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Vice President, Strategy

Arlington, Virginia, United States; Chicago, Illinois, United States; New York, New York, United States

About Ketchum

As a global communications consultancy with 100 years of experience, Ketchum is a trusted partner who is equal parts creative and analytical. Ketchum is a place where all perspectives and points of view are welcome and encouraged. We are a collection of communications specialists, content creators, creatives, researchers, data analysts, media pros, digital strategists, issues and crisis counselors, and tech nerds. And we love when those worlds collide to create the very best teams and solutions for our clients. We work with the world’s leading brands, emerging start-ups, and everything in between. We are beyond proud to have created some of the most celebrated and award-winning campaigns in our industry. We’re just crazy enough to think we can impact the world – and how it responds to ideas – through communication.

We encourage our employees to be curious, brave, inspiring, and a force for good. Let’s talk. Come belong at Ketchum!

 

Overview:

As Senior Vice President, Strategy & Planning, you will be a key leader within Ketchum’s strategy function, driving insights-led consulting across earned, owned, and shared media. You will oversee strategic planning, thought leadership, and business development, working with senior clients and agency teams to deliver impactful communication strategies. You will play a crucial role in growing the agency’s reputation for strategic excellence while mentoring and managing a team of strategists.

About the Job:

STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP & CONSULTING

  • Lead the development of strategic frameworks, audience insights, and integrated communication plans for clients across various industries.
  • Act as a senior strategic advisor to high-profile clients, ensuring that strategies align with business and brand objectives.
  • Stay ahead of industry trends, cultural insights, and marketplace shifts to provide proactive guidance to clients and internal teams.

CLIENT & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

  • Partner with client leads and account teams to ensure strategies translate into measurable results and impactful campaigns.
  • Represent the Strategy function in new business pursuits, including RFIs, pitches, and proposals.
  • Help shape Ketchum’s strategic product, ensuring innovative approaches to brand, content, storytelling, and reputation management.

TEAM LEADERSHIP & DEVELOPMENT

  • Build value in the role of strategy at the agency, ensuring that insights and integration are at the core of our planning processes and remain a priority throughout execution
  • Be an agency-wide champion of integration, collaboration and SME involvement in service of providing best-in-class counsel and programs for clients.
  • Oversee and mentor a team of strategists, providing career guidance, training, and feedback.
  • Work with the head of strategy, to manage talent planning and team structure to support the agency’s growth.
  • Foster a culture of collaboration and knowledge-sharing across departments and geographies.

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP & INNOVATION

  • Develop and publish strategic POVs on emerging trends in communications, media and marketing, partnering with reputation and channel experts to ensure comprehensive counsel.
  • Speak at industry conferences and contribute to Ketchum’s reputation as a leader in communications strategy.
  • Support the evolution of Ketchum’s proprietary strategic methodologies.

Qualifications:

  • 15+ years of experience in strategic planning, brand strategy, or communications strategy within an agency or consultancy setting.
  • Ability to synthesize complex information into clear, actionable insights.
  • Experience working across earned, owned, and shared media channels.
  • Proven ability to unearth a human truth that inspires breakthrough creative.
  • Proficient in briefing writing and shaping the strategy story in client presentations (written and verbal)
  • Strong business acumen with experience in P&L management, budgeting, scoping, and revenue forecasting.
  • Excellent leadership and mentoring skills, with experience managing high-performing teams.
  • A track record of driving measurable business and communication outcomes for Fortune 500 clients.

 

The salary range for this position is $120,000 to $140,000. This position may be bonus eligible depending on individual employee performance and Ketchum business performance. The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to, education, years of experience, past training, skills and abilities of applicant, internal equity and local geographic market data. A range of medical, dental, vision, 401(k) matching, paid time off, and/or other benefits also are available. #LI-Hybrid

What We Offer

  • Hybrid Workplace: Three days a week in the office
  • Robust benefits program, effective within 30 days of hire
  • Paid maternity/paternity leave
  • Family Forming Benefits
  • Employee Recognition Program
  • Generous paid time off includes vacation, wellness, and extended holiday schedule
  • Various development opportunities to enhance personal and professional life
  • Tuition reimbursement
  • Monthly Cell Phone & Wi-Fi reimbursement

Interested? We’ve got an opportunity for you.

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