Vice President, Strategy

About Ketchum

As a global communications consultancy with 100 years of experience, Ketchum is a trusted partner who is equal parts creative and analytical. Ketchum is a place where all perspectives and points of view are welcome and encouraged. We are a collection of communications specialists, content creators, creatives, researchers, data analysts, media pros, digital strategists, issues and crisis counselors, and tech nerds. And we love when those worlds collide to create the very best teams and solutions for our clients. We work with the world’s leading brands, emerging start-ups, and everything in between. We are beyond proud to have created some of the most celebrated and award-winning campaigns in our industry. We’re just crazy enough to think we can impact the world – and how it responds to ideas – through communication.

We encourage our employees to be curious, brave, inspiring, and a force for good. Let’s talk. Come belong at Ketchum!

Overview :

As Vice President, Strategy & Planning, you will be a senior leader within Ketchum’s Strategy function, bridging the gap between day-to-day strategic leadership and enterprise-level vision. You will oversee major client relationships, lead the development of insight-driven strategies, and serve as a go-to cultural and consumer expert. Your work will inspire creative ideas, guide integrated planning, and deliver measurable results for leading consumer, lifestyle, and CPG brands.

This role requires a seasoned strategist who can spot cultural shifts before they hit the mainstream, interpret emerging behaviors into actionable brand opportunities, and influence both clients and internal teams at the highest levels

About the Job :

STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP & CONSULTING

Lead the development of sophisticated strategic frameworks, audience insights, and integrated communications plans for priority accounts.

Serve as a senior advisor to clients, ensuring strategies are rooted in cultural intelligence, consumer understanding, and brand / business objectives

Act as a cultural trend authority, regularly scanning the horizon for shifts in consumer attitudes, lifestyle behaviors, and category dynamics that can inform breakthrough strategies.

Translate cultural and behavioral insights into creative direction, campaign platforms, and long-term brand positioning.

CLIENT & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Partner with account and creative leadership to ensure strategies inspire bold ideas and translate into measurable business results.

Play a lead role in high-value new business opportunities—building strategy narratives, shaping pitch approaches, and presenting to senior decision-makers.

Advise CPG, consumer, and lifestyle brands on navigating fast-moving cultural and marketplace changes.

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP & INNOVATION

Develop and publish thought leadership pieces, trend reports, and proprietary insights that position Ketchum as a go-to source for culture-driven strategy.

Partner with analytics, creative, and channel SMEs to evolve Ketchum’s strategic methodologies with a forward-thinking, earned-first approach.

Represent the agency at industry events, conferences, and in media commentary on consumer and cultural trends.

TEAM LEADERSHIP & DEVELOPMENT

Manage and mentor a team of strategists (Director level and below), fostering their strategic thinking, cultural fluency, and client influence skills.

Champion integration across analytics, creative, media, and account teams to ensure strategy remains the connective tissue from insight to execution.

Contribute to talent planning, resource allocation, and professional development initiatives within the Strategy function.

Qualifications

12–15 years of experience in brand strategy, communications planning, or integrated marketing within an agency or consultancy setting.

Proven expertise in uncovering cultural shifts and interpreting them into actionable opportunities for brands—particularly in consumer, lifestyle, and CPG sectors.

Strong track record advising senior clients, influencing business decisions, and delivering measurable brand and communication outcomes.

Exceptional ability to synthesize complex cultural, consumer, and business data into clear, inspiring strategic narratives.

Skilled at briefing and collaborating with creative teams to produce ideas that connect deeply with target audiences.

Experience leading multi-disciplinary teams across earned, owned, paid, and shared channels.

Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills with the ability to command a room and influence at the executive level.

The salary range for this position is $120,000 to $140,000. This position may be bonus eligible depending on individual employee performance and Ketchum business performance. The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to, education, years of experience, past training, skills and abilities of applicant, internal equity and local geographic market data. A range of medical, dental, vision, 401(k) matching, paid time off, and / or other benefits also are available. #LI-Hybrid

What We Offer

Hybrid Workplace : Three days a week in the office

Robust benefits program, effective within 30 days of hire

Paid maternity / paternity leave

Family Forming Benefits

Employee Recognition Program

Generous paid time off includes vacation, wellness, and extended holiday schedule

Various development opportunities to enhance personal and professional life

Tuition reimbursement

Monthly Cell Phone & Wi-Fi reimbursement

Interested? We’ve got an opportunity for you.

Ketchum is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sex stereotyping, pregnancy (which includes pregnancy, childbirth, and medical conditions related to pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding), gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, mental or physical disability, ancestry, medical condition, marital status, military or veteran status, alienage, citizenship status, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other protected class under federal, state or local laws.

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