Senior Strategist

Lucas James Talent Partners; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 160,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Scale Marketing is seeking a Senior Strategist in Chicago to act as a fractional CMO for a portfolio of clients. You will own client strategy, performance, measurement, and ongoing optimization in partnership with our Media, Data, and Creative teams.

You will communicate directly with executive-level client stakeholders to translate business goals into performance marketing strategies, ensuring campaigns drive measurable leads, sales, and revenue growth.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of marketing experience, agency-side or client-side.
• Proven ownership of strategy planning, performance measurement and revenue growth.
• Strong background in performance marketing with demonstrated success in Lead Generation and/or DTC.
• Balanced omni-channel expertise (Paid Media, Search, Social, Traditional, etc.).
• Deep comfort analyzing performance data and translating it into business recommendations.
• Experience leading strategy conversations with senior client stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary strategy and communication lead for Scale Marketing’s client portfolio.
• Own ongoing performance analysis for clients, identifying trends, opportunities, and risks.
• Deeply understand each client’s business, industry, competitors, and growth objectives.
• Lead development of performance marketing strategies, growth plans, and budget allocation recommendations.
• Partner with Media, Data Analytics, and Creative teams to design integrated, omni-channel strategies.
• Ensure measurement frameworks are defined upfront and tied to business outcomes (leads, sales, revenue).
• Monitor progress against client goals and make proactive recommendations.
• Translate data into clear, actionable insights and recommendations for clients.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Analytical skills

Performance marketing

Lead generation

Cross-functional collaboration

Job description

Direct Reports: No management responsibility. Location: Hybrid (3 days in office) + client travel

Highly level of cross team collaboration

Role Overview

Senior Strategists at Scale Marketing operate as fractional CMOs for our portfolio of clients. They are responsible

for owning client strategy, performance, measurement, and ongoing optimization in partnership with our

Media, Data, and Creative teams.

Senior Strategists work and communicate directly with executive -level client stakeholders to understand their

business goals, translate those goals into performance marketing strategies, and ensure campaigns are driving

measurable outcomes across leads, sales, and revenue.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary strategy and communication lead for Scale Marketing’s client portfolio
• Own ongoing performance analysis for your clients, identifying trends, opportunities, and risks
• Deeply understand each client’s business, industry, competitors, and growth objectives
• Lead the development of performance marketing strategies, growth plans, and budget allocation recommendations
• Partner with Media, Data Analytics, and Creative teams to design integrated, omni-channel strategies
• Ensure measurement frameworks are defined upfront and tied to business outcomes (leads, sales, revenue)
• Monitor progress against client goals and make proactive recommendations
• Translate data into clear, actionable insights and recommendations for clients

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with Media teams, Data Analytics, and Creative/Production to ensure strategies are executed effectively
• Ensure internal teams are aligned on client goals, priorities, and success metrics
• Help prevent scope creep through clear planning, communication, and expectation -setting
• Contribute to improving internal processes, frameworks, and strategic playbooks

What Success Looks Like

• Achievement of client KPIs (leads, sales, revenue)
• Client retention and relationship strength
• Quality and effectiveness of strategic planning
• Ability to identify and address performance challenges and opportunities early
• Collaboration and contribution to team growth
• 15+ years of marketing experience, agency-side or client-side
• Proven ownership of strategy planning, performance measurement, and revenue growth
• Strong background in performance marketing, with demonstrated success in Lead Generation and/or DTC
• Balanced omni-channel expertise (Paid Media, Search, Social, Traditional etc.)
• Deep comfort analyzing performance data and translating it into business recommendations
• Experience leading strategy conversations with senior client stakeholders
• Ability to manage complex clients simultaneously without losing strategic depth

Who You Are

• Strategic, analytical, and deeply performance-oriented
• Confident, consultative, and prepared in client-facing situations
• Comfortable making recommendations and standing behind decisions
• Collaborative and team-first; values partnership over ego
• Calm under pressure and solution-oriented when challenges arise
• Takes pride in client outcomes and ownership of results

Why Join Us

• This position presents an opportunity to leverage your experience and truly make an impact on the clients and team you work with
• Operate as true strategic partner-not just an executor
• Work with aspirational clients who appreciate the work we do, and the business results we drive
• Immerse yourself and upskill in the ever-changing marketing landscape.
• Work for a company where culture is a priority