At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead social and integrated communications strategies for major brands, driving cultural relevance and impact.
- Company: Join Havas Play, a creative agency focused on impactful media and experiences.
- Benefits: Enjoy a collaborative environment, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Work in a dynamic team, mentoring junior strategists and contributing to innovative projects.
- Why this job: Shape how brands connect with culture and make a real difference in the industry.
- Qualifications: Experience in social strategy and integrated communications, with strong leadership and creative skills.
About Havas Play media and experiences.
The Opportunity
We are looking for a Strategy Director, Social & Integrated Comms to lead strategic thinking across major client relationships and help shape Havas Play’s offer across social, creator and integrated communications. This is a senior role for someone who combines cultural fluency, strategic rigour and creative ambition. You will turn insight into clear direction, strong briefs and effective ideas that resonate in culture and deliver measurable impact.
Key Responsibilities
- Social & Creator Strategy
- Lead social and creator strategy for key brands, developing social-first and culture-led approaches that drive relevance, participation and impact.
- Build always-on, campaign and reactive strategies across platforms, communities and cultural moments.
- Define the role of social across the consumer journey, from awareness through to advocacy.
- Ensure social is treated as a strategic driver of ideas, not simply a channel for distribution.
- Develop clear briefs that unlock social-native creativity and effective creator collaboration.
- Partner with creative and specialist teams to shape culturally resonant, platform-appropriate work.
- Identify innovation opportunities and help keep the agency and clients ahead of shifts in the social landscape.
- Integrated Communications Strategy
- Translate research, insight, data and cultural observation into integrated 360 communications strategies.
- Shape paid, owned and earned approaches in partnership with client and agency teams.
- Develop campaign phasing and communications plans that help ideas travel through culture and generate momentum.
- Build messaging frameworks for campaigns across different audiences, channels and stages of the journey.
- Develop culture-first consumer journeys that drive relevance, participation and action.
- Strategic Leadership & Craft
- Turn business challenges into clear strategic questions, opportunities and recommendations.
- Lead strategic workstreams across projects with autonomy and accountability.
- Write clear, inspiring briefs and strategic narratives that connect audience insight, cultural intelligence and business ambition.
- Ensure strategy remains central throughout development and delivery.
- Present strategic thinking with clarity and confidence in meetings, workshops, presentations and pitches.
- Apply sound judgement to identify meaningful cultural opportunities rather than short-term trends.
- Client & Cross-Agency Leadership
- Act as a strategic partner to clients, building trusted relationships with day-to-day and senior stakeholders.
- Provide expert counsel on social, creator and cultural strategy.
- Lead workshops and strategic sessions where needed.
- Work closely with creative, account management, production, media, PR, partnerships, data and specialist teams to deliver integrated thinking.
- Build strong relationships across inter-agency teams and contribute to joined-up recommendations and solutions.
- Team Leadership & Agency Contribution
- Play a senior role in the strategy team, helping raise the quality of thinking across the agency.
- Mentor and support junior strategists through coaching and feedback.
- Contribute to strategic tools, products, methodologies and ways of working.
- Support the wider agency in strengthening its social, influencer and culture-led strategy capabilities.
- Contribute to thought leadership, marketing initiatives and the agency’s point of view, including the use of AI in strategy and agency processes.
- New Business
- Support new business pitches and growth opportunities with strong strategic narratives and propositions.
- Lead and contribute to social and integrated communications workstreams across new business opportunities for Havas Play and the Havas Village.
- Contribute to thought leadership and marketing activity that strengthens Havas Play’s profile in culture-first social and creator strategy.
- Measurement & Effectiveness
- Define success frameworks and KPIs that connect activity to brand and commercial outcomes.
- Work with client, creative, data and insight teams to ensure delivery against strategic objectives.
- Use campaign performance and learning to continuously refine and evolve strategy.
- Provide senior oversight of strategic output to maintain high standards across briefs, decks, recommendations and presentations.
What We’re Looking For
Experience
- Significant experience in a social strategy and/or integrated comms role within an agency or brand environment.
- Strong expertise in social, creator and integrated communications strategy.
- Deep understanding of social platforms, creator ecosystems, communities, audience behaviour and culture’s role in brand building.
- Strong experience turning insight into clear recommendations, compelling briefs and effective creative direction.
- Proven ability to work closely with creative teams to develop standout ideas.
- Confidence facilitating workshops and presenting to senior stakeholders.
- Experience leading projects and managing multiple stakeholders across disciplines.
- Experience mentoring or managing junior team members.
- Strong commercial awareness and the ability to support client growth.
