity, and it was a tight race to secure her.
Losing a top-tier candidate at the finish line meant restarting the search with an even higher benchmark.
Every candidate from that point onwards was compared against the initial “benchmark candidate,” which raised the bar and made the search uniquely challenging.
Our Strategic Hiring Solution
We collaborated closely with Rob and his Head of People and Operations to refine the role. The key was repositioning the search to focus on technical leadership rather than simply seniority.
Our approach included:
- A deep discovery call to understand technical expectations, client load, workflow and culture
- A search strategy focused on experienced SEO operators, not armchair strategists
- The introduction of a technical task to validate real world ability
- Multiple rounds of screening to isolate candidates who could both talk the talk and walk the walk
“Timmermann Group never struggled with applications.
They struggled with finding true A players. Our job wasn’t to find someone able to do the job. It was to find someone exceptional who could elevate the agency.”
Josh Peacock
Founder & CEO of SEO for Hire
After relaunching the search, our team quickly secured another top tier candidate.
The agency loved him and moved to an offer within hours.
A few contract terms required further negotiation, so both parties paused to reassess. Recognising his strength, we reopened dialogue with the candidate, walked him through the agency’s enthusiasm and restructured terms to meet in the middle.
To show commitment and capability:
Our candidate agreed to complete the technical task even though he had already been offered the role previously. His performance exceeded expectations.
“They needed someone who could execute at the highest level. Many senior SEOs talk strategy but avoid the hands on work. We targeted people who live and breathe technical SEO.”
Daris Benallal
Head of Recruitment
Our candidate was hired and onboarded successfully. Four months later, he is flourishing inside the agency.
Results Summary
The successful candidate has already made a measurable impact.
- He is contributing high level strategy while executing detailed technical SEO work
- The leadership team is considering him for a future senior leadership role
- He has integrated well with Rob and the wider team
- His work has raised the standard for SEO delivery across the agency
The success of this SEO hire directly led to a second engagement.
Approximately one month later, Timmermann Group returned to SEO for Hire to expand their paid media function. We hired a paid media specialist shortly after, helping them build out another key department.
The Takeaway for Agency Founders
Strong agencies do not struggle with candidate volume. They struggle with filtering.
In high performance agencies, the danger is not hiring too slowly. The danger is hiring someone who appears senior but cannot deliver at the level your clients expect.
The Timmermann Group story proves that:
- Titles mean nothing without hands on capability
- Technical validation is essential at senior levels
- The right hire elevates your entire department
- Partnering with the right recruiter saves months of misfires
When your agency sells expertise, your people define your product. Hiring the right operator changes everything.
FAQs
How long did the initial search take?
We delivered the first set of candidates within ten days.
Why was this role challenging?
The agency needed someone senior, technical and able to execute hands on work. This combination is rare.
Why did the first offer fall through?
The candidate accepted a role with Shopify just hours before receiving Timmermann Group’s offer.
How did the technical assessment help?
It ensured every finalist could perform at the level required and prevented past mistakes with under qualified hires.
Did SEO for Hire also place a paid media hire?
Yes. The success of the SEO hire led Timmermann Group to immediately return to us to expand their paid media team.