Business Director - Strategy & Insights

Company Description

Saatchi & Saatchi has grown from a start-up advertising agency in London in 1970 to a global creative communications company with 114 offices in 67 countries and over 6500 employees. Saatchi & Saatchi is part of the Publicis Groupe, the world’s third largest communications group We are a full service, integrated communications network and we work with 6 of the top 10 and over half of the top 50 global advertisers. We’re in the business of getting people to fall in love with our clients’ products and services. We have an unshakeable spirit and unbeatable attitude that Nothing is Impossible, a concept we apply to all our clients and work. We believe in effecting positive change through creativity, always. While we seek out the most brilliant minds to help us on our quest, we’re also passionate about nurturing the best talent from within. Which is why when you join us, your journey can be one of continuous evolution.

Overview

The director role in the strategy & insights team:

• Is responsible for managing and directing strategy for top clients of the agency.
• Is a team leader and mentor to younger strategy talent.
• Is an active practitioner and contributor to the Groupe's vision of Power of One.
• Is focused on helping win new business.
• Is focused on great creative work and winning awards.
  
  

Responsibilities

Main Tasks

Technical & Product

• Actively uses and advocates the Publicis Groupe FUEL platform. Directs the team to do so too.
• Actively participates in every Groupe and Agency OPEN brief with inspiring springboards. Directs the team to do so too.
• Deconstructs past award submissions to identify key components of a successful story and discusses findings consistently.
• Comes up with proactive briefs for clients based on qualified opportunities. And directs the team to do so too.
• Initiates and directs the client's Effectiveness awards entries and submissions, regionally and globally. Directs the team to do so too.
• Inspires creative teams on Creative awards for clients.
• Is focused on being revelatory vs. boring as a strategist. Insights need to be insightful vs facts or observations. Directs the team to do so too.
• Is persistent about improving the craft of the strategic thinking behind briefs. Directs the team to do so too.
• Attends senior level trainings - internal and external - promptly.
• Directs the team to scour culture for new uses of tehcnology, data and design to weave innovative thinking into strategic work.
• Ensures the team builds focused, insightful and inspiring connections plans with creative briefs (not just a briefing springboard).
• Creates opportunities for primary and secondary research: 1) for clients, and 2) for the agency.
• Identifies and seizes large-scale opportunities to expand current client relationships in new spaces as well as securing new business opportuntiies with Groupe leadership.
• Leads on agency new business pitches and creates an impact through detailed and distinctive strategic thinking that helps win pitches.
  
  

Business Acumen & Operational Efficiency

• Is the 'Google' and 'ChatGPT' in the agency on the client's category and business.
• Builds knowledge of key technology and emerging vendors to integrate innovative solutions for clients.
• Makes persuasive and effective presentations.
• Unearths and directs client workshops and actively participates.
• Directs monitoring of social, cultural and technological trends along with their impact on attitudes and behaviours.
• Directs team participation in client-conducted researches.
• Directs consistent monitoring of every campaign's performance for clients - brand, business and media, and builds optimization plans for the next campaigns.
• Is knowledgeable of and brings in Publicis Groupe offerings and solutions (besides their core agency-of-focus) into existing client businesses.
• Owns client relationships, maintains dialogue to ensure day-to-day success of relationships and proactively identifies new opportunities to generate additional business.
• Inspires marketing and copmmunication solutions that are original in concept, innovative and aid clients to transform and grow their business.
  
  

Innovative & Analytical Mindset

• Market Research: Produces groundbreaking new findings based on data.
• Ideation: Creates new approaches for delivering knowledge and inspiration that expands the creative team's ability and output.
• Competitive Analysis: Is the go-to person for knowledge on all things to do with the competition (products, business, future plans, communication)
• Presentation Development: Presents to the highest level of an organization and effectively persuades to sell the thinking and the creative work.
• Strategic proactivity: Creates strategic briefs and opportunities that have the power to transform lives or businesses or brands.
• Strategic partnership: Provides strategic advisory and counsel to senior-level clients on any part of their business that can have a direct and positive impact.
  
  

Qualifications

Education and Experience Required

• Proven experience in strategic leadership, preferably within an agency
• Significant experience in a strategic planning or insights role.
• Strong understanding of business strategy, market research, and consumer insights.
• Ability to mentor and develop junior strategists.
• Strong communication and presentation skills for high-level client interactions.
• Ability to manage and drive new business opportunities.
• Expertise in creative strategy, content planning, and campaign optimization.
• Knowledge of emerging trends, technology, and data-driven insights.
• Background in leading strategy for top-tier clients.
• Track record of successful client pitches and business growth.
• Experience in market research, competitive analysis, and trend monitoring.
• Strong understanding of media, digital platforms, and consumer behavior.
• Experience working within integrated agency teams and cross-functional collaboration.
  
  

Additional Information

R-2585P-2898