SEO Lead / SEO Strategist (US-based, freelance/independent contractor - Detroit, MI)

Cozymeal is a dynamic and innovative company that specializes in connecting people with unforgettable culinary experiences across the globe. As a premier marketplace, Cozymeal offers an extensive array of hands-on cooking classes, private chef meals, guided food tours, wine tastings, and team-building events spanning over 400 cities worldwide. This platform empowers users to discover and book a variety of unique culinary occasions, from intimate date-night sushi lessons and anniversary chef's-table dinners to interactive dinner parties and corporate pasta-making challenges. Their mission is to turn ordinary moments into delicious memories effortlessly by providing exceptional food-related experiences and quality services. Recognized by the Global Good Fund in 2019 for their commitment to supporting culinary partners including chefs, sommeliers, guides, and mixologists, Cozymeal is dedicated to fostering a thriving community that values both customer satisfaction and partner success.

The company is currently seeking a Senior SEO Expert on a freelance basis to join their team remotely. This role is a strategic and hands-on position primarily focused on driving organic growth throughout Cozymeal’s extensive online marketplace. Working directly with senior leadership and collaborating closely with engineering and content teams, the Senior SEO Expert will be responsible for developing and executing a comprehensive SEO strategy aimed at enhancing the site's organic visibility. This includes conducting thorough SERP and competitor analysis, identifying high-impact ranking opportunities, and shaping actionable plans that align with business goals.

The Freelance SEO Lead will take full ownership of SEO strategy across various page types, including city and category pages, experience pages, editorial content, and internal site architecture. By designing scalable page structures and content modules, this role ensures consistency and optimal SEO performance across hundreds of city-specific pages while maintaining a strong emphasis on technical SEO elements like index quality, duplication risk, canonicalization, pagination, and crawl efficiency. In addition to delivering technical SEO reviews, the expert will provide recommendations on structured data and local relevance signals to help improve overall site authority and ranking.

This position demands a seasoned SEO professional with over seven years of experience, particularly in marketplace SEO, directory SEO, or managing large multi-location sites. The ideal candidate will have a strong grasp of local-intent SEO and modern SERP behavior, demonstrating the ability to perform in-depth ranking diagnostics beyond basic audits. Exceptional written communication skills are vital to translate complex analysis into clear, actionable deliverables for cross-functional teams. Familiarity with essential SEO tools such as Google Search Console, GA4, SEMrush, Ahrefs, Screaming Frog, or Sitebulb is required.

Preferred candidates will bring additional experience from industries such as travel, events, or marketplaces, along with proven success in building scalable SEO frameworks for extensive city-based site architectures. Knowledge of content strategy and schema markup related to local experiences is highly valued. The role is remote, asynchronous in communication style, and offers flexible work hours ranging from 10 to 20 hours per week initially, with potential for growth. Compensation is competitive and will be negotiated based on the candidate's expertise, hourly rate, and project scope.

Cozymeal champions equal opportunity employment and is committed to fostering an inclusive workplace free from discrimination. This freelance role operates as an independent contractor position, requiring individuals to manage their own taxes, insurance, and benefits. If you are a driven SEO expert passionate about enhancing online organic presence and ready to make a significant impact within a vibrant culinary marketplace, Cozymeal welcomes your application and invites you to join their innovative team.