Vice President, Strategic Planning

Who is Weber Shandwick?

We create cultural value and help brands navigate the ever-changing age of earned: an age where consumers actively say no to advertising; an age where everyone is an influencer that can make or break your brand; an age where content can be turned into commercial opportunity.

Our talented team builds brands by finding connection points in the real world. We energise the right mix of talent, using the right platforms and latest technology to choreograph stories that make a real and meaningful impact for some of the world’s leading brands and businesses such as HSBC, Unilever and eBay to name a few.

We earn affection, attention, affinity, and purchase by delivering value to people around the world, with deep specialisms spanning technology, entertainment & lifestyle, and energy. We are known for:

• Developing data driven insights and strategies to drive measurable impact
• Creating impactful campaigns that tap into culture
• Creating channel and platform agnostic campaigns that grow organically
• Delivering integrated campaigns that are earned-first but deliver for paid and owned

 

What’s Happening?

Weber Shandwick are looking for a talented Account Director to join our Public Affairs team in London. You’ll be joining a well-established team, where you’ll have the opportunity to collaborate across our outstanding corporate affairs team, as well as with Weber Shandwick’s UK and international network; while being guided and supported by some of the PR industry’s leading corporate communications professionals.

The ideal candidate will be able to draw upon experiences bringing knowledge and insight into a range of sectors and industries, combined with excellent client servicing and public affairs skills.

You’ll also need a strong understanding of how politics and parliament work, how digital fits into wider integrated communications programmes, as well as brilliant technical writing skills, time management and a keen eye for detail when it comes to managing project progress.

What will you be doing?

• Manage teams and work across a range of large corporate client accounts
• Research and analyse evolving policy, making recommendations to clients as required
• Policy and stakeholder analysis for our clients
• Managing political engagement programmes and stakeholder events
• Build trust and confidence with clients by consistently ensuring work is delivered on time and to an exceptional standard of quality
• Provide senior level counsel to clients, get involved in new business pitches and be a proactive team player
• Develop tactical plans and campaigns to meet client needs
• Work with specialist colleagues in the integrated media, corporate communications and strategy teams to deliver solutions for clients
• Participate in the creative development of campaigns for new and existing clients and supporting the team in researching and preparing new business opportunities

Who are you?

• Experienced account lead at an agency or with management experience in-house or in a political role
• With a passion for politics, you know how to make a strong case that will win the argument and have a track record of developing and delivering effective campaigns
• Unafraid to ask questions and to challenge clients’ and colleagues’ perspectives when necessary
• Highly organised with exceptional attention to detail
• Demonstrable experience in politics and communications. Your experience combines stakeholder engagement and policy insight
• An excellent political network with exceptional knowledge and understanding of how government and parliament operate. 
• Able to digest complex information and understand how it relates to the political agenda
• A prolific consumer of news, you’re on top of current affairs, allowing you to help clients anticipate issues and opportunities
• Proven project management skills to deliver work that is on brief and on time
• Fluency in digital/social media platforms, with an appetite to learn more

 

Core Benefits:

• Private medical insurance
• Group life assurance
• Group income protection
• Personal pension plan
• Employee Assistance Programme

Flexible Benefits:

• Buy or sell holiday
• Additional life assurance cover
• Critical illness insurance
• Personal Accident Insurance
• Dental insurance
• Travel insurance
• Health screening
• Gym discounts
• Cycle to work scheme
• Health cash plan
• Flexible working with our 3:2 hybrid work model
• Equivalent of $250 USD for new joiners on 6 month + contract to support home working setup
• 25 days’ annual leave (in addition to public holidays) plus 2 volunteering days, birthday day off work and discretionary festive closure
• Flexible public holidays
• Sweets and snacks in the office
• Exclusive shopping discounts and perks
• Headspace membership
• Annual eyecare voucher
• Season ticket loan
• Referral bonus scheme
• Long service bonus
• Enhanced family leave
• Inclusive and invisible health policies

Note from the Talent Team:

We appreciate the time take to apply for the role and your recent interest in Weber Shandwick. We will review all applications within five working days and be in touch with those who have been shortlisted to the next stage. Unfortunately, due to volume we are not able to get back to everyone individually so if you have not heard back from us unfortunately you have not been successful on this occasion and wish you all the best in your search.

At IPG DXTRA we are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. We are committed to equality of opportunity for all staff and applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships.

#LI-LM1

SVP, Corpsumer Strategic Planning

The SVP of Strategic Planning will be the point person for “Corpsumer” work within TWSC Central market. COrpsumer reflecting the need to lead client and team partnership on relationships that need both corporate and consumer best-in-class work of a connected strategic vision and plan. This person will work to architect powerful business driving communications strategies in partnership with region and NA leadership. The ideal candidate is an experienced insightful thinker who immerses themselves in a category, loves to understand what drives consumers to act and is relentless about finding unexpected insights to drive communications forward. In this role, you will be involved in all elements of brand strategy including creating and analyzing data and market trends, shaping market research, and developing impactful insights and strategies that solve brand challenges.

Responsibilities:

• Leads businesses with powerful strategic positioning that stretches to both consumer and corporate stakeholders
• Guides client and internal integration teams to efficiently solve problems and collaborate together effectively
• Someone who has led powerful earned strategies with internal and client facing stakeholders. Ideas that are earned at the core but built to improve brand strategies.
• Acquires professional, mature presence in the team and client relationship, and shows strong presentation skills.
• Proactively identifies potential challenges with the research plan, creative brief, making recommendations for improvement prior to completion.
• Initiates and helps to execute strategic process, from research plan to creative brief, for approval from more senior leads. Co-leads client projects/ assignments.
• Mine data, research, and intelligence reports for insights and implications.
• Develop an immersive understanding of a product or brand’s market dynamics, customer mindset, competitive actions and industry trends.
• Derive and articulate insights that will drive behavior change.
• Cultivate strong relationships with staff, internal partners, and clients including counseling junior staff.

