SEO Backlink & Outreach Specialist – Local Lead Generation Websites

I am building a portfolio of local lead-generation websites in the United States and am looking for an experienced SEO link-building specialist to help improve organic Google rankings.
This position will initially focus heavily on competitor backlink research and manual link prospecting. I am NOT looking for automated backlink packages, PBN blasts, thousands of profile links, blog-comment spam, or someone promising hundreds of backlinks per month.
Responsibilities:

• Research top-ranking local competitors using Ahrefs
• Analyze competitor referring domains and backlinks
• Use Ahrefs Link Intersect to identify backlink opportunities
• Find legitimate backlinks that competitors have acquired
• Research local and industry-specific directories/citations
• Find relevant home-service and contractor websites for outreach
• Identify guest-post, editorial, resource-page and niche-relevant link opportunities
• Conduct manual outreach to website owners when appropriate
• Track all prospects, outreach and acquired backlinks in Google Sheets
• Record DR, estimated organic traffic, target URL, anchor text, link type, status and cost
• Help develop a repeatable backlink-building process that can eventually be used across multiple local websites

Important:
Quality is much more important than quantity. Every backlink opportunity must be reviewed before purchasing or placing a paid backlink. Do not build or purchase links without approval.
I want links from real websites that are relevant, local, industry-related or have legitimate organic traffic. I do not want backlinks from obvious spam networks, automated backlink sites, gambling/adult sites, irrelevant foreign websites or sites created solely for selling links.

Experience preferred:

• Ahrefs
• Local SEO
• Competitor backlink analysis
• Link outreach
• Citation building
• Guest-post prospecting
• Google Sheets

Experience working with U.S. local service businesses such as HVAC, roofing, insulation, plumbing, electrical, landscaping, restoration, pest control, etc. is a major plus.

To apply:
Please begin your application with the word KNOXVILLE so I know you read the entire job post.
Then answer these questions:
1. How many years have you worked in SEO/link building?
2. Do you have experience using Ahrefs?
3. Explain how you determine whether a backlink is worth acquiring.
4. Explain the difference between a citation, guest post and niche edit.
5. Tell me about your experience with local SEO or local service businesses.
6. Provide examples of websites or campaigns where you helped build backlinks, if available.
7. What would you do during your first week if given a brand-new local service website with very few backlinks?
8. What hourly rate are you requesting?
Do NOT send me a generic list of backlink packages. I am looking for someone who can research, think and help build a long-term SEO process.