At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead strategy, growth, and marketing initiatives to drive company evolution and market positioning.
- Company: Join Cambridge Design Partnership, a pioneering innovation partner for global brands and start-ups.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, a discretionary bonus, and excellent learning opportunities.
- Other info: Be part of a collaborative culture with a unique employee ownership model.
- Why this job: Shape the future of innovation while making a tangible impact in emerging markets.
- Qualifications: Senior executive experience in strategy, growth, and commercial leadership required.
The predicted salary is between 100000 - 150000 € per year.
About The Role
The CSGO sits on the CDP Board. The role has three main priorities:
- Strategy – stewarding implementation across CDP and managing its ongoing evolution
- Growth and Innovation - selecting, incubating and growing emerging markets
- Marketing – ensuring CDP leverages marketing and market insight to strengthen its position
To help accomplish their goals, CSGO will have two direct reports - Head of Emerging Markets, and Head of Marketing and Strategy Transformation.
Success Measures (What “Good” Looks Like)
- Clear, differentiated company strategy understood across the organization.
- Tangible revenue and growth impact from new market/business ventures.
- Improved market positioning and credibility with target customers and key stakeholders.
- Strong alignment between client needs, delivery capability, and commercial outcomes.
Job Duties And Responsibilities
Corporate Strategy & Transformation
- Define, own, and evolve CDP’s company-level strategy, ensuring alignment with long-term growth ambitions and market realities.
- Identify and evaluate threats and opportunities posed by emerging technology and industry trends and instigate necessary changes to our strategic direction and/or product/service offer.
- Challenge internal assumptions and provoke our market teams to innovate and evolve offerings.
- Translate foresight into actionable strategic opportunities.
- Ensure CDP remains ahead of shifts in client demand, technology adoption, and competitive dynamics.
- Lead change initiatives, translating strategic intent into operational and organizational transformation.
- Partner with the CEO and Board to define priorities, investment focus, and capability evolution.
- Ensuring strategy is commercially grounded, executable, and measurable.
Sector Expansion & Opportunity Identification
- Identify and evaluate new sectors and markets aligned with CDP’s capabilities and growth ambitions.
- Lead strategic assessment of sector entry, including market attractiveness, capability fit, and commercial potential.
- Support investment and capability-building decisions linked to sector expansion.
- Direct the strategy and trajectory of growth selected emerging market segments and steward their ongoing development.
- Build and manage senior-level strategic partnerships with external organizations (e.g. AWS, Microsoft, and other technology or ecosystem partners) – to extend our service offering, accelerate market access, credibility, and delivery capability and to open up new markets and clients.
- Own the strategic direction, governance, and commercialization of CDP’s knowhow, and capabilities.
Marketing & Corporate Positioning
- Own the marketing function, ensuring it supports strategic positioning, growth priorities, and builds market credibility.
- Lead the adoption of marketing tools and methods to advance CDP’s positioning.
- Champion and facilitate their use to drive growth across our core and emerging market sectors.
- Ensure consistent, compelling articulation of CDP’s value proposition across all channels.
- Represent CDP externally at conferences, industry events, client forums, and executive-level meetings.
- Enable CDP teams to clearly articulate why CDP is uniquely positioned to solve client challenges, based on its knowledge, capabilities, and delivery excellence.
About You
Skills and Attributes
- Deep commercial acumen; understands how ideas become revenue.
- Credible thought leader with the ability to influence senior clients and industry audiences.
- Able to operate across vision, strategy, and execution.
- Comfortable leading ambiguity and driving organizational change.
- Strong communicator who can translate complex capability into compelling client narratives.
- Pragmatic, outcome-focused, and delivery-oriented.
Experience and Education
- Senior executive experience in strategy, growth, commercial leadership, or innovation roles.
- Proven track record of monetizing strategy new capabilities, and/or IP.
- Experience of operating at board or executive committee level.
