EVP, Strategic Futures

Job Description:

We're looking for a visionary EVP, Strategic Futures to lead transformation for one of our most high-profile and complex clients. This is a unique opportunity to architect the future of media by unlocking automation, harnessing innovation, and delivering a sustainable competitive advantage through a modernized operating model.

Responsibilities include:

Lead Strategic Future Transformation

• Define and deliver a future-proofed media vision, aligning with client business objectives and category evolution tied closely to the client's brand framework.

• Lead modernization across tools, and workflow, ensuring the client stays ahead of the curve. This includes partnering closely with our Product Specialist to drive greater automation for the business.

• Look around corners and ensure client is ready for the future and is ahead of what's to come

• Drive client competitive advantage by identifying and pilot emerging technologies and platforms (AI, automation, data-driven solutions) to drive operational efficiency and competitive advantage.

• Partner with the media solutions (planning) and media effectiveness (analytics) teams to identify areas of opportunity within our workflow and our work that we can uplevel

• Partner in leading the intersection of media, creative, content, and data. Driving new thinking and placing Carat at the center.

Executive Client Partnership

• Demonstrated success in being the connective thread across client groups and internal teams—facilitating collaboration, and alignment

• Brings marketplace intelligence and fresh thinking from other clients or industries to address common client challenges—not just optimizing operations but elevating strategic value.

• Exceptional storytelling skills, especially to senior executives

• Demonstrates a track record of strong client relationships- has clients trust

• Serve as a strategic advisor to senior clients, elevating the agency's role beyond media to enterprise-level consulting.

• Translate ambition into action plans, with clear milestones across innovation, measurement, and capability building.

• Proven experience working within large, matrixed client organizations

• Strong track record of navigating in-house and agency dynamics, acting as a bridge rather than a competitor—positioning agency capabilities as complementary and additive to in house teams.

• Ability to identify opportunities for growth and value creation within a client's ecosystem, while ensuring that in-house teams feel supported, not displaced.

Operational & Organizational Design

• Identify opportunities to collapse complexity and increase speed-to-market through automation, streamlined governance, and centralized operations.

• Collaborate with the agency's discipline leads to ensure innovation is scaled and repeatable.

Requirements include:

• 20+ years of experience in media, agencies, client service, operations

• CPG experience required

• Based in NY or within commutable distance from our NY office (requirement is in office 3x/week, one of which is a Tuesday)

• Travel to client at least 1x/month

• Experience in media planning and media strategy across all channels

• Strong cross-functional team leadership experience—able to unify teams with different specializations

• Experience conceptualizing and developing new agency offerings or products that are both client-centric and revenue-generating.

• Brings differentiated experience or perspective that enhances our existing talent base—someone who complements, rather than duplicates, current strengths.

• Strong understanding of agency operations—ideally having overseen operations at scale, including a high volume of billings and delivery complexity.

• Experience managing complex client policy requirements and ensuring consistent, compliant implementation across internal teams.

• Can help lead team culture and acts a mentor to teams/teams leads

The annual base salary range for this position is $196,000-$316,250. Placement within the salary range is based on a variety of factors, including relevant experience, knowledge, skills, and other factors permitted by law. Additionally, this position is eligible for discretionary incentive compensation.

Benefits available with