Head of Strategy - Fixed Term

Butternut Box | B Corp; London; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company is seeking a Head of Strategy for a 12-month maternity cover. This role focuses on long-term strategic planning, leadership, and execution of innovative ideas to expand market share for their dog and cat food brands. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in strategic roles and a strong understanding of DTC markets. The position operates in a hybrid model, allowing flexibility between office and home.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in strategic roles, preferably within DTC or e-commerce.
• Proven expertise in developing and executing strategy at an executive level.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement Butternut’s 5-year Long Range Plan.
• Manage complex, cross-functional global projects from start to finish.
• Communicate the strategic vision clearly to stakeholders.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic Planning

Stakeholder Management

Problem Solving

Education

Project Management qualification

Job description

We’re looking for a Head of Strategy to join the team at Butternut for a 12-month maternity cover contract, reporting to the Chief Commercial Officer.

We're seeking a strategic leader and expert decision-maker to identify and execute exciting opportunities to grow our total addressable market and position Butternut & Marro Europe as leading dog and cat food brands. Strategy at Butternut involves both thinking and doing—thriving on a combination of theory and execution is essential.

As Head of Strategy, you’ll oversee the development of our mid to long-term strategy, playing a key role in bringing innovative ideas and 'big bet' opportunities to life. Over the next few years, Butternut and Marro will focus heavily on international expansion, launching into new markets, retail channels, and product categories.

If you are comfortable with a varied and dynamic workload, thrive on switching contexts, and enjoy delivering new ideas, we want to hear from you.

You can expect to:

1. Long-term strategic planning and execution:

• Develop and implement Butternut’s 5-year Long Range Plan, ensuring alignment across commercial, operational, and foundational pillars in all markets.
• Manage complex, cross-functional global projects from start to finish, ensuring effective execution aligned with company goals, such as launching into new markets.
• Lead a team focused on analytics and research to provide insights on expanding market share through organic growth or M&A.
• Make decisions with clarity and timing to advance Butternut towards its North Star goal of feeding 1 million happy and healthy dogs.
• Lead the team responsible for competitor and market insights to inform brand, marketing, and digital strategies globally.

Leadership, team, and budget management:

• Collaborate closely with co-founders and leadership to embed strategy across the business globally.
• Manage, mentor, and develop a high-performing team of analysts, project managers, and go-to-market specialists.
• Set goals, provide feedback, and foster a culture of excellence, strategic capability, and continuous improvement.

Complex problem solving and storytelling:

• Communicate the strategic vision clearly to internal and external stakeholders, including executive leadership and investors.
• Break down complex problems into straightforward stories and solutions, engaging diverse team members throughout the process.

About you:

• Proven expertise in developing and executing strategy at an executive level, with knowledge of strategic methodologies.
• 8+ years of experience in strategic roles, preferably within DTC, e-commerce, or tech-driven businesses.
• Experience managing multiple high-visibility, cross-functional projects from start to finish.
• Exceptional stakeholder management skills across all levels.
• An inclusive, empathetic leader with a track record of developing high-performing teams.
• Strong understanding of commercial and financial KPIs, ideally in a DTC setting.
• High standards for operational excellence, with experience in international market launches preferred.
• Alignment with our belief that dogs and cats deserve better.
• Project Management qualification (e.g., Prince2, Agile PM, PMI) is desirable; sponsorship available for the right candidate.

We operate in a hybrid model, working 3 days per week from our White City office (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday) and 2 days from home.