Digital Strategy Director

FTI Consulting; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 99,000 - 172,500; Full time

Job summary

FTI Consulting is seeking a Director in the Corporate Positioning & Insights practice to lead digital intelligence programs, turning data into actionable counsel for high-stakes communications mandates. This client-facing role focuses on media and social analysis, AEO/GEO, stakeholder mapping, and measurement to drive outcomes.

The Senior Director will implement measurement infrastructures, AI-enabled optimization, and advanced analytics while mentoring early-career professionals and guiding

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in strategic communications with focus on digital intelligence, digital strategy, and paid media or related field.
• Track record in AEO/AIO and search strategy, including emerging AI-related platforms like Profound.
• Knowledge of and experience with social listening platforms such as Brandwatch and Meltwater.
• Proven ability to convert insights into recommendations and imperatives for multichannel paid media plans across social media, search, programmatic, direct-to-publisher and other channels.
• Experience with web analytics, search performance tools and media intelligence or measurement platforms (e.g., Google Search Console, SEMrush, Neilsen, Pathmatics).
• Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis; the employer will not sponsor applicants for work visas.
• Ability to travel to clients and FTI office(s) as needed.

Responsibilities

• Serve on client teams and lead projects; advise on the implementation of digital intelligence, measurement, social and paid strategies.
• Guide and manage social listening, monitoring and digital intelligence activities to determine topics, trends, and other factors that lead to successful communications programs.
• Identify new opportunities to grow the digital and insights business internally in the Strategic Communications segments, across other FTI segments, and externally.
• Employ consumer and media intelligence platforms to derive insights about client campaigns and initiatives, determining strategy as a result.
• Conduct and interpret A/SEO audits to diagnose content gaps, keyword authority, crawlability issues, and competitive positioning.
• Monitor and report on organic search performance using platforms including Google Search Console, SEMrush or equivalents, and translate findings into actionable strategy.
• Identify ways for clients to best communicate on digital media, prioritizing audiences, channels, content, and other factors through the interpretation of data and analytics.
• Evaluate audience engagement with client communications through the use of new tools, AI and product.
• Manage members of Corporate Positioning & Insights teams on projects.
• Mentor and coach early‑career professionals.

Skills

Strategic communications

Digital intelligence

Social listening

Analytics

Leadership

Mentoring

Tools

Brandwatch

Meltwater

Google Search Console

SEMrush

Pathmatics

Job description

About FTI Consulting

FTI Consulting is the leading global expert firm for organizations facing crisis and transformation. We work with many of the world’s top multinational corporations, law firms, banks and private equity firms on their most important issues to deliver impact that makes a difference. From resolving disputes, navigating crises, managing risk and optimizing performance, our teams respond rapidly to dynamic and complex situations.

About the Role

FTI is searching for a data-driven, insights-focused, audience‑centric digital communications professional to join the Corporate Positioning & Insights practice of its Strategic Communications segment as a Director. The successful candidate will have a passion for turning data into actionable insights and strategic counsel, leading the development and execution of digital intelligence programs – spanning media and social media analysis, AEO/GEO, stakeholder mapping and influencer identification, ad tracking and analytics, and measurement – that directly drive client outcomes across complex, high‑stakes communications mandates.

This is a client‑facing role. The individual will serve as a trusted advisor, translating data and digital signals into actionable communications counsel. As digital intelligence and AI search reshapes how audiences find and form views about organizations, the Senior Director will be expected to support and deliver FTI’s evolving capabilities in this space – including implementation of measurement and digital intelligence infrastructures, answer engine optimization (AEO), generative engine optimization (GEO), and LLM reputation auditing.

What You’ll Do

• Serve on client teams and lead projects; advise on the implementation of digital intelligence, measurement, social and paid strategies.
• Guide and manage social listening, monitoring and digital intelligence activities to determine topics, trends, and other factors that lead to successful communications programs.
• Identify new opportunities to grow the digital and insights business internally in the Strategic Communications segments, across other FTI segments, and externally.
• Employ consumer and media intelligence platforms to derive insights about client campaigns and initiatives, determining strategy as a result.
• Conduct and interpret A/SEO audits to diagnose content gaps, keyword authority, crawlability issues, and competitive positioning.
• Monitor and report on organic search performance using platforms including Google Search Console, SEMrush or equivalents, and translate findings into actionable strategy.
• Identify ways for clients to best communicate on digital media, prioritizing audiences, channels, content, and other factors through the interpretation of data and analytics.
• Evaluate audience engagement with client communications through the use of new tools, AI and product.
• Manage members of Corporate Positioning & Insights teams on projects.
• Mentor and coach early‑career professionals.

How You’ll Grow

We are committed to investing and supporting you in your professional development and we have developed a range of programs focused on fostering leadership, growth, and development opportunities. We aim to promote continuous learning and individual skills development through on‑the‑job learning, a comprehensive and ongoing training program, self‑guided professional development courses and certifications. You’ll be assigned a dedicated coach to mentor, guide and support you through regular coaching sessions and serve as an advocate for your professional growth.

As you progress through your career at FTI Consulting, we offer tailored programs for critical professional milestones to ensure you are prepared and empowered to take on your next role.

What You’ll Need to Succeed

• 5+ years of experience in strategic communications, with a focus on digital intelligence, digital strategy, and paid media, or related field.
• Track record in AEO/AIO and search strategy, including emerging AI‑related platforms like Profound.
• Knowledge of and experience with social listening platforms such as Brandwatch and Meltwater.
• Proven ability to convert insights into recommendations and imperatives for multichannel paid media plans across social media, search, programmatic, direct‑to‑publisher and other channels.
• Experience with web analytics, search performance tools and media intelligence or measurement platforms (e.g., Google Search Console, SEMrush, Neilsen, Pathmatics).
• Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full‑time basis; the employer will not sponsor applicants for work visas.
• Ability to travel to clients and FTI office(s) as needed.

Preferred Qualifications

• Consulting experience and digital advocacy experience is a plus.
• Strong communications skills, including ability to successfully contribute to a fast‑paced team environment and to be responsive to ever‑changing sector and client needs.
• Demonstrated experience developing and executing search strategies that drive measurable results, including technical SEO, on‑page optimization, and content strategy.
• Experience managing and executing multichannel organic and paid media plans across search (SEM/PPC), social, programmatic, and other digital channels.
• Familiarity with CRM and marketing cloud a plus (e.g., Salesforce, Hubspot, Adobe Experience Cloud).
• Demonstrated ability to advise on campaigns based on data and insights and convert campaign performance reporting into actionable insights recommendations.
• Experience managing client‑facing teams; experience directly managing, mentoring and/or training entry‑level employees.

Equal Opportunity Employer

FTI Consulting is an equal‑opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, protected veteran status, religion, physical or mental disability, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, or any other basis protected by law, ordinance, or regulation.

Compensation

Minimum Pay: $99,000

Maximum Pay: $172,500

Compensation Disclosure: The compensation range reflects potential base salary for the role. Actual compensation is determined based on a wide array of relevant factors including market considerations, business needs, and an individual’s location, skills, level of experience, and qualifications.