Commercial Strategy Lead

Stuff; Auckland; On-site; NZD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Stuff is seeking a Commercial Strategy Lead for Harakeke, its commercial content, integration and sponsorship arm. You will shape strategic frameworks, own high‑value opportunities and turn ambitious briefs into new products and platforms that deliver real commercial value.

You’ll lead senior client conversations and mentor the Harakeke team, balancing AI trends with human creativity to stay ahead in a fast‑moving media landscape.

Qualifications

• 8+ years’ experience in commercial strategy, integration, brand partnerships, media, advertising or agency environments.
• Proven track record of leading complex, high-value pitches from brief through to outcome.
• Experience creating new commercial products, platforms or propositions — not simply adapting existing formats.
• Strong strategic thinking and the ability to create frameworks that help others solve problems.
• Senior client and agency experience, with the confidence to lead complex conversations and influence decision-makers.
• Strong creative judgement and commercial acumen.
• Experience coaching or mentoring others.
• High comfort with AI and emerging tools, with judgement to know where technology adds value and where human creativity matters most.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex, high-value pitch responses with new-to-market thinking, products or platforms.
• Develop new commercial propositions and platforms for sale.
• Own strategic responses to Stuff’s largest opportunities from brief to pitch and outcomes.
• Turn Stuff’s audience, journalism, trust, data, platforms, products, IP and insights into compelling commercial opportunities.
• Anticipate future audience interactions with Stuff’s platforms and balance AI with human creativity.
• Develop and share strategic frameworks, templates and playbooks for Harakeke.
• Lead senior client and agency conversations on strategic opportunities.
• Collaborate with the Director of Harakeke on opportunity assessment and escalation.
• Mentor the Creative Strategist and wider Harakeke team.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Creative instinct

Commercial judgement

Pitch leadership

Mentoring

Job description

We’re looking for a Commercial Strategy Lead to join Harakeke, Stuff’s commercial content, integration and sponsorship team.

This is a role for a creative thinker who can see around corners - spotting where audiences, technology, culture and Stuff’s unique strengths could create something genuinely new for our clients.

You’ll lead our most complex and strategically important commercial opportunities, turning ambitious briefs into new products, platforms and propositions that have real commercial value. You’ll also shape the strategic frameworks and thinking that help the wider Harakeke team do its best work.

What You’ll Do

• Lead complex, high-value pitch responses where the answer requires new-to-market thinking, products or commercial platforms.
• Develop new commercial propositions and platforms for sale, including new or unreleased Stuff products where required.
• Own the strategic response to some of Stuff’s largest opportunities, from brief through to pitch and outcome.
• Find new ways to turn Stuff’s audience, journalism, trust, data, platforms, products, IP and insight into compelling commercial opportunities.
• Look ahead at how audiences will interact with Stuff’s platforms six or more months from now, balancing AI and emerging trends with the realities of publishing.
• Develop and share strategic frameworks, templates and playbooks that raise the standard of commercial thinking across Harakeke.
• Lead senior client and agency conversations on complex or strategically important opportunities.
• Work closely with the Director of Harakeke on opportunity assessment, brief triage and escalation.
• Mentor and support the Creative Strategist and wider Harakeke team.

At the heart of the role is making the “Only Stuff” advantage commercially compelling — creating ideas that use something Stuff genuinely owns and that competitors can’t easily replicate.

What We’re Looking For

We’re looking for someone who combines strategic depth, creative instinct and strong commercial judgement. Someone who can take a complex brief, find the powerful idea at its centre and turn it into something advertisers want to buy.

Ideally, You’ll Bring

• 8+ years’ experience in commercial strategy, integration, brand partnerships, media, advertising or agency environments.
• A proven track record of leading complex, high-value pitches from brief through to outcome.
• Experience creating new commercial products, platforms or propositions — not simply adapting existing formats.
• Strong strategic thinking and the ability to create frameworks that help others solve problems.
• Senior client and agency experience, with the confidence to lead complex conversations and influence decision-makers.
• Strong creative judgement and commercial acumen.
• Experience coaching or mentoring others.
• A high level of comfort with AI and emerging tools, with the judgement to know where technology adds value and where human creativity matters most.
• The ability to work at pace, navigate ambiguity and bring clarity to complex problems.

Why Stuff Digital?

At Stuff Digital, you'll represent one of New Zealand's most recognised and trusted brands while selling market-leading advertising, content and marketing solutions that deliver real results for local businesses.

You'll have the backing of powerful audience insights, premium digital products, creative specialists and a collaborative team, giving you everything you need to build lasting client partnerships and accelerate your career.

If you're motivated by new business, driven by results, and excited by the opportunity to make a genuine impact, we'd love to hear from you.

Think you can do the job?

Ka oti rānei i a koe tēnei mahi? Kāti, tono mai ināianei kia tīmata ai tō haerenga me Stuff i tēnei rā.

Stuff champions inclusion. Be it gender, ethnicity, beliefs, abilities or experiences - we know that diversity brings another lens through which we all learn, connect and grow.

E kōkiri nei a Stuff i te whāinga kia whai wāhi ai te katoa. Hāunga te ira, te iwi, ngā whakapono, ngā āheinga, ngā wheako rānei o te tangata - e mōhio nei tātou mā te kanorau e whai tirohanga hou ai, e ako ai, e tūhono ai, e whanake anō ai tātou katoa.

As we are committed to creating a workplace that reflects the diverse communities in New Zealand, we will always invite and encourage applications from people of all genders, ethnicities, disabilities and ages. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all.

Nā runga i tā mātou ū ki tētahi taiao mahi e whakaatu ana i te kanorau o ngā hapori i Aotearoa, i te ao, i te pō, ka pōhiringia, ka ākina anō ngā tono mahi a te marea whānui, hāunga te ira, te iwi, te hauātanga, te pakeke rānei. E ū nei mātou ki te whai kia wātea ai ā mātou ara whai mahi ki te katoa i runga i te mana taurite.

Disclaimer: Stuff does not accept unsolicited agency resumes. Stuff is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.