Director of Digital Performance & SEO

When you join Sallie Mae, you become a champion for all students.

We’re on a mission to power confidence as students begin their unique journey. To help them plan their higher education, successfully finish, and prepare for life after school. To help them Start smart. Learn big.

Students need guidance navigating this important time in their life. They need someone who acknowledges that their education path is unique. They need a partner willing to evolve and not only meet but surpass their expectations. We’re changing. Because students need a better way.

We’re looking for people who are excited to drive this transformation. To break barriers and think of new ways to adapt, help, and create better experiences for students—and for each other.

This is where diverse backgrounds, beliefs, and perspectives matter. It’s where you’re empowered to bring your authentic self to work.

Feeling your best allows you to do your best. Our benefits take care of the whole you—from physical and mental to financial and professional. You’ll get opportunities to further your education and career, support for you and your family (including your pets!), paid time off to volunteer for the things that matter to you, and more.

We’re obsessed with impact and making a real difference. For us, that means putting relationships first, asking “why not?” when tackling challenges, and continuously learning new skills.

Come do more than join something, change something. For students, for future generations, for the future of education.

What You'll Contribute

The Director of Digital Performance & SEO is a strategic and hands‑on leader responsible for driving measurable digital growth across all owned channels to maximize traffic, conversion, and revenue for student lending and deposits lines of business.
 

This role can be located in our Newark, DE office, our New York, NY office, our Newton, MA office or our Sterling, VA office. Our Virginia office has a planned move to Arlington, VA in Fall 2026.  
 

What You'll Do

• Develop and lead a holistic digital performance strategy aligned with enterprise growth goals.

• Define KPIs and dashboards for traffic, engagement, lead generation, conversion, and ROI across digital assets.

• Own reporting for executive audiences, translating data into actionable insights and recommendations.

• Partner with Marketing, Product, and Technology teams to optimize end‑to‑end digital funnels.

• Lead the enterprise SEO function—including technical SEO, on‑page optimization, content strategy, and authority‑building programs.

• Conduct regular site audits to identify opportunities and resolve technical issues impacting crawlability, UX, and rankings.

• Collaborate with enterprise content team to guide keyword strategy, content frameworks, and SERP opportunities.

• Stay current on algorithm changes, industry trends, and competitive landscapes. Oversee A/B and multivariate testing programs to improve site performance, conversion paths, and user experience.

• Guide analytics implementation and tagging to ensure accurate measurement across digital assets.

• Identify friction points within the digital journey and lead roadmap prioritization for improvements.

• Manage the analytics ecosystem including dashboards, tools, data governance, and modeling in partnership with Data & Technology teams.

• Analyze digital channel performance across web, search, email, and paid media to identify growth opportunities.  

• Provide insights that inform content strategy, site enhancements, product features, and integrated marketing campaigns.

• Lead, mentor, and grow a high‑performing team of web specialists, analysts, and optimization experts.

• Communicate clearly and influence stakeholders at all levels, including senior leaders and cross‑functional partners.

• Ensure all teams are aligned to best practices, insights, and performance goals.
   

The above information is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this job; it is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees in this role.
 

What you have

Minimum:

• 8–12+ years of experience in digital performance, SEO, digital marketing, or web analytics.

• Proven success leading SEO and digital analytics initiatives for a complex, multi‑site organization.

• Strong knowledge of analytics platforms (GA4, Adobe Analytics, Looker, etc.). Deep understanding of technical SEO, content strategy, web architecture, and digital UX principles. 

• Experience with testing platforms (e.g., Optimizely, Adobe Target, Google Optimize alternatives).

• Excellent communication skills with the ability to translate data into compelling stories and recommendations.

Preferred:

• Experience working closely with Product and Technology teams in an agile environment.

• Background in B2B, B2C, or multi‑brand ecosystems.

• Familiarity with CDPs, CRM systems, and marketing automation platforms.
   

The Americans with Disabilities Act

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) prohibits discrimination by employers, in compensation and employment opportunities, against qualified individuals with disabilities who, with or without reasonable accommodation, can perform the “essential functions” of a job. A function may be essential for any of several reasons, including: the job exists to perform that function, the employee holding the job was hired for his/her expertise in performing the function, or only a limited number of employees are available to perform that function.

• Competitive base salaries 

• Bonus incentives 

• Generous PTO, Floating Holidays and 12 Federal Holidays observed

• Support for financial-well-being and retirement 401k with employer match

• Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, hospital indemnity, critical illness, pet insurance and more

• Employer paid short-term/long-term disability and basic life insurance  

• Flexible hybrid working arrangements.

• Paid parental leave and adoption reimbursement programs

• Free access to on-site staffed fitness centers (in Delaware) and gym subsidy (for locations outside Delaware) 

• Confidential counseling support (EAP), Health Advocacy services and Wellness program with financial incentives

• Tuition Reimbursement and Family Scholarship Programs

• Career development and training opportunities

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