Evp – Head of Strategy

Job Requirements

• Deep knowledge, experience and consulting expertise in Strategy 
• BS/BA in a related discipline or equivalent combination of education and experience; MBA or equivalent ideal 
• Proven track record working inside of businesses that are creatively / interest in facilitating work that land in culture and ability to make amazing interesting things happen for brands and/or businesses 
• A professional history of working in innovative and interesting corners of advertising, media, PR and/or ‘digital’ helping brands create  brand building ideas  that land in culture and garner attention and media coverage across various platforms and channels, buzz and brand engagement.  
• The ideal candidate will have built teams and created partnerships across silos that have created relevant, distinctive and effective work. Ideally be able to show a range of work from the traditional to the innovative to the surprising. Emotional intelligence and organizational intelligence for people and companies is key, with a set of experiences applying that thinking on key businesses and across different sectors. 

Preferred Knowledge and Skills

• 15+ years of relevant experience in field related to advertising agency, branding agency, consultancies, or client-side marketing experience preferred. 
• Exceptional record of leadership, strategy development and expertise in client management as well as expertise in a singular communications discipline 
• Experienced in effectively influencing, managing and developing large diverse teams 
• Proven ability to acquire as well as grow business, and advance internal initiatives 
• Ability to effectively prioritize and solve complex business problems while making decisions with entrepreneurial mindset  
• Demonstrated experience leading the strategy side of large ($1M+) accounts 
• Exceptional leadership and management skills and superb oral and written communication, with seasoned presentation and influencing skills  
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to motivate and persuade staff, peers and clients  
• Collaborative leader who is results oriented, proactive and has a strong work ethic  
• Proven track record of being recognized for leading effective work (Effie’s, Cannes Lions effectiveness awards, IPA)  

Key Responsibilities

• Doing the work: Insights and strategy 
• Guides clients and teams to achieve business objectives with strategically lead creative ideas that yield measurable business results  
• Provides strategy, vision and continuous improvement to advance relationships with key clients 
• Engages with key clients in priority markets 
• Supports business development for large and complex client work 
• Own the analysis of the “5 C’s”:  
• Lead analysis of culture, consumer, competitive, corporate, and communication areas for given projects. 
• Oversee secondary research (provide direction to gather, distill and summarize insights; lead when necessary).  
• Oversee data analysis (from quant-based databases, like MRI)  
• Write the story, pulling together the strands of research and insight into a story that is compelling and inspirational (or be able to guide your team there, as appropriate) 
• Primary research involvement:  
• Partner with DXI to develop all primary research initiatives, ensuring methodology matches research objectives. Push to include more primary research, when necessary.  
• Oversee relationship between agency and research department or vendor, when appropriate, often in partnership with DXI 
• Push for new and creative methodologies. 
• Leading the team: Education and mentorship & management 
• Oversee operational responsibilities and drive revenue growth existing capabilities or innovative client solutions  
• Continually maps talent and manages succession planning to ensure continuity of bench strength 
• Champions diversity; meets external candidates in priority markets 
• Leads growth in collaboration, range and strength of specialty pool 
• Maps client portfolio to identify whitespace  
• Oversee hiring, performance management, terminations, promotions and casting of Strategists for the region 
• Responsible for driving workforce management decisions such as hiring, exiting, promotion decisions in a collaborative process with client leaders and P&L owners. 
• Client and internal partner partnership 
• Client whispering 
• Guides clients and teams to achieve business objectives with strategically led creative ideas that yield measurable business results  
• Provides strategy, vision, and continuous improvement to advance relationships with key clients. 
• Engages with key clients in priority markets. 
• Know how cultural trends affect a category/brand and consult clients on them.  

Measures of Success

• Specific/numeric goals will be shared directly by manager 
• Work with financial leadership to oversee served revenue for work delivered by specialty pool staff 
• Strategic growth of the specialty pool  
• Driven revenue for business development efforts  
• Quality, innovation and consistency of specialty offers  
• Strategic/target pitches won  
• Embedded in our culture and values, always working in an inclusive and collaborative way  
• Focus on employee experience: how we achieve is as important as what we achieve  
• Talent Development and Retention 
• Positively impact society across the four pillars of citizenship