Strategy Director

IMS Integrated Merchandising Solutions; Skokie (IL); On-site; USD 150,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision coverage

401(k) with match

Disability Insurance

Generous Time Off

Peer recognition program

Training and development opportunities

Employee Resource Groups access

Job summary

IMS Integrated Merchandising Solutions is seeking a Strategy Director to lead organic growth initiatives within a major Quick Service Restaurant account. You will shape account strategies across retail marketing, POS solutions, and technology-driven improvements to boost revenue and efficiency.

You will partner with senior leaders to identify opportunities, build scalable solutions, and drive long-term business objectives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher with career progression
• 10+ years in account management, strategic partnerships, or business development
• Ability to manage multiple projects under tight deadlines
• Strong organization and interpersonal skills; team-oriented

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead organic growth strategies for the corporate QSR account
• Identify market opportunities for new service lines and efficiency improvements
• Create growth roadmaps with KPIs, timelines, and resources
• Build executive relationships and serve as strategic partner to senior leadership
• Collaborate with product, operations, sales, and customer success teams
• Present findings and progress updates to senior management
• Onsite client presence required with some travel

Skills

Strategic growth

Executive relationships

Data analysis

Project management

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Salesforce

Power BI

Adobe

CRM software

Process mapping tools

Figma

Job description

IMS represents leading brands at the point of purchase – in store, online, and behind the scenes – including digital and traditional signage, print and POP, and branded merchandise. Our marketplace is solution agnostic, so our clients achieve best execution at lowest price throughout North America. Our integrated platform (planning, procurement, freight, warehousing, kitting, fulfillment, field execution, analytics, and program management) empowers our clients to stay at the strategic level, knowing that we can help turn their marketing vision into a reality. Visit us at: www.IMSretail.com.

IMS is wholly owned by Omnicom Group (NYSE: OMC), an inter-connected global network of leading marketing communication companies offering a diverse, comprehensive range of marketing solutions spanning brand advertising, customer relationship management, media planning and buying services, public relations and numerous specialty communications services to drive bottom line results for its clients (www.omnicomgroup.com).

We value what makes you, you

IMS is committed to building and maintaining a team that reflects the diverse consumer base and communities that we serve. We know that when our associates are empowered to bring their whole selves to work, they feel valued and appreciated, and bring better results for our clients. We strive to build a culture that rewards people for their unique perspectives and contributions, and where our people are connected - to the work we do, to each other, and to IMS.

WHAT DOES THE STRATEGY DIRECTOR DO:

We are seeking an experienced and strategic Strategy Director to lead and driver organic growth initiatives within the corporate team of a leading Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) chain. This role will be instrumental in developing and executing comprehensive account strategies that expand our retail marketing and supply chain opportunities, enhance operational efficiency through technology and process improvements, and drive revenue growth across the broad-base account enterprise. The Strategy Director will serve as a key strategic partner to senior leadership, responsible for identifying growth opportunities, building executive relationships, and implementing scalable solutions that align with the QSR's corporate initiatives and long-term business objectives.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Develop and lead comprehensive organic growth strategies focused on expanding retail marketing including POS solutions and services across the corporate QSR team
• Identify and assess market opportunities for new service lines, product enhancements, and operational efficiencies within the existing account
• Create detailed growth roadmaps with measurable KPIs, timelines, and resource requirements
• Conduct competitive analysis and market research to inform strategic recommendations and positioning
• Partner with product and operations teams to develop solutions that address specific corporate team needs
• Serve as one of the primary strategic business partners to senior leaders within the QSR corporate organization
• Build and maintain executive-level relationships with key stakeholders across multiple departments (Operations, IT, Finance, Corporate Partnerships)
• Act as an internal advocate for the account, ensuring alignment across all company departments
• Identify and quantify new revenue opportunities within the corporate account, including service upselling, technology implementations, and operational optimization initiatives
• Develop business cases and ROI analyses for proposed solutions and investments
• Monitor and report on organic growth progress, pipeline development, and revenue realization
• Establish and manage annual account growth targets and develop detailed plans to achieve or exceed them
• Collaborate with implementation, support, and technical teams to ensure customer success and satisfaction
• Manage account feedback loops and translate client input into actionable product and service enhancements
• Work closely with account leads, sales, operations, product development, and customer success teams to coordinate strategic initiatives
• Champion internal alignment around account priorities and growth opportunities
• Facilitate communication and collaboration between the client organization and internal teams
• Present findings, recommendations, and progress updates to senior management
• Onsite client presence required; some travel required

Key Requirements:

• Experience in business strategy, client engagement, or related field within the QSR, restaurant technology, or retail execution sectors
• Demonstrate expertise in developing and executing organic growth strategies that resulted in measurable revenue increases
• Proven ability to build and maintain executive-level relationships and influence key decision makers
• Strong understanding of restaurant operations and QSR business models
• Strategic thinking with the ability to translate market insights into actionable business initiatives
• Exceptional communication skills with ability to present complex information to diverse audiences
• Project management expertise with proven ability to lead cross-functional initiatives to completion
• Analytical capability with strong proficiency in data analysis, financial modeling, and business metrics
• Problem-solving mindset with ability to identify creative solutions to complex business challenges

EXPERIENCE/QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree with a proven history of career progression
• 10+ years of relevant account management, strategic partnerships, or business development roles
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects simultaneously, independently, efficiently and under tight deadlines
• Strong organization, communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work both independently and in a team
• Track record of identifying and capturing organic growth opportunities within existing accounts
• Critical thinking, strong analytical skills and problem-solving ability
• Ability to maintain professional demeanor under pressure
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite products and Adobe
• Familiarity with CRM software, process mapping software, and business intelligence tools such as Salesforce, Power BI, Figma
• QSR, Retail and/or CPG experience

WHAT WE OFFER:

In addition to a collaborative and innovative work environment and the ability to make a significant company impact, you will receive:

• Medical, dental, vision coverage, including family-forming benefits and gender-affirming care
• 401(k) with match
• Disability Insurance (short term and long term)
• Generous Time Off policy
• Robust peer recognition program
• Training and development opportunities
• Access to Omnicom's Employee Resource Groups: Black Together, Open Pride, Acento, Open Disability, and OmniWomen
• Commitment to growing and enhancing our organizational culture

IMS is an Equal Opportunity Employer

The salary range for this job is $150,000-$170,000 - The salary range provided in this job posting is an estimate based on market data and internal equity. Final compensation will be determined based on knowledge, skills, experience, location, and other relevant factors such as certain certifications that may be desired for this role.