Spark Foundry is the agency that is shaped by ideas. We believe everyone’s ideas are powerful – big or small. Our knack for exploring them makes us better.
We strongly believe in collaboration, where a thriving working relationship leads to everyone’s best work. Luckily, this conviction attracts likeminded clients and talent to create a positive and magnetic team.
We’re constantly adapting to each of our clients’ businesses’ needs to avoid stagnation. This ensures that our clients get the best service to tackle their future-facing challenges and that our team stays on their toes.
Above all, we love to go above and beyond what’s expected of us. We’ve done this through media innovation that is recognized by both the industry and by our clients who reap the benefits.
The near future is very bright for Spark Foundry, whether that’s a result of Publicis Groupe’s investment in groundbreaking global & local tools and data solutions or because of the contagious momentum amplified by new team members and new clients.
Overview
The Associated Director, Strategy plays a critical role at the heart of the strategic process. They collaborate with various other teams to ensure an idea is fully integrated across channels to best achieve a brand’s communication tasks.
They work with planning, research and data science teams to understand the audiences at play and what makes them tick. They tag team with our creative partners’ strategy teams to translate campaign ideas into an actionable connections plan across paid, earned, shared and owned touchpoints. They sit with planning and investment teams as well as media partners to uncover the audience’s favorite content and how to the brand can be integrated in the best light possible.
This role calls for a strategist with a creative heart and a curious mind. The type of person that will instinctively pick up on an emerging theme but will double-check the data to make sure their gut isn’t off the mark. Someone who can contextualize an idea within the appropriate channels and ultimately ensure that creative and media all work in perfect harmony.
Beyond talent, we’re looking for an individual that plays well with others, goes the extra mile and can adapt to change.
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Responsibilities
- Lead the strategy on industry leading brands that require not only the ability to develop effective ideas but also knowledge of best practice media principles
- Determine the communications tasks for each campaign while deciding the right channels and their roles
- Understand macro and micro trends in culture in ways that inform strategies.
- Establish measurable campaign KPIs, helping to enhance creative effectiveness and improve sell rate of innovative ideas
- Partner closely with inter-agency teams to ensure the creative idea make most effective use of an integrated mix of owned, earned and paid channels, and are deployed via innovative, targeted media and technology
- Partner closely with the Media Planning, Research and Data Sciences team to drive the creation of media and data plan that pays dividends to your connections plan
- Partner closely with the clients’ owned channel teams to ensure that the communication idea is adopted and executed seamlessly throughout social, PR, and .com properties
- Responsible for demonstrating an understanding of consumer behaviors within media, and a working knowledge of media relevant to the client’s business including TV, digital, social, experiential, print, OOH, and search
- Showcase an understanding of digital, social and emerging platforms and technologies
- Report up to and collaborate with VP Strategy to drive best-in-class work
- Bring thought leadership to clients and Spark Foundry as a whole
- Interact with clients and lead brainstorming sessions and workshops
- Partake in new business pitches with the Spark Foundry team
Qualifications
Professional skills
- Great thinker and an even better storyteller
- Collaboration
- Curiosity
- Creativity
- Passion for innovation
- Ability to package information in clear, concise and impactful ways
- Excellent at summarizing and making complex information accessible
- Relationship-minded to collaborate with internal teams, external partners, and clients
Very strong written and oral communication skills
Requirements
- 7+ years of Communications, Brand Strategy or Media Strategy role
- Mastery of technological, cultural, media trends & best practices
- Degree in a related discipline an asset (preferably in a Business, Communication, Marketing, or Cultural Studies program)
- Exposure to the creative ideation process
- Fully fluent in English, French fluency a strong asset
Additional information
Transparency matters to us. The salary range for this position is $85,000-$95,000 per year. Actual compensation within this range will be based on a variety of factors, including relevant experience, knowledge, skills, and applicable certifications. This range reflects what we reasonably expect to offer based on current market data.
We use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of our hiring process, such as reviewing applications or analyzing resumes. These tools assist our recruitment team but never replace human decision-making. We believe in a human-first approach, where your experience and potential are recognized by people.
Spark is an equal opportunity employer with a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion. We create and nurture a vibrant work environment that celebrates, values and leverages all aspects of diversity and inclusiveness, attracts world-class talent and serves as the industry benchmark for best practices. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals and will provide appropriate accommodation for candidates with disabilities or accessibility needs throughout the recruitment process, upon request. Please contact our recruiter for any questions, accommodations or specific requests. We thank all candidates for their interest in Spark however, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.
