Director, Strategy

BarkleyOKRP; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

BarkleyOKRP in Chicago seeks a Strategy Director to lead and mentor strategy teams, clients and projects, blending rigorous insight with practical execution. You’ll drive high‑level writing and presentations, push for excellence, and act as a visible partner across initiatives.

The role balances leading agency accounts with hands‑on team leadership, shaping briefs, workshops, and research that illuminate consumer culture.

Qualifications

• Exhibit high-level writing and presentation skills.
• Must demonstrate deep experience in insight and research practices.
• Excellent reasoning ability: define problems, collect information, establish facts, draw valid conclusions, and make creative leaps.
• Bachelor’s degree is preferred.
• 7+ years of direct work experience in the strategy field.

Responsibilities

• Leads and participates in strategy development for clients and new business.
• Responsible for generating the Red Thread, or the actionable strategic idea, in any brand engagement.
• Manages and mentors a team of strategists, as well as contributing to best-practice solutions for the overall strategic process at Barkley.
• Becomes an invaluable resource for clients in terms of overall strategic guidance.
• Writes and presents micro and macro-level creative briefs for all initiatives.
• Lead integrated idea teams in idea sessions and workshops.
• Recommends and manages the research that will aid in the consumer insight-gathering and strategic process.
• Monitors and interprets cultural and social trends relevant to client business.
• Presents insights/implications/opportunities in client and new business.
• Finds creative, differentiating ways to gain insights, using known tools (qualitative and quantitative), as well as unique and new approaches.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Client leadership

Team mentorship

Insight research

Strong writing

Presentation skills

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

The Strategy Director is the player-coach of strategy, leading teams, clients and projects.

You bring power to every idea, every client, and every project. You treat the spectrum as a business and creative imperative. You forge strong relationships with senior clients and push more than anyone for excellence in insight and ideas with your teams. You’re a mentor and a highly visible partner.

The Strategy Director position must exemplify the art and science of strategy. They must demonstrate rigorous, collaborative, action-rich, and always practical strategy.

You must balance leading agency accounts and formal management of team members. You must flex effectively between execution and management, the left and right side of the spectrum, and instruction and inspiration.

You must implement ideas on how to improve the agency and team process. You must know the industry and have a pulse on culture.

Responsibilities:

• Leads and participates in strategy development for clients and new business
• Responsible for generating the Red Thread, or the actionable strategic idea, in any brand engagement
• Manages and mentors a team of strategists, as well as contributing to best-practice solutions for the overall strategic process at Barkley
• Becomes an invaluable resource for clients in terms of overall strategic guidance
• Writes and presents micro and macro-level creative briefs for all initiatives
• Lead integrated idea teams in idea sessions and workshops
• Recommends and manages the research that will aid in the consumer insight-gathering and strategic process
• Monitors and interprets cultural and social trends relevant to client business
• Presents insights/implications/opportunities in client and new business
• Finds creative, differentiating ways to gain insights, using known tools (qualitative and quantitative), as well as unique and new approaches

Qualifications:

• Exhibit high-level writing and presentation skills
• Must demonstrate deep experience in insight and research practices
• Excellent reasoning ability: Ability to define problems, collect information, establish facts, draw valid conclusions, and make creative leaps
• Bachelor’s degree is preferred
• 7+ years of direct work experience in the strategy field

BarkleyOKRP’s Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion + Belonging

• At BarkleyOKRP, DEI+B drives work that matters. We believe people and creativity are made of the same substance, and when every perspective is valued, the impact is stronger. We build belonging as a business strategy, power inclusive creativity that delivers measurable results, and hold ourselves accountable as a B Corp committed to progress over performative intent. When people are valued, the work carries greater impact.

As set forth in BarkleyOKRP’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.