Chief Strategy Officer

Job Description:

As a global media buying agency, we put people at the centre of everything we do, identifying and optimising audiences to deliver client outcomes. 

We are experience designers, not simply media planners. We build winning experiences by going deeper into consumer empathy and further into the possibilities of what’s next in media and beyond. We don’t sit back. We pioneer in media, positively advocating for people, business and society in everything that we do. 

Role 

Designs the strategy and planning vision for Carat UK (translated from global vision). Set, champion and evolve the vision for Growth Planning. Move Carat UK strategic output from campaign response to transformational Growth Blueprints, leading a blended team of Growth Planners and Analysts.

Responsible for defining how media, CX, data, creative/DCO, analytics, technology and AI combine into a growth operating system. Lead integration of Dentsu capabilities and connect silos across media, data, tech and creative; identify opportunities to introduce new capabilities to clients. Responsible for identifying new routes to growth and orchestrating media, data and AI to drive step-change commercial outcomes, not incremental gains.

Own the shape, quality and modernisation of the Strategy & Planning practice, including leadership of teams, capability development, strategic craft standards and future talent needs. Set the ambition for an evolving department, working with Carat leadership to ensure your team have the required access/training.

Champion and continuously evolve agency position via brilliant, award-winning client work. Be an industry-facing thought leader for Growth Planning at Carat. Own strategic narrative across key clients, setting Growth Blueprint and best practice for integrated comms, collaborating with cross agency teams and partners.

Key Responsibilities

Growth Strategy & Planning

• Owns growth strategy process - can clearly define and model growth planning vision.

• Architect of Carat’s Growth Planning proposition - owns the Growth Blueprint.

• Evolve the craft of strategy by balancing art and science.

• Champion creativity and insight led planning, whilst becoming literate data analysts capable of blending model-based learnings into strategic narrative.

• Ensure a deep understanding of the clients' business objectives and growth goals.

Measurement, Experimentation & Innovation

• Has ability to combine strategy, measurement and experimentation into a single outcome.

• Growth Planning mindset where strategy, measurement, experimentation and AI operate as one connected system.

• Ownership of growth planning and measurement throughout the campaign lifecycle, beyond the initial response to brief.
• innovation agenda across the agency.

• Champion Dentsu process, tooling and tech, taking accountability for upskilling your team in evolving areas.

• Role model analytics/platform literacy, development of measurement frameworks, experimentation and future capability development.

Strategic Leadership & Industry Profile

• Delivers thought leadership and/or helps build Carat's external strategic profile (clients, partners, industry).

• Own and evangelise Carat's strategic market position and agency story.

• Represent the agency externally, participating in industry events and publishing thought pieces to inspire and align with Carat's positioning.

• Cultivate and executive client relationships, driving advocacy of Carat's partnership.

• Lead major strategic pitches and consult "pitch doctor" on all major strategic output.

• Champion award winning work, identifying categories that align with our ambitions and encouraging teams to deliver.

Integrated Growth Leadership

• Leads integration of Dentsu capabilities including specialist and tech (partnerships, retail, DC4.0 etc).

• Set the operating model and expectations for integrated strategy across Media, CXM, Creative, analytics, platform execution and technology maturity so teams work to one agenda.

People, Capability & Partnership Development

• Is an inspirational strategic leader raising the quality of strategic work.

• Designs the future direction of the practice, continually develops strategy capability and introduces new services.

• Inspires team, raising ambition and setting agenda for Strategic Growth Planners and Growth Diagnostics teams.

• Actively engage with development of key partner JBPs to ensure strategic alignment for Carat.

• Instigate mutually beneficial strategic collaborations with market intelligence partners.

• Actively engage with Dentsu commercial priorities, supporting development of JBPs with key partners to ensure strategic alignment for Carat.

• Build relations with existing and new market intelligence partners to advance Carat sophistication.

Qualifications + Skills 

• Success in an agency or media partner at Head of Strategy/Planning, CSO or C-suite level/position

• An ability to synthesise complicated concepts and data into easy to comprehend recommendations and storytelling for clients.

• Understanding of the media market and connections with critical suppliers and intermediaries

• Experience and expertise in structuring and using analytical techniques and systems to understand the drivers of growth for a category or client and then applying these to client data points to architect a route for growth.

• Deep understanding of platform practice and technology that allows you to plot a path of how to maximise client return, and strong connections to media platform leaders to help Carat understand what is coming next.

• Commercial acumen and a proven ability to develop revenues.

• A clear view of the future of media services and the opportunities for capability development within

• Experience of leading significant media pitches from a strategic perspective end to end.

• Contributed to integrated services pitches beyond media.

• Experience of managing multi location teams.

• A clear qualifications/experience section

• Commercial acumen and revenue growth

• Proven pitch leadership

• Ability to translate complexity into compelling client narratives

• Multi-location team leadership

• Supplier/intermediary relationships

• Client trust and senior stakeholder relationship-building

What we offer

This is a permanent role. The team is based from our London office on a hybrid working basis. 

At dentsu, we’ve built a benefits package that supports every chapter of your life. From company‑funded Private Medical Insurance, a 24/7 Virtual GP and a generous sick‑pay policy, to wellbeing days, volunteering time, flexible bank‑holiday swaps and great everyday perks like retail discounts, gym access and tech schemes - we make it easier to live well, not just work well. 

Our employee‑led resource groups have helped shape policies that genuinely matter: enhanced maternity, paternity and carers leave, extended sick leave, menopause and baby‑loss support, plus 10 fertility treatment days. Combined with life assurance, income protection, financial education tools and flexible savings options, you’ll find a workplace that invests in you - your health, your family, your future. 

About Dentsu

Dentsu is an integrated growth and transformation partner to the world’s leading organisations. Founded in 1901 in Tokyo, Japan, and now operating in approximately 120 countries and regions, we bring together the power of a global network of leadership brands to deliver impactful, end-to-end growth solutions.

Through our client promise, Innovating to Impact, we drive growth through integrated services across Media, Customer Experience Management (CXM), and Creative. Our business transformation (BX) mindset, combined with a focus on experience transformation (EX), drives sustainable growth for brands, people, and society.

Our commitment to innovation, collaboration, and diversity enables us to continuously evolve, pushing boundaries while delivering measurable impact in a fast-changing world.

Inclusion and Diversity

At Dentsu, we embrace diversity and inclusion, valuing the unique perspectives and contributions of every individual. We believe that diversity fuels creativity and innovation, benefiting our employees, partners, and communities.

We welcome applications from all individuals, regardless of race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, marital status, or any other protected characteristic. Beyond recruitment, we strive to create an environment where everyone feels respected, supported, and empowered to bring their authentic selves to work.

We recognize the importance of work-life balance and are open to discussing flexible working arrangements for all roles. If you need reasonable adjustments due to a disability or medical condition during our recruitment process, please contact us at [email protected], quoting the reference number of the role that you are applying for. Your needs will be handled with respect and confidentiality to ensure an inclusive and accessible experience.

We are a Disability Confident scheme user. If you consider yourself to have a disability and meet the essential criteria for the role, you will be guaranteed an interview.

#LI-CARAT #LI-VW2

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