Are you a leader who can drive great ideas, rooted in data and observation that engage audiences and deliver measurable value?
About Us Weber Shandwick is a leading global communications and engagement firm in 78 cities across 34 countries with a network extending to 126 cities in 81 countries. The firmiverse team of strategists, analysts, producers, designers, developers and campaign activators has won the most prestigious awards in the world for innovative, creative approaches and impactful work, including being honored as an Ad Age A-List Agency in 2014 and 2015, and The Holmes Reportlobal Agency of the Year in 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2015. Weber Shandwick and its Prime unit have won a combined 31 Cannes Lions since 2009. Weber Shandwick was also named a Best Place to Work by Ad Age in 2014 and 2015. The firm deploys deep expertise across sectors and specialty areas, including consumer marketing, corporate reputation, healthcare, technology, public affairs, financial services, corporate social responsibility, financial communications and crisis management, using proprietary social, digital and analytics methodologies. Weber Shandwick is part of the Interpublic Group (NYSE: IPG).
About the Role Our Chicago office is looking for a Senior Vice President of Strategic Planning who can drive great ideas, rooted in data and observation, that engage audiences and deliver measurable value.
This person will manage a team of planners, analysts and subject matter experts to marry business objectives, diverse analytic methods, and human insight to spark and bring new ideas, sound recommendations and relevant solutions to our clients.
He or she should have relevant experience building brand and creative strategies that deliver engagement ideas across channels, tactics and content; and possess the ability to guide measurement that is aligned with strategy.
This person will be an active member across a number of client teams and large contributor to new business opportunities. He or she will be responsible for challenging conventional thought and provide a neutral point-of-view for communications strategy and planning, offering insights for complex marketing issues. He or she will work closely in a highly collaborative environment with the leadership team, researchers/analysts and the creative team to develop break-through, insight-driven programs and proactively uncover new opportunities for current clients.
Primary Responsibilities: - Responsible for creating a culture of insight and application of strategic planning and analytics into our client work
- Drive integration of strategy and analytics into all client work in ways that inspire great creative work
- Mine for unique insights and fresh/competitively powerful positions for clients that are built on cultural insights and human truths and ultimately inform innovative approaches to solve clienthallenges.
- Form dynamic teams with creative, account and integrated media staff to develop best-in-class work
- Play a central role in new business activity both in the assignment, development activities and pitch
- Develop innovative approaches to gather insights and measure engagement
- Build and develop a quickly growing team of planners, analysts and subject matter experts in our high-performance culture.
- Manage the insights staff across assignments for quality of insight
- Contribute to sharing best practice, case studies and thought leadership
- Participate in industry events to help position Weber Shandwick as a strategic leader.
Qualifications Basic Qualifications:
- 15+ years of experience in strategic planning, preferably some experience at an agency.
- Extensive experience with and effectiveness in senior client interaction, building relationships and influencing the industry.
- Possess a deep intellectual curiosity about culture, media and technology, and how they affect human behavior.
- Experience in earned and digital engagement (social, content, video, media, influencer) is preferred.
- Excellent presenter and persuasive speaker.
- Engaging in their ability to tell a story based on data and hypothesis.
- Proven experience managing and mentoring a team.
- A commitment to the highest standards of work quality.
Self-motivated, fun, entrepreneurial, and curious.
- Collaborative spirit who enjoys building relationships and teams.
Weber Shandwick is proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. Weber Shandwick recruits qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, age, ethnic or national origin, protected veteran status, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status or citizenship status.
