VANGUARD CHARITABLE ENDOWMENT PROGRAM

Job Description Job Description JOB SUMMARY Reporting directly to the Digital Marketing Team Lead, the AEO & Web Content Specialist is a hands-on, mid-level role responsible for editing and optimizing web content to meet Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) and SEO standards, supporting the technical side of AEO through tool-based diagnostics and close collaboration with IT, and helping manage the website roadmap and update processes for Vanguard Charitable's website. This individual is a trusted thought partner to the Digital Marketing Team Lead-someone who brings fresh perspective, surfaces insights from AEO tools, and helps translate strategy into executable work. They will edit incoming content to be AI-ready and search-optimized, use diagnostic and visibility tools to identify technical AEO needs, help write and manage Jira tickets to move improvement work through IT, keep web pages current and healthy, and support roadmap tracking so that nothing falls through the cracks. The ideal candidate is a web content author who deeply understands the AEO landscape-comfortable in content, comfortable reading technical data, and skilled at communicating what needs to happen so the right people can act on it. They use AI tools fluently to accelerate content work without replacing the editorial judgment that makes content genuinely useful. ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS AEO Content Editing & Optimization (35%) Review and edit incoming content from writers, subject matter experts, and marketing stakeholders to ensure it meets AEO, SEO, and E-E-A-T standards before publication. Restructure content so answers appear directly after questions or headings-optimized for AI answer engines (ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, Google AI Overviews, Copilot) and featured snippet formats. Implement or guide metadata, internal linking, FAQ structure, schema markup placement, and image alt-text optimization on content being published or updated. Use AI tools to accelerate content rewriting and optimization while applying editorial judgment to ensure accuracy, brand voice, and user value. Conduct content audits to identify gaps, consolidation opportunities, and content that needs to be retired or refreshed. Create optimization briefs and editorial guidance for contributors across the team. Technical AEO Support & IT Collaboration (25%) Use AEO and SEO diagnostic tools (e.g., Google Search Console, Screaming Frog, SEMrush, Ahrefs, and emerging AI-visibility tools) to identify technical issues affecting search and answer engine visibility. Interpret tool outputs and translate findings into clear, actionable recommendations-knowing when to escalate to IT and how to communicate the technical need clearly. Write well-structured Jira tickets for technical website improvements, including technical SEO fixes, structured data implementation, Core Web Vitals issues, redirect needs, and AEO-related site changes; collaborate with the Digital Marketing Team Lead on ticket prioritization. Partner with IT/web development teams to ensure tickets are understood and implemented correctly; serve as the bridge between marketing needs and technical execution. Monitor Core Web Vitals, site speed, indexation health, structured data validity, and other technical signals; flag regressions and track resolution. Stay current on technical AEO best practices including structured data formats, LLM training signals, citation patterns, and knowledge graph optimization. Website Updates & Web Content Authorship (20%) Publish and update web pages using the organization's CMS, ensuring content is accurate, accessible, and optimized at the time of publication. Maintain and improve existing web pages-updating outdated information, improving structure, correcting broken links, and applying current SEO/AEO best practices. Monitor overall site health-identifying and resolving broken links, orphaned pages, redirect needs, and site structure or navigation issues as the website evolves. Support landing page updates, blog posts, resource center content, and other website content as prioritized by the Digital Marketing Team Lead. Ensure pages are mobile-friendly, accessible, and aligned with organizational standards and best practices. Proofread and QA content before and after publication to catch errors, formatting issues, or optimization gaps. Build, configure, and prepare pages, components, and articles for publishing according to the content schedule; translate approved designs into functional, on-brand pages. Perform basic HTML/CSS updates and embed images, video, and other rich media-formatting copy and assets for optimal display across devices. Run periodic broken-link and accessibility/compliance (WCAG, Section 508) checks, share results, and resolve or route issues for remediation. Roadmap Support & Process Management (10%) Help maintain and update the digital marketing roadmap, tracking progress on content, technical, and website improvement initiatives. Support the Digital Marketing Team Lead in managing and prioritizing the backlog of website updates, AEO improvements, and content optimization projects. Document and refine processes for content review, AEO optimization, Jira ticket creation, and publication workflows so work can scale and be repeated consistently. Flag risks, blockers, or delays proactively and help problem-solve within existing resources. Thought Partnership & Collaboration (10%) Serve as a proactive thought partner to the Digital Marketing Team Lead-bringing ideas, flagging emerging AEO/AI search trends, and contributing to strategy conversations. Research and share relevant developments in the AEO, SEO, and AI search space to help the team stay ahead of changes. Collaborate with Content, Creative, Analytics, Client Experience, and IT teams to align web and AEO work with broader digital initiatives. Help train or brief internal contributors on AEO content best practices as needed. QUALIFICATIONS Education & Training Required Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, Digital Media, English, Journalism, or a related field-or equivalent experience. Licensure & Certification None required. Knowledge, Skill, and Ability Required Demonstrated ability to edit and optimize content for search engines and AI-powered answer experiences. Familiarity with AEO and SEO fundamentals including structured content, keyword intent, schema markup concepts, and E-E-A-T principles. Skilled in using tools such as Google Search Console, Google Analytics, SEMrush, Ahrefs, Screaming Frog, or similar platforms. Working knowledge of a CMS (e.g., Sitecore, WordPress, Drupal, or similar) for publishing and updating web content. Ability to read and interpret technical SEO/AEO diagnostic outputs and communicate findings clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences. Skilled in writing clear, well-structured task documentation or tickets (Jira, Asana, or similar project management tools). Strong written communication and editorial skills; high attention to accuracy and detail. Fluency with AI writing and content tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, or similar) for content acceleration-with the judgment to edit, fact-check, and optimize output. Collaborative, proactive, and comfortable working closely with a manager and across functions. Preferred Understanding of HTML, structured data markup (Schema.org), and basic web development concepts sufficient to communicate with IT teams. Familiarity with AI search visibility monitoring tools or emerging LLMO/GEO platforms. Knowledge of Core Web Vitals monitoring and web performance improvement workflows. Exposure to conversion rate optimization (CRO) or A/B testing methodologies. Familiarity with accessibility standards (WCAG). Experience Required Minimum 5+ years of experience in web content, SEO/AEO content optimization, digital marketing, or a closely related function. Preferred Experience in financial services, philanthropy, nonprofit, or wealth management.