Group Strategy Director

About Ogilvy  

Ogilvy has been creating impact for brands through iconic, culture-changing, value-driving ideas since the company was founded by David Ogilvy 75 years ago. It builds on that rich legacy through Borderless Creativity – innovating at the intersections of its advertising, public relations, relationship design, consulting, and health capabilities with experts collaborating seamlessly across over 120 offices in nearly 90 countries. Ogilvy currently ranks as the #1 global agency network for creative excellence and effectiveness by WARC, signifying its ability to deliver creative solutions that drive unreasonable impact for clients and communities. Ogilvy is a WPP company (NYSE: WPP). For more information, visit Ogilvy.com, and follow us on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and Facebook.

About the Role 

We are seeking someone to elevate the ambition of a brand and lead the client’s thinking about the potential of their business.

This is a business built on human relationships, so the ability to work across different groups and disciplines is key. We need people who can build meaningful relationships within the agency and with clients: the ideal candidate will be a valued partner to the account team, a provocative collaborator with the creative department, a trusted consigliere to clients and, critically, a natural leader and mentor to their planning group.

We would also love this person to take part in larger areas of agency development – new business pitches, committees and task forces, as well as helping mentor, educate and develop our up-and-coming strategy talent. We will find opportunities for this person to be active in the wider community – sitting on panels and other public opportunities.

What You’ll Do

• Create, build and manage brand strategies across a portfolio (writing creative briefs, guiding development and presentation of the creative work)
• Lead annual planning with clients based on yearly business goals
• Bring proactive ideas to clients to push the brands into new spaces
• Design and implementation of research projects to address client business issues, gain insight into target audiences and testing ad concepts
• Manage and direct a team of Planning Directors, Senior Strategist, Strategists, Ogilvy Associates and interns who are assigned to the Group Planning Director’s accounts
• Assist in leading and mentoring the department
• Provide professional development opportunities and on the job training as needed

What You’ll Need

• 12+ years of experience in strategic/brand /creative planning (including experience at creative agencies)
• Experience at leading and mentoring other strategists and planners
• Ability to work directly with clients and develop relationships accordingly on behalf of the agency
• Rigorous brand building capabilities, without a rigid approach
• Demonstrated talent for abstract thinking, spotting trends and patterns, an innate curiosity and insight into human behavior, an instinct for popular culture, and a nuanced understanding of creative work are critical
• A believer in the power of both a tight brief and an inspirational briefing
• Ability to think globally but work locally
• Strong command of most forms of quantitative and qualitative research methodologies and working knowledge of when and how to apply them to a given client challenge
• 1+1=3 collaborators who takes conspiratorial joy from working with clients, creatives and account partners. Smart, steady, unflappable, present, mindful - a great consensus builder, able to listen to multiple stakeholders and able to steward sharp brand thinking through the peanut gallery
• Retail, QSR, or other fast-paced category experience preferred

How We’ll Support You

Ogilvy celebrates its people. Fully. Enthusiastically. Unhesitatingly. We’ll empower you with