Associate Strategy Director

Company description Spark Foundry make up part of a thriving global media network and are part of the Publicis Groupe, one of the world’s leading communications groups. We are globally connected with over 8,000 employees in 110 offices across 70 countries.

Who We Are in the UK? Spark Foundry, the Acceleration Agency. We help brands to identify, learn and respond to opportunities faster than the competition. Every client has an area of their business they need to accelerate, from short-term goals to long-term transformation. We’ve proven our approach during the most difficult year on record. Now we’re using it to provide a launchpad for their future. Come be an accelerator with us.

How we accelerate:

• Planning: an approach that works in practice rather than theory, arming planners with the ability to create cutting edge campaigns
• Intelligence: a suite of tools that give definitive answers to big questions, and uncovers actionable insights about real people
• Trading: a model built on flexibility and trusted relationships, underpinned with bold guarantees
• Relationships: a culture of asking challenging questions to better understand the brief – we are not a ‘yes’ agency
• People: a strong history of recruiting talent from diverse backgrounds and accelerating their careers

Our Commitment: We are diverse though our experience, people and the clients we look after - and we celebrate that diversity. Our people hold us accountable to our beliefs and via regular surveys and our grass roots D&I team, The Collective, and internal next generation board, Firestarters, we hold regular events and work continually towards generating ideas, initiatives and educating our people to ensure we are a diverse and inclusive agency. As part of our dedication to create an inclusive and diverse workforce, Spark Foundry is committed to equal access to opportunity for people without regard to race, age, sex, disability, neurodiversity, sexual orientation, gender identity or religion.

Overview Intro: We’re looking for a Strategy Director to lead the thinking for one of the UK’s most recognised names in value fashion retail — a brand loved for its accessibility, reach and role in everyday style. This is an opportunity to shape the strategy for a household name at a pivotal point of transformation, helping it evolve from value-led retailer to a credible destination for affordable fashion. This role sits at the intersection of culture, creativity, and commerce — perfect for a strategist who thrives on fast-moving trends, has a strong grasp of retail dynamics, and loves turning complex business challenges into sharp, actionable ideas that drive growth.

What you’ll be doing:

• Leading strategic direction for one of the UK’s biggest fashion retailers, blending brand, comms, and retail strategy
• Partnering with senior clients and creative agencies to define the brand’s positioning and unlock new opportunities for growth
• Turning consumer, sales and trend data into compelling insights that fuel creative ideas and commercial outcomes
• Developing integrated campaign strategies that span paid, owned, and earned media — from brand building to conversion
• Collaborating closely with planning, media and creative teams to ensure work is cohesive, consistent, and effective
• Acting as a trusted advisor to senior stakeholders, confidently guiding conversations and building long-term strategic partnerships
• Keeping a pulse on culture, retail and fashion trends — ensuring the brand stays relevant, distinctive, and future-facing

What we’re looking for:

• Strong strategic experience in retail or fashion, ideally with a blend of brand and media expertise
• Proven track record of solving complex strategic challenges and driving measurable growth
• Confident communicator and storyteller with the ability to inspire creative teams and influence senior clients
• Highly analytical and data-literate, comfortable using consumer insights and retail data to inform decisions
• Collaborative and curious, with a natural ability to connect teams and unite people around great ideas
• Experience managing multi-agency partnerships and navigating large client organisations

Why this role: This is a rare opportunity to help redefine what value fashion means in the UK — shaping a brand that millions of people interact with every day. You’ll be at the heart of a large-scale transformation, working alongside brilliant creative partners and a highly collaborative client team that’s eager to push boundaries. At Spark Foundry, we champion curiosity and experimentation — combining data with creativity to create work that not only performs, but resonates culturally. If you’re a strategic thinker who loves retail, understands how people shop, and wants to make an impact in a fast-changing category, this is the role for you.

Additional information: Spark has fantastic benefits on offer to all of our employees. In addition to the classics, Pension, Life Assurance, Private Medical and Income Protection Plans we also offer:

• WORK YOUR WORLD: opportunity to work anywhere in the world, where there is a Publicis office, for up to 6 weeks a year.
• REFLECTION DAYS: Two additional days of paid leave to step away from your usual day‑to‑day work and create time to focus on your well‑being and self‑care.
• HELP@HAND BENEFITS: 24/7 helpline to support you on a personal and professional level. Access to remote GPs, mental health support and CBT. Well‑being content and lifestyle coaching.
• FAMILY FRIENDLY POLICIES: We provide 26 weeks of full pay for the following family milestones: Maternity, Adoption, Surrogacy and Shared Parental Leave.
• FLEXIBLE WORKING, BANK HOLIDAY SWAP & BIRTHDAY DAY OFF: You are entitled to an additional day off for your birthday, from your first day of employment.
• GREAT LOCAL DISCOUNTS: This includes membership discounts with Soho Friends, local restaurants and retailers in Westfield White City and Television Centre.

Full details of our benefits will be shared when you join us! Publicis Groupe operates a hybrid working pattern with full‑time employees being office‑based three days during the working week. We are supportive of all candidates and are committed to providing a fair assessment process. If you have any circumstances (such as neurodiversity, physical or mental impairments or a medical condition) that may affect your assessment, please inform your Talent Acquisition Partner. We will discuss possible adjustments to ensure fairness. Rest assured, disclosing this information will not impact your treatment in our process. Please make sure you check out the Publicis Career Page which showcases our Inclusive Benefits and our EAGs (Employee Action Groups).