At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead client relationships and develop strategists while driving strategic quality across accounts.
- Company: Dynamic company focused on innovative digital strategies and team development.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, performance bonuses, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Join a collaborative environment with a focus on personal and professional development.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by leading a talented team and shaping strategic direction.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in digital strategy with strong B2B/SaaS experience and team leadership skills.
The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.
Mission of this Role
The Strategy Manager is the senior operational layer of Foundation's strategy practice.
This role exists to own client relationships at the oversight level, develop the strategists beneath them, and free VP-level leadership to operate on business growth, team architecture, and company direction.
The Strategy Manager is accountable for strategic quality across a $2M+ book of business, acts as the primary escalation point for their assigned accounts, and takes full ownership of the people leadership gap that currently sits between individual strategists and VP-level oversight.
They are expected to hold positions, defend recommendations under pressure, and grow the capabilities of their team without waiting to be asked.
Key Responsibilities
- Own the Client Oversight Relationship
- Serve as the senior point of contact for each account in your book, building and maintaining relationships with budget decision-makers and senior client stakeholders.
- Act as the primary escalation owner when strategic direction is challenged, client expectations are at risk, or a situation requires a more senior voice.
- Host strategy presentations, sell the direction, and hold your ground under pushback. Clients should feel they have a senior strategic partner, not just access to a team.
- Maintain a clear, current view of account health across your entire book, surfacing risks to the VP of Strategy before they become problems.
- Drive Strategic Quality Across Your Book
- Oversee GEO and content strategy execution across every account you own, ensuring work is aligned with the defined strategic direction and meeting client-specific KPIs.
- Provide meaningful oversight review on strategic deliverables including content plans, QBRs, and monthly reporting, identifying drift, outdated assumptions, or missed opportunities.
- Bring a GEO-first lens to every account. You should be fluent in generative and answer engine optimization, and it should show in how you review and elevate the work.
- Partner with Account Management on each shared client to ensure contracts, upselling, and cross-team coordination are handled cleanly and strategically.
- Lead and Develop the Team
- Manage 3-5 strategists with real accountability for their development, not just their output.
Build meaningful PDPs, run structured 1:1s, and move people along the specialist-to-strategist path.
- Coach strategists on call confidence, client communication, and the ability to own and defend strategic positions.
The most common development gap on this team is deference; your job is to close it.
- Score and review strategist client calls using the Foundation performance rubric, delivering specific, actionable feedback that names patterns and sets expectations.
- Develop team GEO capability. Ensure the strategists you lead can articulate and execute generative engine optimization with confidence, not just describe it.
- Flag performance concerns to the VP of Strategy early, with supporting evidence, rather than waiting for a formal review cycle.
- Support Revenue Growth and Account Expansion
- Identify upsell and expansion opportunities within your book and route them to Account Management with a clear strategic rationale.
- Participate in strategic sales conversations for new accounts where your subject matter expertise adds credibility and conversion value.
- Contribute to Foundation's GEO positioning by staying current on platform shifts, citation behavior, and AI-search trends, and by surfacing what matters to the wider team.
You Might Be a Fit If You...
- Have moved past legacy SEO and actively build content and GEO strategies for generative and answer engine visibility, not as an add-on but as a core discipline.
- Are fluent in B2B and Saa S/tech client relationships, where the funnel, the stakeholder dynamic, and the sales motion are fundamentally different from B2C.
- Can hold a position under pressure. You present, defend, and close on strategy recommendations in front of senior client stakeholders without defaulting to hedging or deferral.
- Want to build people, not just manage them. You have real examples of growing a direct report's capability, not just a willingness to try it.
- Are ready to lead a team before you feel completely ready. You default to ownership, not escalation.
- Required Experience
- 5+ years in digital strategy, content strategy, or multi-channel marketing strategy, with at least 2 years in a senior or oversight capacity.
- Demonstrated experience managing or meaningfully developing at least one direct report.
- Proven GEO fluency: you have built and delivered content strategies designed for AI-driven answer engines and can speak to it with authority.
- Strong B2B or Saa S/tech client portfolio, with experience presenting and defending strategy at the VP or Director level.
- Strong analytical capabilities across digital platforms such as Google Analytics, Search Console, Ahrefs, and Hub Spot.
- Exceptional ability to communicate complex strategic direction with precision and confidence, in writing and in real-time client conversation.
- Metrics / KPIs
- 1. Account Health and Retention
Target: Zero unmanaged escalations. Post-Strategy NPS of 8 or above (internal and external). Retention rate across your oversight book remains positive.