Experience Requirements:

• 10-15 years of experience in Corporate and Consumer strategies and best-in-class idea integration.
• Understanding of cultural brand strategy with familiarity of work within PR, digital and social media.
• Expertise in the marketing and communications industry.
• High level of comfort with research techniques and resources and insight generation.
• Demonstrated experience with analytics and analyzing data (not necessarily just pulling data but also manipulating it)
• Clear and compelling presentation skills.
• Agility in working style – demonstrated ability to work against tight timelines and to work collaboratively.
• Excellent verbal and written communication with the capability to construct and support arguments.

 

Chicago Salary Range: $162,000.00 – $200,000.00

Where an employee or prospective employee is paid within this range will depend on, among other factors, actual ranges for current/former employees in the subject position; market considerations; budgetary considerations; tenure and standing with the company (applicable to current employees); as well as the employee’s/applicant’s background, pertinent experience, and qualifications.

The Weber Shandwick Collective recognizes that your health and wellbeing are a priority. This is why we offer a full suite of benefits including:

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• 401k (with employer match)
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Juice Money – $60 monthly reimbursement to be used towards purchases that nourish your health, mind, body, and soul
• MyDays – Flexible holiday schedules
• Short-Term Disability
• Paid Employee Family Leave
• Family Building Benefit

Weber Shandwick is proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. Weber Shandwick recruits qualified applicants without regard to race, colour, religion, gender, age, ethnic or national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status or citizenship status.

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Weber Shandwick Scotland 

Glasgow or Edinburgh 

Who are we? 

Weber Shandwick is an earned-first global communications agency, led by world-class strategic thinkers and creative activators. Through the power of earned, we create shared and sustainable value for businesses, people, and society. 

Our game-changing work is recognised by some of the most prestigious industry awards bodies, and we have won more than 135 Lions at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. We’re also PRWeek’s 2024 Global Agency of the Year as well as being listed on the Ad Age A-List and Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies. 

The work we do at Weber Shandwick spans across industries and specialisms, from consumer brand and B2B marketing to healthcare marketing and social impact.  

Why join Weber Shandwick Scotland? 

At our offices in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen, you can find an integrated collective of communications professionals, including strategy, digital marketing, and influencer strategy leads. We’re also home to the EMEA consumer healthcare team and multi-award winning EMEA creative design studio. 

Our unique culture, based on a foundation of “delivering the best work of our careers”, means we push boundaries and create campaigns that bring positive change for our clients and wider society. This is a key reason why we win awards and why our people stay and develop their career with us, rising through the ranks to become client leaders, directors, and even managing directors. 

What is the role? 

We are looking for a mid-weight Strategist to join our Strategy team. The team’s purpose is to supercharge more creative and effective work. 

The role is a superb opportunity to join successful Strategy team in an award-winning communications agency, where you’ll gain experience partnering with well-known global brands as well as some here in Scotland too.  

You’ll have the chance to work on integrated campaigns across a range of sectors, supporting senior leads on key projects, leading strategy on your own accounts (with senior support) and helping to develop our junior staff.   

We believe that the more open, varied, and diverse we are as an industry the better the work we can do – we are looking for smart people from all backgrounds who are restless, curious and want to deliver impactful work. 

What will you be doing? 

• Writing creative proposals to inspire clients and stakeholders  

• Leading the strategy process through to execution 

• Providing thorough interpretation of research findings (both quant and qual) 

• Tracking cultural and audience trends 

• Responsible for identifying various sources of information & insight appropriate to a client problem – whether that’s existing research, behaviour change data, relevant case studies or social listening 
• Creating messaging frameworks and content territories /pillars, as well as influencing overarching campaign and channel strategies 

Who are you? 

• Someone with a passion for creativity and is hungry to create exceptional work 

• The ideal candidate will likely have strong previous experience in marketing/communications strategy and planning ideally within a strategy department/communications agency 

• High level of comfort with research techniques and insight generation 

• Comfortable using analytics tools and interpreting data 

• Excellent verbal, written and presentation communication skills  

• Possess deep intellectual curiosity about culture, media, and technology, and how they affect human behaviour 

• Be adept at distilling and simplifying compelling insights to craft creative briefs 

• Good commercial awareness 

 

 

Note from the talent team: 

 At Weber Shandwick we are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. We are committed to equality of opportunity for all staff and applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships. 

We make our careers website accessible to any and all users. If you need an accommodation to participate in the application process, please contact us at JobAppAccommodation@ipgdxtra.com. This email address is not for general employment inquiries or vendors; rather it is strictly for applicants who require special assistance accessing our employment website. Due to volume, messages sent to this email address that are not related to accommodations cannot be answered. 

*** JOB SCAM ALERT***

 

We have recently become aware that individuals not associated with The Weber Shandwick Collective have fraudulently used our name – and the name of some of our employees – to solicit applications for fake jobs, to conduct fake job interviews and to make fake job offers. Any request to schedule an interview and any bona fide offer of employment will only come from an authorized representative of The Weber Shandwick Collective with an email address “@webershandwick.com”. We will never require an applicant to provide credit card or banking information to cover any supposed advance costs.

 

If you have provided personal information in connection with a fake job offer or interview and you are concerned, we suggest that you take appropriate action. The Weber Shandwick Collective takes these activities very seriously and are taking appropriate steps to shut down this fraudulent activity. We urge you to be careful when sharing your personal information and to be aware of scams involving fake job postings and job offers.