Strategic Commercial Architect

Stuff Digital Limited; Auckland; On-site; NZD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Stuff Digital is seeking a Commercial Strategy Lead to join Harakeke, Stuff’s commercial content, integration and sponsorship team in New Zealand. This role requires turning ambitious briefs into new products, platforms and propositions with real commercial value, and shaping strategic frameworks for the wider team.

You’ll lead senior client and agency conversations, mentor the Creative Strategist, and work with the Director on opportunity assessment and escalation.

Qualifications

• 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.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex, high-value pitch responses with new-to-market thinking.
• Develop new commercial propositions and platforms for sale.
• Own strategic response to Stuff’s largest opportunities from brief to pitch.
• Find ways to turn Stuff’s audience, journalism, data, IP into commercial opportunities.
• Look ahead at how audiences will interact with Stuff’s platforms, balancing AI and trends with publishing realities.
• Develop and share strategic frameworks, templates and playbooks.
• Lead senior client and agency conversations on important opportunities.
• Work with the Director on opportunity assessment and escalation.
• Mentor and support the Creative Strategist and Harakeke team.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Commercial judgement

Client leadership

Mentoring

AI awareness

Fast-paced delivery

Job description

Stuff Digital is seeking a Commercial Strategy Lead to join Harakeke, Stuff’s commercial content, integration and sponsorship team in New Zealand. This role requires turning ambitious briefs into new products, platforms and propositions with real commercial value, and shaping strategic frameworks for the wider team.

You’ll lead senior client and agency conversations, mentor the Creative Strategist, and work with the Director on opportunity assessment and escalation.