VP, Strategic Planning Director (Pharma)

BBDO Worldwide; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 125,000 - 175,000; Full time

Job summary

BBDO Chicago is seeking a VP, Strategic Planning Director to lead a talented team and drive insights that exceed client expectations. This role uses research, analytics and storytelling to shape powerful, actionable brand strategies.

The position emphasizes cross‑functional collaboration, client leadership, and a proactive approach to research and idea generation, with a focus on healthcare brands. Minimum experience and education are specified in the requirements.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of agency experience.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent.
• Experience turning insight into action.
• Strong storytelling and presentation skills.
• Collaborative across disciplines with influential leadership.
• Confident communicator with client and team presence.
• Interest in Pharma or Health & Wellness brands.

Responsibilities

• Serve as lead team member on the businesses they are directly responsible for, ultimately assuring the quality of the strategic and creative products the team produces.
• Manage the growth and development of their team by helping to identify innovative ideas, approaches and final work product.
• Creating original, imaginative and expressive strategies to focus and inspire the creative and account teams.
• Building exceptional client relationships by helping to identify their strategic brand challenges, providing input on competitive threats and evolving consumer behaviours.
• Providing thought‑leadership for the discipline.
• Pioneer and utilize new research methods.
• Contribute to new business pitches.
• Collaborate closely with creative, account, and analytics teams to ensure ideas & experiences are insight‑driven, feasible, and inspiring.
• Facilitate internal brainstorms and client workshops focused on engagement, journeys, and experience optimisation.
• Partner with clients & analytics partners in research initiatives, using findings to inform ideas.

Skills

Agency experience

Storytelling

Presentation skills

Cross-disciplinary collaboration

Influence leadership

Communication

Pharma interest

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

Job Description

At BBDO Chicago, the VP, Strategic Planning Director is not afraid to challenge and inspire their team to bring something new to the forefront. This person will use expertise, experience, research and analytics to formulate critical insights that over deliver for our clients.

Agency

BBDO

Job Function

Strategy and Planning

Job Subfunction

Account Planning and Brand Planning

Job Description

At BBDO Chicago, the VP, Strategic Planning Director is not afraid to challenge and inspire their team to bring something new to the forefront. This person will use expertise, experience, research and analytics to formulate critical insights that over deliver for our clients.

Responsibilities

• Serve as lead team member on the businesses they are directly responsible for, ultimately assuring the quality of the strategic and creative products the team produces
• Manage the growth and development of their team by helping to identify innovative ideas, approaches and final work product
• Creating original, imaginative and expressive strategies to focus and inspire the creative and account teams
• Building exceptional client relationships by helping to identify their strategic brand challenges, providing input on competitive threats and evolving consumer behaviours
• Providing thought‑leadership for the discipline
• Pioneer and utilize new research methods
• Contribute to new business pitches
• Collaborate closely with creative, account, and analytics teams to ensure ideas & experiences are insight‑driven, feasible, and inspiring
• Facilitate internal brainstorms and client workshops focused on engagement, journeys, and experience optimisation
• Partner with clients & analytics partners in research initiatives, using findings to inform ideas

Requirements

• 10+ years of relevant industry experience; must have agency experience
• Bachelor’s degree and/or relevant experience required
• Experience connecting insight to action—turning complexity into clear strategic direction
• Strong storytelling and presentation skills, with the ability to bring creative to life
• Comfortable collaborating across disciplines and leading with influence rather than authority
• Confident communicator with presence, clarity, and the ability to build trust with clients and teams
• Interest in Pharma or Health & Wellness brands

125,000 - 175,000

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125,000 - 175,000