Strategy Director

VML South Africa; Montreal; Hybrid; CAD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A dynamic marketing consultancy in Montreal seeks a Strategy Director to develop innovative strategies that resonate with cultural trends. The ideal candidate has over 6 years of experience in strategy consulting, is bilingual in French and English, and can independently drive projects. This role emphasizes collaboration with cross-functional teams and requires strong analytical skills in a hybrid work model.

Qualifications

• 6+ years of experience in strategy consulting or related analytical field.
• Fluency in French and English for business discussions and presentations.
• Proven self-starter with initiative and independent drive.

Responsibilities

• Lead in developing and refining strategies aligned with market trends.
• Conduct market research and identify cultural trends impacting strategies.
• Collaborate with teams to convert strategies into actionable plans.

Job description

At VML, we are a beacon of innovation and growth in an ever-evolving world. Our heritage is built upon a century of combined expertise, where creativity meets technology, and diverse perspectives ignite inspiration. With the merger of VMLY&R and Wunderman Thompson, we have forged a new path as a growth partner that is part creative agency, part consultancy, and part technology powerhouse.

Our global family now encompasses over 30,000 employees across 150+ offices in 64 markets, each contributing to a culture that values connection, belonging, and the power of differences. Our expertise spans the entire customer journey, offering deep insights in communications, commerce, consultancy, CRM, CX, data, production, and technology. We deliver end-to-end solutions that result in revolutionary work.

TAXI / VML Montreal is on the hunt for a super-smart and independent Strategy Director to help us chart our course and keep our work culturally on point in Quebec. This is a solo mission (individual contributor role) in the Montreal office, where you\'ll be developing, evaluating, and championing strategic and creative ideas. You will remain connected to the larger VML Canada strategy team, with colleagues in both the Toronto & Vancouver office. If you\'re a proactive, analytical thinker who\'s fascinated by cultural trends and can turn complex market insights into killer strategies that fuel awesome creative, we want to hear from you! Oh, and being perfectly fluent in both French and English is a must – it\'s how we roll here.

What You\'ll Be Up To

• Strategic Visionary: Lead the charge in developing and refining our strategies, pinpointing key priorities and long-term growth opportunities that vibe with market trends and cultural nuances.
• Cultural Trendspotter: Dive deep into market research, competitive intel, and trend analysis, with a keen eye on cultural shifts and how they impact what people do.
• Opportunity Finder: Be a proactive detective, sniffing out new business opportunities, potential partnerships, market entries, and strategic moves that are culturally relevant and ripe for creative innovation.
• Business Case Builder: Craft compelling business cases to back up your strategic recommendations, weighing the risks and rewards while highlighting the creative potential of each opportunity.
• Team Player Extraordinaire: Collaborate closely with our amazing teams (Creative, Account Management, Media, PR, etc.) to gather insights, ensure everyone\'s on the same page, and translate strategy into actionable plans that spark creative magic — all while influencing without being the boss.
• Strategic Planning: Play a key role in our annual and long-range strategic planning, bringing your insights on emerging cultural trends and their impact to the table.
• Insight Translator: Turn complex info into clear, concise insights and recommendations for our leaders through engaging presentations and reports, always keeping the cultural context and creative possibilities front and center.
• Performance Tracker: Help define the key metrics (KPIs) to track the progress and impact of our strategic initiatives, making sure they align with both business goals and creative aspirations.
• Industry Tracker: Stay in the know about industry best practices, emerging trends, and disruptive forces, bringing fresh ideas back to the team and fostering a culture of innovation.

What You\'ll Need to Bring to the Table

• 6+ years of experience in strategy consulting, corporate strategy, brand planning, or a related analytical field. Bonus points if you\'ve worked in a creative agency or marketing environment.
• Bilingual: You\'re perfectly fluent (written and spoken) in both French and English. You can confidently lead complex business discussions, create presentations, and write reports flawlessly in both languages, showing cultural sensitivity and awareness.
• Proven ability to be a self-starter, taking initiative and driving projects forward independently.
• Strong analytical, quantitative, and problem-solving skills; you can break down complex problems and develop data-driven solutions.
• Expertise in strategic frameworks, market analysis techniques.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills; you can articulate complex ideas clearly and persuasively to senior executives.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively and influence stakeholders across different functions and levels without direct reporting lines.
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and capable of managing multiple complex projects simultaneously.

Bonus Points If You Are

• A self-starter with a proactive and results-oriented mindset.
• Intellectually curious and fascinated by cultural trends and their impact on business.
• Comfortable navigating ambiguity and adapting to change.
• Possess strong business acumen and critical thinking skills.
• Have a high level of integrity and professionalism.
• Appreciate the power of creativity in driving business success.
• Committed to fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration.

We believe the best work happens when we\'re together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That\'s why we\’ve adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office an average of four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.

WPP (VML) is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.

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