Group Strategy Director, Commerce

Southern Graphic Systems, LLC; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 165,000 - 175,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental plan

Vision plan

Life insurance

401(k) Savings Plan

Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

Disability coverage

Job summary

Southern Graphic Systems, LLC is seeking a Group Strategy Director, Commerce to drive the eCommerce Strategy discipline across our agency. This leader will scale the eCommerce practice, mentor a growing team, and shape omnichannel strategies for major retailers and marketplaces.

The role combines visionary leadership with hands-on execution, building frameworks, contributing to new business, and delivering measurable client impact.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in digital strategy with 4–5 years leading eCommerce initiatives.
• Previous leadership experience mentoring strategy teams.
• Experience in CPG and Retail verticals.
• Deep knowledge of major retailer platforms and SEO, PDP strategy.

Responsibilities

• Define and scale strategic frameworks and toolkits for eCommerce clients.
• Create governance standards including QA, KPI frameworks, and intake processes.
• Oversee strategy development across a portfolio of clients with consistent output.
• Collaborate with Creative and Account leadership on high-performing campaigns.
• Lead, mentor, and grow Strategy Directors and junior strategists.
• Develop onboarding and training plans to scale capabilities.

Skills

Leadership

eCommerce Strategy

Digital Strategy

Retail Knowledge

Brand Strategy

Cross-functional Leadership

Thought Leadership

Business Development

Tools

Helium 10

Walmart Connect

Amazon Ads / Vendor Central

Profitero

Stackline

Salsify

Vizit

Job description

We're seeking aGroup Strategy Director, Commerce to lead the development, growth, and strategic direction of the eCommerce Strategy discipline across the agency. This role is pivotal in scaling oureCommerce Practice, driving thought leadership, and ensuring strategic excellence across all clients and categories.

This leader will oversee a growing team of eCommerce Strategy Directors and junior strategists, ensuring consistency in approach, methodology, and outputs surrounding our eCommerce work. Partnering closely withCreative and Account leads this role will shape omnichannel strategies that push boundaries and deliver measurable impact across major retailers (Amazon, Walmart, Target) and marketplaces. This role is bothvisionary and hands-on, building infrastructure and frameworks, mentoring talent, and contributing directly to business development and client innovation.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership & Governance

• Define and scale strategic frameworks and toolkits that standardize excellence across all eCommerce clients, ensuring every engagement is underpinned by best-in-class thinking, repeatable processes, and insight-driven methodologies
• Create and enforce governance standards that outline how strategy is developed, implemented, and optimized, including QA protocols, KPI frameworks, strategic intake processes and performance benchmarks that ensure accountability and operational rigor
• Oversee strategy development across a portfolio of clients, ensuring there's a consistent elevation of strategic output
• Collaborate with Creative and Account leadership to drive holistic, high-performing campaign strategies

Team & Practice Development

• Lead, mentor, and grow a team of Strategy Directors and junior strategists
• Develop onboarding, training, and development plans to scale team capabilities
• Champion a culture of curiosity, experimentation, and learning within the practice
• Partner with HR and leadership on recruitment and team design as the practice scales

Thought Leadership & Innovation

• Stay ahead of marketplace changes, retailer algorithms, and emerging technologies
• Serve as a thought leader in eCommerce, contributing to industry panels, case studies, and agency education
• Lead development of proprietary methodologies across SEO, AEO, GEO, and digital shelf optimization
• Represent the agency in key client strategy presentations, thought leadership initiatives, and new business pitches

Business Development & Client Growth

• Serve as a strategic lead on new business efforts-translating client challenges into strategic solutions
• Partner with Business Development to evaluate RFPs, develop pitches, and scope strategic solutions
• Consult across clients to identify new strategic opportunities and deepen client relationships
• Ensure all strategy engagements are measurable, actionable, and tied to client business outcomes

Qualifications:

• 10+ years in digital strategy with at least 4-5 years leading eCommerce-focused initiatives
• Leadership experience mentoring and managing strategy teams
• Experience in CPG and Retail verticals
• Deep knowledge of major retailer platforms (Amazon, Walmart, Target, etc.), SEO, PDP strategy, and content syndication tools
• Experience with platforms like Helium 10, Walmart Connect, Amazon Ads / Vendor Central, Profitero, Stackline, Salsify, Vizit, or similar
• Strong strategic thinking with ability to zoom in/out from vision to execution
• Strong grounding in brand strategy, and the role eCommerce plays in the broader brand-building and brand experience ecosystem
• Understanding of the global landscape of eCommerce: diversity/exclusivity of channel, etc.
• Highly collaborative and proactive, with experience partnering across creative, copy, insights, and client service teams
• Strong understanding of major retail media platforms - Amazon and Walmart

Experience

Deep understanding of how to shape brands' positioning, identity, and consumer experience within digital commerce platforms (required)

Significant experience developing comprehensive strategies across multiple brands and creative disciplines, with particular focus on eCommerce and digital retail environments (required)

Equal Opportunity Employer / Protected Veterans / Individuals with Disabilities

This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.

For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.

Our compensation reflects the cost of labor across several U.S. geographic markets, and we pay differently based on those defined markets. The U.S. pay range for this position is $165,000 USD - $175,000 USD annually. Ultimately, in determining pay, we will consider the successful candidate's location, experience, and other job-related factors.

• Group benefits currently include a selection of health care plans with prescription drug coverage, dental plan, vision plan, basic and supplemental life insurance, a flexible spending account for medical and dependent care expenses or a health savings account based on plan selection, short/long term disability and 401(k) Savings Plan.