Lead Strategist
Strategists at AKQA make our clients’ business their business. Driven by an innate curiosity and a passion for problem solving and learning, they harness their cutting-edge knowledge of brands, technology, culture and societal trends to provide unique outlooks and solutions for our clients.
As the Strategy Lead, you are responsible for managing a high performing team to deliver premium, best in class strategies. You’ll lead the team and clients to deliver customer centric strategies using research, insight and an expert understanding of customers and market behaviour. The role involves owning strategy solutions, building and managing client relationships, consulting with clients and interdisciplinary internal teams too.
This is a senior position, leading agency staff in developing existing accounts, serving clients and presenting integrated solutions areas to prospective clients. There is also a focus on developing capabilities in emerging areas. You’ll need to be a thought leader and comfortable speaking publicly, writing compelling thought leadership pieces, orchestrating and running workshops and working to build our reputation and profile.
At AKQA, you'll work in an innovative and inclusive culture surrounded by some of the brightest minds in their fields. You'll also have the opportunity to learn and grow within a creative and technically advanced team and have access to ongoing personal and professional development. Located in Auckland, we work in a hybrid WFH model, with Wednesday and Friday based in the studio each week.
This is pivotal role that will allow you to:
- Deliver the highest standard for strategy projects; crafting and delivering the best outcomes and outputs for clients.
- Design, craft and manage strategies end-to-end, ensuring the requisite processes and capabilities are in place for successful delivery and exceptional client results.
- Demonstrate your deep capability and understanding of human centered design, including experience-led digital strategies.
- Working with a variety of digital technologies including AI, data, analytics and content; demonstrating the role of strategy as a demand generator for design, technology, data and content teams.
- Provide subject leadership, inspiration and ensure our values are reflected in our work.
- Present the latest relevant trends and methodologies in an engaging manner and use them to deliver innovative solutions that surprise and delight.
- Proactively lead strategic direction for clients and act as a future guide in partnership with Client Service and Delivery.
- Take a lead role in new business development.
- Inspire and motivate the team by leading by example, supporting their professional development.
- Foster cross-discipline collaboration with a focus on continuous improvement.
ROLE REQUIREMENTS:
- Champion customer-centric principles and processes, ensuring outcomes meet both business and customer goals.
- Manage and support the team to deliver high quality outcomes and outputs.
- Identify opportunities to improve strategy processes and products.
- Develop case studies, along with documentation for innovation and processes.
- Create high quality, commercially viable and attractive artefacts such as proposals and presentations.
- Ensure the quality of key client relationships and engagement by responding effectively to client needs.
- Navigate multiple contexts, uncertainty and complexity, simplifying where feasible and keeping the team on track.
QUALITIES AND CHARACTERISTICS:
- Seasoned strategy capability, particularly with large scale/complex digital projects.
- Team management skills and experience, particularly within the agency context.
- Strong commercial acumen with proven experience in estimation, engagement design and escalation management.
- Strong technical knowledge of digital and multi-channel CX strategy, measurement frameworks, mapping, data collection and analysis, statistical analysis, ethnography and other critical CX research, analysis and review methodologies.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, and presentation style.
- Enthusiastic, solution-focused attitude, with the dedication to find the best outcomes.
- Ability to lead, inspire, and positively influence others.
AKQA is an Equal Opportunities Employer, we believe that diversity is vital to AKQA’s ability to provide our clients with the best recommendations and are committed to fostering a varied and inclusive work environment. Your race, colour, ancestry, religion, gender, gender identity, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability or veteran status have no bearing on our hiring decisions. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know.
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