Strategy Director

SID LEE; Toronto; On-site; CAD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

A multidisciplinary creative agency in Toronto is seeking a Strategy Director to lead development in the North American market. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in brand and communications planning and a proven record of success in innovative strategies. Responsibilities include distilling complex information into engaging stories, collaborating with teams to create impactful work, and mentoring junior strategists. This role is perfect for those passionate about creative strategy and culture.

Qualifications

• 7-10 years of relevant experience including 3-5 years as a Strategy Director.
• Experience with iconic brands and award-winning or heart-winning creative.
• Strong storytelling abilities (both written and verbal).

Responsibilities

• Distill complex information into simple, intelligent stories.
• Collaborate with creative and account teams.
• Act as an influential voice and business partner to clients.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Creative problem-solving

Storytelling

Brand and communications planning

Social media strategy

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree

Job description

Sid Lee is a multidisciplinary creative collective striving to make a difference and celebrate culture with bold ideas. Its 700 professionals work as one team from offices in Montreal, Toronto, New York, Paris, London, Los Angeles and Seattle. Their mission is to create what matters through brand building, brand expression and brand experience. Its creative community also includes Yard, Digital Kitchen, BIMM and Haigo.

Alongside progressive clients, Sid Lee draws on its rich collection of disciplines, from design to data and experiential communication and technology to advertising and architecture, empowering its clients to outperform their competitors, earn the trust of their customers and increase their influence on culture.

Sid Lee is a member of kyu, a collective of top-tier global creative companies established by Hakuhodo DY Holdings. Sid Lee also imagined C2 Montréal, one of the largest creative-business conferences in the world.

ROLE

The Strategy Director will lead development on accounts across the North American market, working hand-in-hand with creative, accounts, and production to make work that’s smart, brave, and culturally resonant. You will be a partner to our clients, helping to drive effectiveness in their businesses. As a strategic leader, you’ll help lead and mentor our teams through Sid Lee's innovative strategic frameworks and ways of working, with an emphasis on our tech suite and AI offerings.

We’re looking for the kind of strategic thinker who believes that bold strategy drives breakthrough work, wants to help shape the future of creative strategy in Canada, and wants to do career-defining work.

You don’t just study culture, you participate in it. You understand how brands operate in the minds of consumers and live in the real world, not just on a slide. You have a part-artist, part-entrepreneur mindset.

YOU BRING

• A love for breakthrough creative work;
• A proven track record of success at leading innovative strategies and translating insights into inspiring creative work;
• Experience with brand and communications planning, throughout both traditional and digital spaces including web, mobile, social media, retail, activations, and experiential marketing;
• Passion for societal shifts, trends, human insight, and strategic POV’s that live at the intersection of brand purpose and culture.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Distill complex information from quant/qual sources into simple, intelligent, and inspiring stories, and deliver it to stakeholders in an engaging and inspirational manner;
• Collaborate with creative and account teams to deliver work that creates impact in culture;
• Act as an influential voice & business partner to clients, helping them to deliver results/effectiveness;
• Be a positive force in the work and the agency culture;
• Provide a strong and informed point of view on the future marketplace & opportunity for clients;
• Act as an ambassador to the agency, and recognize & capture opportunities for growth;
• Guide, mentor and/or manage other strategists, and work as a partner to strategic leadership to ensure strategic and creative excellence.

REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelors or Masters degree with 7-10 years relevant experience, including 3 to 5 years as a Strategy Director in a creative agency;
• Natural curiosity & problem-solving mentality;
• Experience with iconic brands and award-winning or heart-winning creative;
• Proof of effectiveness of work, with Effectiveness awards an asset;
• Experience in social media strategy and/or connections planning;
• Superior storytelling abilities (both written and verbal) with a clear and concise style;
• Experience and interest in mentoring, training and guiding junior team members;
• Keen student of trends and best practices - tech, AI, culture, and media.

Proud to be an equal opportunity employer, Sid Lee is committed to creating a diverse work environment. All qualified applicants are considered without regard to citizenship, ethnicity, race, colour, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, age or veteran status.

We encourage women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, and members of visible and ethnic minorities to apply for our job opportunities. Additionally, accommodation measures can be made available for persons with disabilities upon request at any stage of the pre-selection and selection process.