Position Purpose (Role):
The VP, Strategy will be responsible for providing highly effective, innovative marketing and business strategies to direct and support all interactive options, initiatives, concepts, and programs for the agency and its client base. This executive will proactively initiate and lead the formulation, evaluation, and execution of such strategies with strong, interactive team leadership among agency professionals with functional responsibility for all aspects of client relationship management, technology, creative services, research, and project management, and will be considered as a key contributor to business development activities. Additionally, this strategy executive will work on an interactive basis with his or her peers in other office locations on national and regional issues and business development programs as appropriate.

Major Job Responsibilities / Accountabilities:

• Serve as the leader, facilitator, and innovator of the strategic planning process to identify marketing and business strategies as a framework for competitive and effective interactive options and solutions for current clients. Such solutions and options will be deemed as cutting-edge, visionary, and effective in the marketplace.
  
• On a parallel basis, identify marketing and business strategies as a framework for winning interactive options and solutions for new business programs and proposals. Work on an interactive basis with all appropriate agency personnel to define cutting-edge, visionary, and effective options. As appropriate, tap resources residing in corporate and other regional locations.
  
• With full input from local and corporate resources, guide the process that will evaluate and validate the effectiveness of strategic marketing and brand options as well as tactical implementation of those options.
  
• Develop and clearly define those business challenges and opportunities facing each major brand and client that could be effectively addressed through interactive solutions and programs.
  
• Develop a truly in-depth understanding of the business operations of each appropriate client organization, including all significant internal and external factors affecting such operations. Initiate and maintain an interactive dialogue with key client executives as appropriate.
  
• Utilize available information from all industry, trade, and consumer sources, including syndicated and original research, to provide a background base for the development and evaluation of strategic marketing and business strategies. Develop personal relationships with key sources as appropriate.
  
• In the development, evaluation, and execution of strategic options and plans, maintain a participative, interactive dialogue with all key internal functionaries in client management, creative services, technical services, and project management.
  
• Ensure that all technical strategies and capabilities are in close alignment with the execution of marketing and business strategies.
  
• As appropriate, utilize proprietary tracking analytics and surveillance programs developed at the corporate level to help evaluate the effectiveness of programs implemented on behalf of client organizations.
  
• As a key member team, play a strong role all business development activities. On request, serve the needs of corporate and other offices in business development.
  
• As the senior strategic executive serving the needs of our clients, work to develop a "trusted advisor" relationship with key client personnel on all matters of strategy and resulting interactive execution.
  
• Provide oversight of the ongoing execution of interactive solutions and ensure their adherence to the approved strategic plan. As indicated, provide for corrections of programs or modification in strategic focus if indicated by significant changes in market or competitive
• Take all steps necessary to ensure that strategic services are delivered with full utilization and impact of the most current information in the broadly-defined areas of corporate planning and interactive brand management, including options of the broadest range of business leaders and academia.

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities:

• Bachelor's degree (or equivalent work experience) required, and an advanced degree would be considered an asset.
  
• 8-10 years of experience in strategic business management with an agency, client, or consulting organization
  
• Possess broad knowledge of the dynamics driving interactive marketing and advertising plans and programs.
  
• Strong skills in brand planning and the application of interactive programs to support brand plans and strategies and will have documented accomplishments in this area.
  
• Knowledgeable in all appropriate tools and forms of modeling and research appropriate to strategically defined corporate planning and program implementation in an interactive environment.
  
• Adept at working cross functionally in a team environment with executives representing complementary skill sets in an atmosphere focused on the identification of truly superior, cutting-edge interactive solutions with marketplace effectiveness.
  
• Must possess a strong passion for the interactive world, and its role and potential to build brands and businesses.

Qualified candidates should submit salary requirements, cover letter, and resume to karen.ebner@icrossing.com.