SVP, Insights & Creative Strategy - Account Planning

What We Need

The SVP of Insights and Creative Strategy (“Account Planning”) is a critical lead on the broader creative team comprised of researchers, planners, art directors, writers, etc. The creative team is a team uniquely designed to understand how people think, and how best to connect with people, regardless of channel. This position plays a significant role in defining and implementing best practices for planning in a communications organization across the department as well as championing the planning craft and value throughout the agency. The SVP will ensure that the highest quality briefs and strategic inputs are developed with PR account teams and the creative department.

You will work on high visibility initiatives in both communications and marketing client remits. Collaborating with research, PR account management and creative teams, you will help best determine insights into audience behaviors that ultimately drive messaging, brand, creative, media, digital and communications strategy.

We are looking for a professional who can be both a “doer” and an “enabler.” You are a tireless promoter of the value of strategy, playing the roles of guide, cheerleader and evangelist as you help to foster a culture of creativity rooted in insights. When opportunities arrive for large comprehensive client programs and significant business development initiatives, you will bring together the right resources to provide account planning and strategy support. You are endlessly curious about consumer mindsets and the drivers of behavior change, savvy to the nuances of communications, marketing and passionate about inspiring smart creative work! You think and write clearly and understand the platforms and techniques of various media. You can frame a problem, develop succinct “ah ha” insights, and explain what it all means in a compelling story. You’re open-minded, battle-tested, inclusive and empathetic.

You will have familiarity with various primary research (qualitative & quantitative), data gathering and analytics methods, have demonstrated skill in translating and teaching others how to analyze information into insights that drive communications campaigns.

About You

What you'll be doing

• 15+ years of professional experience in agency or corporate marketing or communications environments in an account planning or creative strategy role
• 7+ years of leading teams of creative strategists/ account planners
• Ability to inspire and guide teams -- to elevate strategic thinking across the entire organization,
• Possess a love for the “working session” creatively leading internal and client teams to arrive at the “best” ideas
• Helping PR account teams uncover and deliver insights that lead to smart, impactful communications platforms
• Collaborating with creative and digital teams to build strategic communications across social and paid channels
• Leading strategic development with passionate new business teams to arrive at a single-minded creative idea
• Master of building a network of internal and external planners and strategists, and to bring the right resources to account teams to address client needs
• Ability to develop repeatable best-practice techniques that can be deployed across the organization, and to hold teams accountable for applying them
• Expertise in understanding how to apply market research, opinion research and other data to brand and communications campaigns
• Ability to translate research into compelling insights and assure that those insights align with core strategies and drive superior program results
• Familiarity with data gathering, research tools & resources such as Iconoculture, Mintel, Foresight Factory etc.
• Strong written, verbal and presentation skills, as well as a track record of building peer and client relationships
• Self-starter with comfort working in a fast-paced, collaborative, matrixed environment
  

What You Will Do

• Build and lead an in-demand team of talented creative strategists who bring an audience-first mindset in an organization traditionally focused on influencer – first across both new business opportunities and client work
• Develop and sell in winning and measurable ideas to new business opportunities and client scenarios that are grounded in relevant insights data and meet clients business objectives
• Bring an informed POV to the team, clients and new business opportunities that are steeped in the cross section of culture, audience, and brand relevance
• Be a creative strategist lead on regional and/or global healthcare, consumer, and technology accounts
  

Minimum/Preferred Requirements

What you've been able to accomplish

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing/Communications, or similarly applicable field is required; Master’s degree is highly preferred.
• Agency experience with the ability to think beyond marketing and advertising; PR agency experience preferred
• Minimum of 7-10 years’ experience in leading and management of a diverse team
• Proven success in establishing relationships, being a high bandwidth communicator, with a track record of excellent collaboration
• Always having a POV delivered with ZERO ego
  

Additional Requirements

• Travel: may on occasion need to travel, up to 20%
• Solid organizational and project management skills.
• Self-motivated and able to adapt quickly to changing priorities and tight deadlines.
• Possess exceptional communications skills.
• Client and business environment, Customer service orientation is a must. Job pressure may exist.
• Must be able to work more than 40 hours per week
• Experience working globally or with colleagues in multiple locations
• Strong presentation and consulting skills along with the ability to read, write and speak English
• Ability to lift up to 15 lbs.
  

About Us

WE Communications:

WE is one of the largest communications and integrated marketing agencies in the world. We’re independent, we’re all about our people — both our clients and our employees — and we believe in the power of communications to move audiences to positive action.

For more than 30 years, we have been helping translate complex innovations into powerful, persuasive stories. Our sector expertise across key verticals — including technology, healthcare, consumer, and brand purpose — translates into insights and strategies that are informed, current and credible.

We work with companies that are embracing the ever-evolving digital world to reinvent themselves, to deliver new value to their customers or reach them in new ways and ultimately improve people’s lives.

Equal Opportunity: WE provides equal employment opportunity and does not discriminate against an employee or applicant because of age, race, color, religion, gender, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, or other legally protected class status.

Diversity and Inclusion: WE values a diverse and inclusive workforce and is committed to creating a workplace where everyone thrives. We promote an atmosphere in which diversity of people and ideas are welcomed and valued. Diversity includes differences in race, religion, gender identity or expression, age, lifestyle, ethnic background and sexual orientation as well as differences in experiences and ideas.