Strategy Director

Strategy Director

Chicago preferred | Remote considered

Compensation: ~$140K–$160K base + bonus

Contact: dwilberschied@smithhanley.com

Strategic consulting leader with experience driving brand strategy, innovation, and business growth initiatives for clients navigating complex and ambiguous challenges. Brings a strong combination of strategic thinking, commercial acumen, and client leadership, with the ability to guide engagements from early discovery through execution and long-term partnership growth. Comfortable operating as a true seller–doer within fast-paced consulting and agency environments.

Key Strengths

• Leads end-to-end strategic engagements across innovation, brand, and growth strategy initiatives.
• Excels at uncovering the “problem behind the problem” and reframing client challenges into actionable strategic opportunities.
• Strong commercial mindset with experience owning revenue goals, growing client relationships, and expanding accounts over time.
• Skilled facilitator who can guide executive stakeholders through ambiguity, alignment sessions, workshops, and innovation sprints.
• Integrates consumer, cultural, category, and commercial insights into clear, story-driven recommendations that influence decision-making.
• Comfortable leveraging both qualitative and quantitative research to support strategic direction and innovation development.
• Adept at balancing strategic vision with hands-on execution in deadline-driven consulting environments.
• Mentors and develops junior team members while fostering collaborative, growth-oriented team cultures.
• Naturally curious and entrepreneurial, with interest in evolving methodologies and AI-enabled strategic approaches.

Ideal Background

• 7+ years of experience across strategy, innovation, consulting, planning, or design-thinking environments.
• Experience within insight-led consultancies, innovation firms, ad agencies, or brand experience organizations preferred.
• Exposure to Brand Architecture, Brand Positioning, Innovation Sprints, Market Entry Strategy, and Consumer Journey Mapping.
• Proven ability to drive organic account growth through consultative, insight-led relationship management.
• Strong executive communication skills, emotional intelligence, and ability to influence senior stakeholders.