At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and shape strategic direction for new business and existing accounts.
- Company: Dynamic agency in Trafford Park, Manchester with a hybrid work model.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career progression, and the chance to build your own team.
- Other info: Opportunity to develop a unique strategic methodology and toolkit.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by driving innovative strategies and leading client relationships.
- Qualifications: Strong experience in media strategy and team leadership.
The predicted salary is between 45000 - 55000 £ per year.
The Head of Strategy is a senior leadership role responsible for building and leading OA’s Strategy function from the ground up.
You are a trusted advisor to clients and senior stakeholders across the business, shaping strategic direction for new business, existing accounts, and the agency’s own growth.
This position requires a balance of media and digital expertise, commercial acumen, and hands-on strategic craft, combining research-led discovery, sharp analysis, and confident client leadership to deliver work that is insight-led and commercially effective.
You’ll directly manage and develop the existing Strategy Manager, with a clear path to build and grow your own team as the function scales.
- Media
- Trafford Park, Manchester hybrid
Key Responsibilities
- Strategic Leadership & New Business
- Lead strategic development for new business, partnering with Research & Insight and Sales to build the position, narrative, and story for prospective clients.
- Own 360 campaign strategy across accounts, defining where and why to invest budget. Digest research and PCA data to shape insight-led, research-backed client proposals.
- Discovery & Analysis Interrogate client briefs, performance data, and category/competitor intelligence to diagnose what’s worked and where the opportunity lies.
- Build audience personas, segmentation, and competitive positioning in partnership with Research & Insight.
- Spot category and channel opportunities on existing accounts.
- Strategic Output
- Write and build strategy decks for pitches, campaign briefs, and account reviews.
Translate strategic recommendations into briefs that Planning/Buying and Creative can work from directly.
- Develop positioning statements, messaging frameworks, and campaign platforms. Build measurement frameworks that define success before a campaign launches.
- Client & Internal Leadership
- Present and workshop strategy directly with client stakeholders, fielding questions and pushback with confidence.
- Align Creative, Digital, Events, Media Planning/Buying, and Account Management around a single strategic direction.
- Deliver PCAs and QBRs, with regular check-ins with Account Managers on live business
- Team & Function Building
- Directly manage and develop the Strategy Manager, and build out the wider Strategy team as the agency grows.
- Develop and maintain OA’s own strategic methodology and toolkit, the operating framework the function will work to.
- Define a clear career path within the function, with progression toward Associate Director and Director-level roles.
What We're Looking For
- Strong, demonstrable experience shaping strategy across Above The Line and digital media, ideally with range across creative and events/sponsorship.
- A proven track record leading strategic development for new business and building compelling client narratives.
- A history of proactively identifying growth within existing client relationships.
- Experience managing and developing a strategist or small team, with a genuine appetite to build a function rather than simply operate within one.
- Gravitas and confidence presenting, workshopping, and holding your own in senior-level and client-facing conversations.
- Cultural fluency, strong brand understanding, and the ability to operate at pace across varied, fast-moving briefs.
Are You The One?
Upload CV
I agree to be contacted by One Agency in relation to my enquiry. We will not share your data with any third party*
Manage Consent
Functional Functional Always active The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences Preferences The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber.
Statistics Statistics The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.
The storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes.
Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing Marketing The technical storage or access that is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Head of Strategy in Manchester employer: One Agency Media
At OA, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters creativity and collaboration in the heart of MediaTrafford Park, Manchester. As the Head of Strategy, you will not only lead a talented team but also have access to unparalleled growth opportunities, with a clear path towards senior leadership roles. Our commitment to employee development, combined with a hybrid working model, ensures that you can thrive both professionally and personally while making a meaningful impact on our clients' success.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Strategy in Manchester
✨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 One Agency Media!
✨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 Head of Strategy position at One Agency Media 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 Head of Strategy in Manchester
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 One Agency Media.
Tailor Your Narrative:Don’t just send us a generic application! Personalise your cover letter by connecting your experiences and aspirations to One Agency Media’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 One Agency Media
✨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 One Agency Media. 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 One Agency Media. 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 One Agency Media.
