Head of Strategy & Partnerships

Company description

Publicis Groupe is not just a company you work for; it’s a platform for you to take your talent to the world.

If you want to help change the world, ideas alone are not enough. Real impact can only come from having meaningful access to a world of knowledge, people and resources. At Publicis Groupe, you are connected to our global network, intelligence, tools, clients, brands and 80,000 brilliant minds with expertise in data, technology, media, strategy, creativity and business transformation, all literally at your fingertips.

Go ahead, the world is waiting.

Publicis Groupe is the third largest communications group in the world. Founded in Paris in 1926, we are present in more than 100 countries as leaders in marketing, communication, and digital business transformation. Two of its biggest solution hubs in Singapore - Publicis Communications and Publicis Media & Digital.

Publicis Communications, the creative communications hub of the Publicis Groupe, is a collective of the most passionate, purposeful, and progressive creative agencies in Singapore. They are Publicis Worldwide, Leo Burnett, Saatchi & Saatchi, Prodigious, and MSL.

Publicis Media & Digital, which is comprised of global media agency brands Starcom, Zenith, Spark Foundry, and Performics, is powered by digital-first, data-driven global practices that together, help our clients navigate the modern media landscape.

Our two other solution hubs, Publicis Sapient and Publicis Commerce, empower businesses to embrace digital transformation and equip them with a total commerce experience.

Overview

The Head of Strategy & Partnerships is responsible for setting the strategic direction and raising the standard of brand planning and media strategy across a portfolio of luxury and premium brands in APAC.

The role combines strategic leadership, senior client counsel and partnership development, helping brands navigate changing consumer behaviours, culture and an evolving media landscape. With a deep curiosity for luxury, fashion, culture and creativity, the Head of Strategy & Partnerships will identify opportunities for brands to connect with consumers in ways that are distinctive, relevant and true to their identity.

As the senior strategic lead, the role will be the custodian of the strategic planning process across the region, ensuring our teams make the best use of our strategic frameworks, cutting-edge tools and capabilities to develop effective media strategies that contribute to creating desirable brands.

Working closely with the Head of Insights, client leadership, regional and local teams, the role will turn consumer, cultural and market understanding into clear strategic direction and compelling media ideas. The role will also develop relationships with selected media, cultural, fashion, luxury and content partners, identifying opportunities where there is a strong fit between brand, audience and context.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead brand planning and media strategy across a portfolio of luxury and premium brands, translating business and brand challenges into clear, actionable communications strategies.
• Act as a senior strategic advisor to clients, bringing an informed point of view on consumers, culture, media and the forces shaping the luxury landscape.
• Lead strategic capability across APAC, setting standards for planning excellence and acting as custodian of the agency's strategic planning process, frameworks and tools.
• Champion the best use of data, technology and the agency's strategic capabilities to unlock sharper thinking, new opportunities and more effective media strategies.
• Partner closely with the Head of Insights to ensure consumer, cultural and market intelligence sits at the heart of strategic development.
• Identify emerging behaviours, cultural shifts and developments in media, fashion and luxury that can create meaningful opportunities for our clients.
• Develop strategic partnerships with relevant media owners, publishers, platforms and cultural partners, with a strong focus on brand fit and opportunities to build brand desirability.
• Connect regional strategy with local market expertise, ensuring strategic consistency while recognising the cultural and media nuances that matter across APAC.
• Collaborate with client leadership, communications planning, activation, analytics and specialist teams to turn strategy into integrated, effective and creatively ambitious media solutions.
• Lead key client workshops, annual planning processes and senior presentations, bringing clarity and a compelling strategic narrative to complex challenges.
• Champion thought leadership and contribute to the continued evolution of the agency's strategic product and reputation.
• Develop and mentor strategic talent across the region, fostering a culture of curiosity, collaboration, rigour and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in media strategy, communications planning, brand planning or related disciplines, ideally with experience working across multiple APAC markets.
• Strong understanding of consumer behaviour, brand strategy, communications planning and the changing media landscape.
• A genuine curiosity for culture, luxury, fashion and the wider forces shaping consumer tastes and behaviours.
• Proven ability to translate complex business and brand challenges into simple, compelling media and communications strategies.
• Experience advising senior clients and building trusted relationships with executive-level stakeholders.
• Strong understanding of the media and partnership landscape, with an ability to identify opportunities based on strategic and brand fit rather than reach alone.
• Excellent presentation, communication and storytelling skills, with the ability to make strategic thinking engaging and persuasive.
• Ability to influence and lead across regional and local teams within a complex matrix organisation.
• Demonstrated leadership experience and a track record of developing strong strategic talent.