Personal Qualities
- Strategic, curious and culturally engaged.
- Creatively ambitious with strong judgement.
- Collaborative, generous and team-oriented.
- Clear and persuasive communicator, able to simplify complexity.
- Passionate about creating effective work that earns attention and drives impact.
Working Arrangements
- Office presence: 3 days per week with the Havas Play team.
- Travel: Occasional travel for client meetings and events.
Why Join Havas Play?
This is an opportunity to join an agency built around creativity that drives impact, and to play a leading role in shaping how brands win in culture. You will work with ambitious clients, talented collaborators and a team that values smart thinking, strong partnerships and exceptional work.
Here at Havas across the group we pride ourselves on being committed to offering equal opportunities to all potential employees and have zero tolerance for discrimination. We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome applicants irrespective of age, sex, race, ethnicity, disability and other factors that have no bearing on an individual’s ability to perform their job.
Strategy Director (Social & Integrated Comms) in London employer: HAVAS
Havas Media Group is an exceptional employer located in Manchester, offering a vibrant work culture that fosters creativity and collaboration. With a strong commitment to employee wellbeing, we provide flexible working arrangements, generous holiday allowances, and unique benefits such as mental health days and an inclusive parental leave policy. Our focus on professional growth ensures that team members can thrive in their careers while making a meaningful impact on some of the UK's most beloved media content.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Strategy Director (Social & Integrated Comms) in London
✨Show Your Creative Side
In marketing communications, standing out is key. Get creative with your application! Consider designing a mini-campaign or pitch that highlights your skills and understanding of the brand. Tailor it for HAVAS and show them what you can bring to the table.
✨Engage in Marketing Communities
Get involved in local or online marketing communications groups. Check out platforms like Meetup for events and workshops. Networking here can lead to hidden job openings and valuable insights into the industry trends—this is where we often discover what companies like HAVAS are looking for.
✨Leverage Social Media
Use platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter to showcase your passion for marketing communications. Share insights, articles, and your own content that resonates with the industry. Tagging or interacting with HAVAS on these platforms can catch the eye of recruiters and show you're genuinely interested in them.
✨Attend Industry Events
Keep an eye out for marketing conferences and workshops. These are great places to meet potential employers face-to-face and make connections that could land you a full-time role at HAVAS. Bring your business cards and be prepared to chat about how you can contribute!
We think you need these skills to ace Strategy Director (Social & Integrated Comms) in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Craft an Impactful Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Focus on your passion for marketing communications and how your previous experiences can benefit HAVAS. Make sure to mention specific campaigns or projects you’ve worked on that showcase your creativity and strategic thinking.
Showcase Your Writing Skills:As you're diving into a marketing communications role, your writing ability is crucial. Include samples of your work, like blog posts, press releases, or social media campaigns in your application. This lets us see your style and how you engage with different audiences.
Tailor Your CV to Marketing:Your CV should highlight relevant marketing skills and experiences! Include specific tools or platforms you’ve used, like Google Analytics or social media management software. Mention any certifications or workshops related to marketing that you've completed – they can give you an edge!
Demonstrate Your Understanding of HAVAS:Show us that you’ve done your homework! In your application, briefly mention what you admire about HAVAS’s marketing approach or any recent campaigns that caught your attention. This can reveal your enthusiasm for the role and your genuine interest in joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at HAVAS
✨Showcase Your Creative Campaigns
Get ready to flaunt your portfolio! Include examples of previous marketing campaigns you've worked on, especially those that showcase your creativity and strategy. Recruiters at HAVAS will be keen to see how you conceptualise and execute campaigns, so highlight any measurable outcomes to back up your claims.
✨Know Your Digital Tools Inside Out
If you’re heading into a marketing-communications role, make sure you're comfortable discussing key digital marketing tools like Google Analytics, HubSpot, or Hootsuite. Expect some technical questions about how you've used these tools in the past, as they'll want to gauge your hands-on experience and how you analyse data to drive marketing decisions.
✨Be Ready for Scenario-Based Questions
At HAVAS, they may throw some scenario-based questions your way, aimed at testing your problem-solving skills in real-life marketing situations. Think through potential challenges you’ve faced, how you navigated them, and be prepared to discuss your thought process and outcome.
✨Demonstrate Your Passion for Marketing
As you’re applying for a full-time position, show that you're not just looking for a job, but a career in marketing. Talk about the latest trends in marketing communications, your favourite campaigns, and why they inspire you. Your enthusiasm can really make you stand out and demonstrate that you’re committed to growing within the field.
