Strategic Planning Director in Chicago

Energy Jobline ZR; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life/AD&D

PTO & sick leave

Gym membership

15-17 paid holidays

Job summary

fluent360 is seeking a Strategic Planning Director to lead multicultural strategy for major accounts from our Chicago office. You will guide cross-functional teams, develop culturally relevant frameworks, and ensure campaigns align with brand and culture.

Strong storytelling and leadership are essential to inspire the team and clients alike. The role requires 10+ years in advertising planning, multicultural experience, and the ability to translate complex data into actionable,

Qualifications

• Bachelor-level degree in Marketing/Business/Communications or related field.
• 10+ years as a strategist or planner in an advertising agency.
• Multicultural advertising experience targeting Hispanic or African American audiences.
• Strong storytelling ability to bring consumer perspectives into conversations.

Responsibilities

• Provide multicultural and Gen Z thought leadership to clients and agency partners.
• Lead audience insights and culturally relevant strategy across client portfolios.
• Collaborate with creative teams to ensure work stays on plan, on brand, and culturally aligned.
• Develop audience journey maps and insights to guide recruitment and financial/home lending goals.

Skills

Multicultural advertising experience

Storytelling

POVs (verbal & written)

Bilingual English/Spanish

Team leadership

Education

BA/BS Marketing, Business, or Communications

Tools

Syndicated research

Job description

Job DescriptionJob Description

Strategic Planning Director

The Strategic Planning Director will be responsible for leading multicultural strategy and planning efforts across a portfolio of key client accounts, including Wells Fargo, U.S. Army, and other brands when needed. Based in our Chicago office, this role will provide strategic leadership, cross-functional collaboration, and oversight to ensure impactful, insight-driven work.

What You Will Do

• Provide multicultural and Gen Z thought leadership to clients and agency partners
• Leverage storytelling to build deeper audience understanding, trust, relatability and drive multicultural recruitment and financial and home lending goals
• Generate a high level of passion among the entire team

• Work to keep simplicity and focus over time – always with an eye toward relevant creative output

• Use syndicated research tools to interpret and analyze propriety data through a multicultural lens
• Develop audience journey maps and culturally relevant communications frameworks
• Serve as a voice for our multicultural consumer and provide insight on brand alignment and strategy
• Collaborate with creative partners to ensure that all work is on plan, brand, and in culture
• Serve as a teacher and consultant to our creative team for strategy alignment
• Analyze data and create actionable insights for creative team
• Explain and communicate consumer nuances and behaviors to clients and partner agencies

Your Experience

• BA/BS Marketing, Business, Communication degree, or relevant area of coursework
• 10+ years of experience as a strategist or planner in an advertising agency environment
• Must have multicultural advertising experience targeting the Hispanic or African American consumer
• You are a passionate storyteller who loves bringing the consumer to each conversation
• You possess great ability to provide POVs (verbal and written), which are persuasive and inspiring
• Bilingual (Spanish/English) is a plus

• Demonstrates the ability to manage and energize teams around common goals

• Experienced using and interpreting syndicated research
• Ability to analyze and interpret information from a variety of sources, such as trade journals, research reports, white papers and cross-tabulated survey data

• Exhibits intense curiosity about human nature and the world we live in: Is observant, open-minded and receptive to new experiences

• Ability to effectively present research results to customers, clients and other agency employees.
• Self-directed and able to work independently

About Us

fluent360™ is one of the foremost agency leaders shaping the multicultural marketing industry. Equal parts integrated marketing agency and cultural hub, we specialize in giving brands a resonating voice to effectively speak to various cultural segments– both and consumer niche followings. As a multi-talented, multicultural agency, we offer a full spectrum of communication services. Find out more about us at fluent360.com

Agency Benefits & Perks

fluent360 offers a comprehensive benefit package including medical, dental and vision insurance, company paid life/AD&D, short-term and long-term , and a generous PTO and sick leave policy. In addition, we have some amazing agency perks including paid gym membership, summer hours, 17 paid holidays, and flexible schedules.

fluent360 is an Equal Opportunity Employer, EEO, AAE, MF//Vet.

Our organization participates in E-Verify. For more information visit https://www.uscis.gov/e-verify. E-Verify is an Internet-based system that compares information from an employee’s Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, to data from U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Social Security Administration records to confirm employment eligibility.