SVP, Strategy Director

Edelman; Toronto; On-site; CAD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Edelman Toronto seeks an SVP, Strategy Director to shape client direction, drive growth and develop world-class strategy talent regionally.

This hands-on leadership role combines audience insight, data and creativity, mentoring strategists, guiding senior teams, and partnering with executives to deliver insight-led work for leading brands.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in strategy, brand, advertising, consulting, or related fields.
• Proven senior leadership experience on large, complex accounts ($1M+)
• Track record of delivering culturally relevant, effective, and award-recognized work
• Strong business acumen with experience driving growth and building teams
• Exceptional communication, presentation, and influencing skills
• BS/BA required; MBA or equivalent preferred

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic thinking that drives measurable business results
• Serve as senior strategic counsel to priority clients and markets
• Support new business efforts and large, complex engagements
• Translate cultural, consumer, competitive, and data insights into clear strategic direction

Skills

Strategic leadership

Client leadership

Team mentoring

Business development

Communication & influence

Education

MBA or equivalent

BS/BA

Job description

Edelman is a voice synonymous with trust, reimagining a future where the currency of communication is action. Our culture thrives on three promises: boldness is possibility, empathy is progress, and curiosity is momentum.
At Edelman, we understand diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) transform our colleagues, our company, our clients, and our communities. We are in relentless pursuit of an equitable and inspiring workplace that is respectful of all, reflects and represents the world in which we live, and fosters trust, collaboration and belonging.

Edelman is a trusted voice helping organizations earn trust through action. Through the Edelman Trust Barometer, the definitive global study of trust, we inform and advise leaders across business, government, media, and civil society on how trust shapes growth, reputation, and societal expectations. Our work is consistently recognized at the industry’s highest levels, including Cannes Lions, WARC, and the IPA Effectiveness Awards.

The SVP, Strategy Director is the senior strategic leader responsible for shaping client direction, driving growth, and developing world-class strategy talent. This role partners closely with Global and U.S. Chief Strategy Officers, market leaders, and client teams to deliver insight-led, culturally relevant work that helps brands navigate change and unlock growth.

At a time of major industry and societal shifts, clients are looking for new thinking, new tools, and new ways forward. You will balance audience insight, data, creativity, and client counsel to help brands succeed in a volatile and complex world - while leading and mentoring strategists across the region.

This is both a hands-on strategic role and a people leadership role: guiding teams, strengthening partnerships, and serving as a trusted advisor to some of the world’s leading brands.

Key Responsibilities

Client Strategy & Growth

• Lead strategic thinking that drives measurable business results
• Serve as senior strategic counsel to priority clients and markets
• Support new business efforts and large, complex engagements
• Translate cultural, consumer, competitive, and data insights into clear strategic direction

Team Leadership & Talent Development

• Lead, mentor, and grow senior strategy talent across the region
• Build diverse, high-performing teams and manage succession planning
• Oversee hiring, performance management, promotion, and workforce planning in partnership with leadership

Collaboration & Innovation

• Partner with creative, data, and intelligence teams to push innovative approaches and methodologies
• Strengthen cross-practice collaboration and identify new opportunities for clients and the firm

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in strategy, brand, advertising, consulting, or related fields
• Proven senior leadership experience on large, complex accounts ($1M+)
• Track record of delivering culturally relevant, effective, and award-recognized work
• Strong business acumen with experience driving growth and building teams
• Exceptional communication, presentation, and influencing skills
• BS/BA required; MBA or equivalent preferred

Edelman is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, and to creating a workplace where people feel respected, represented, and empowered to do their best work, and have a culture built on three promises: boldness is possibility, empathy is progress, and curiosity is momentum.

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We are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you're excited about this role but your experience doesn't perfectly align with every qualification, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.