2. Strategic Quality
Target: Strategic deliverables across your book are delivered on time, clearly structured, and to spec. Oversight review catches drift before client delivery, not after.
3. Team Performance Development
Target: Each direct report has an active PDP reviewed monthly.
At least one strategist advances measurably on a named development gap per quarter, as evidenced by rubric scores and call review data.
4. GEO Execution Quality
Target: GEO strategies recommended across your book reflect current platform behavior and best practice.
Accounts influenced by GEO-informed strategic pivots show measurable improvement in AI citation visibility within 90-180 days.
5. Revenue Contribution
Target: Commission tied directly to expansion within your oversight book.
Upsell opportunities are identified proactively and routed to Account Management with clear strategic rationale, not flagged after the fact.
Compensation
- Base Pay Range: $80,000 – $110,000 CAD / year
- Expected Total Comp (OTE): $105,000 – $145,000 CAD+ / year
- How
- Set
Comp: Final compensation is determined by experience, role level, and location.
We use a role × level × location framework.
We pay intentionally, hire globally, and reward impact.
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Strategy Manager employer: Foundation
Foundation is an excellent employer that prioritises employee growth and development, offering a competitive salary alongside 25 days of holiday and comprehensive benefits like private medical insurance and a contributory pension. Our collaborative work culture fosters strong relationships and encourages innovative strategies, making it an ideal environment for those looking to make a meaningful impact in the mortgage sector across the East of England.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Strategy Manager
✨Dive Into Corporate Strategy Communities
Get yourself involved in online communities or forums focused on corporate strategy. Places like LinkedIn groups or specific Slack channels can hook you up with industry insights, trends, and many potential job leads. Don't hesitate to share your thoughts or ask questions; it’ll boost your visibility!
✨Attend Industry Conferences and Events
Keep an eye out for corporate strategy conferences or networking events in your area (or online!). These gatherings are gold mines for meeting hiring managers and making impactful connections. Plus, having a few good conversations can lead to job referrals at companies like Foundation!
✨Showcase Your Strategy Skills
Create content that showcases your knowledge of corporate strategy—think reports, blogs, or even video discussions. Sharing these on platforms like LinkedIn or Medium can demonstrate your expertise and make you stand out to employers looking for fresh talent.
✨Apply Directly Through Our Website
Don’t forget to apply for the Strategy Manager position at Foundation via our website! This shows your genuine interest, and who knows, you might just land that interview in a matter of days. Keep your application focused on how you can add value to their strategy team.
We think you need these skills to ace Strategy Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Us Your Strategic Thinking:When crafting your CV and cover letter, highlight your strategic analysis skills. Focus on past experiences where you've effectively assessed market trends or made impactful recommendations. Evidence-based achievements, like improving processes or contributing to significant projects, will help us see your potential for driving corporate strategy at Foundation.
Tailor Your Narrative:Don’t just send us a generic application! Personalise your cover letter by connecting your experiences and aspirations to Foundation’s mission and goals. We love seeing candidates who genuinely understand what we do; share how your vision aligns with ours and what you can bring to the table.
Highlight Relevant Academic Credentials:In your CV, make sure to showcase your academic background, especially if you have qualifications in business, economics, or analytics. We appreciate candidates who can back up their skills with relevant degrees or certifications, so don’t be shy about flaunting those achievements!
Utilise Professional Language:While we want you to be yourself, remember that corporate strategy roles demand a level of professionalism in communication. Use clear and concise language in your application materials, ensuring that your ideas come across as well-structured and sophisticated. It’s all about making a great impression right from the written application stage!
How to prepare for a job interview at Foundation
✨Master the Numbers
Corporate strategy often involves data analysis and financial forecasting. Brush up on your quantitative skills, and be prepared to handle case studies or numerical problems during the interview. We might get questions about how to approach market trends or assess the performance of a hypothetical company — so practice these scenarios!
✨Know Your Frameworks
Familiarity with strategic frameworks like SWOT, PESTLE, or Porter’s Five Forces can set you apart. We should be ready to discuss how we’d apply these tools to real-world business situations — maybe even relating them to Foundation. This shows we’re not just theory-happy but can articulate our practical application.
✨Engage in Strategic Conversations
In a full-time role like this, it’s crucial to show that we're engaged and informed about current trends in the industry. Keep up with major news and prepare to discuss how recent developments could impact strategic decisions at Foundation. This will demonstrate our passion and proactive approach to the field.
✨Showcase Relevant Experience
Whether through internships or projects, we should highlight any experience that relates to corporate strategy. Have specific examples ready to talk about how we’ve contributed to strategic growth or improvements. It's about showcasing our unique journey and how it will bring value to Foundation.