- Strong background in client-facing, market-led organizations (e.g. consulting, design, technology, innovation, engineering).
- Experience forming and managing strategic partnerships with global technology or ecosystem players.
About Us
Cambridge Design Partnership (CDP) is an end‑to‑end innovation partner, propelling global brands and ambitious start‑ups to success. We build breakthrough products and services – from insight to ideas, prototypes to production – bringing innovation to life. Our teams are multi‑disciplinary, uniting scientific rigor, design ingenuity, and engineering excellence for consumer and healthcare clients. People‑centred, deeply collaborative, and – above all – expert, we’re uniquely positioned to shape the future for consumers, patients, and industry. Even our ownership model is innovative: We’re 100% owned by our employees, ensuring an open culture and a total commitment to our projects’ success.
As part of our benefits package, we offer:
- flexible working
- a discretionary bonus
- excellent learning and development opportunities
- a 12% non‑contributory pension
- private healthcare
- electric vehicle lease
- salary sacrifice scheme
- share incentive plan
- 33 days holiday inclusive of bank holidays
Chief Strategy & Growth Officer in Cambridge employer: Cambridge Design Partnership
Cambridge Design Partnership (CDP) is an exceptional employer, offering a unique opportunity for the Chief Strategy & Growth Officer to lead transformative initiatives in a collaborative and innovative environment. With a strong commitment to employee ownership, CDP fosters a culture of openness and creativity, providing excellent learning and development opportunities alongside a comprehensive benefits package that includes flexible working, private healthcare, and a generous pension scheme. Located in a vibrant area, CDP empowers its employees to shape the future of consumer and healthcare innovation while enjoying a healthy work-life balance.
Contact Detail:
Cambridge Design Partnership Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Chief Strategy & Growth Officer in Cambridge
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with industry folks on LinkedIn or at events. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its competitors. Understand their strategy and growth areas so you can speak their language and show how you can contribute to their goals.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to articulate your value proposition clearly and confidently. Highlight your experience in strategy and growth, and how it aligns with what they’re looking for.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about joining our team.
We think you need these skills to ace Chief Strategy & Growth Officer in Cambridge
Some tips for your application 🫡
Know Your Stuff:Before you start writing, make sure you really understand the role and what we’re all about at CDP. Dive into our mission and values, and think about how your experience aligns with our goals. This will help you craft a compelling narrative that resonates with us.
Tailor Your Application:Don’t just send a generic application! Tailor your CV and cover letter to highlight your relevant skills and experiences that match the job description. Show us how you can drive strategy and growth, and why you’re the perfect fit for the Chief Strategy & Growth Officer role.
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, clarity is key. Use straightforward language and avoid jargon where possible. We want to see your thought process and how you communicate complex ideas simply. Remember, less is often more!
Show Your Passion:Let your enthusiasm shine through! We love candidates who are genuinely excited about innovation and growth. Share your vision for the future and how you can contribute to CDP’s success. Don’t forget to apply through our website – we can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Cambridge Design Partnership
✨Know Your Strategy Inside Out
Before the interview, make sure you thoroughly understand CDP's current strategy and how it aligns with their growth ambitions. Be prepared to discuss how your experience can help evolve this strategy and drive tangible revenue impact.
✨Showcase Your Commercial Acumen
Demonstrate your deep understanding of how ideas translate into revenue. Prepare examples from your past roles where you've successfully monetised strategies or capabilities, and be ready to discuss how you can apply that knowledge at CDP.
✨Prepare for Change Management Questions
Given the role's focus on leading change initiatives, think about times you've successfully navigated ambiguity and driven organisational transformation. Be ready to share specific examples that highlight your ability to influence and lead teams through change.
✨Articulate a Compelling Value Proposition
Practice how you'll communicate CDP's unique value proposition to clients and stakeholders. Think about how you can leverage your background in client-facing roles to clearly articulate why CDP stands out in the market.
