Strategy Partner in London

With a history that dates back over 80 years, Starcom is a global communications planning and media leader. We are an agency still grounded in our founding principle that people are at the centre of all we do. Each day, we apply this belief to harness the transformative power of data and technology to inspire and move people and business forward. With more than 7,000 employees in over 100 offices around the world, we are the flagship Publicis Media agency that uses our ‘Power of One’ business model.

We place a huge focus on our People and have driven flagship D&I and L&D programmes within Publicis Media; our goal is to help every individual reach their fullest potential and we encourage everyone to make “Brave Plays” in how they approach their work and their own career development. As a result, we have an exceptionally energised and committed talent base, all of us proud of our welcoming and supportive culture.

The role involves acting as a deputy to the Chief Strategy Officer and taking responsibility for strategic leadership across our most important clients, pitches and agency initiatives. This is a high-impact role for a senior strategist who combines hands-on strategic rigour with strong leadership presence.

What you’ll be doing:

• Lead the strategic response on major pitches, with full ownership of the strategic narrative and direction.
• Clearly define client business challenges and growth opportunities.
• Create and communicate a strong “red thread” between client needs, strategy and media solutions.
• Act as a senior strategic partner on Starcom’s largest and most complex client relationships.
• Set and role-model high standards for strategic thinking across the agency.
• Act as an escalation point for strategic challenges on accounts.
• Share best practice with strategists and planners, raising capability across teams.
• Support the CSO by owning key initiatives, helping free up capacity for broader agency transformation.
• Help strengthen Starcom UK’s profile for strategic excellence.
• Contribute to trade press, thought leadership and industry events.
• Play a visible role in winning UK-led new business and awards.

What we’re looking for:

• A senior-level strategist (Strategy Partner / Head of Strategy / Senior Strategy Director).
• Background as a planner-turned-strategist, with hands-on media planning and buying experience.
• Strong commercial acumen and confidence working with senior business stakeholders.
• Deep understanding of media effectiveness, measurement and real-world planning constraints.
• Proven track record of leading major pitches and high-profile strategic work.
• Comfortable working across both brand and performance disciplines.

Why Starcom:

Starcom is known for our collaborative culture, clear thinking and ambition to grow — both for our clients and our people. Strategy plays a central role in how we work, not as an add-on but as a driver of better decisions, better work and better outcomes.

What we offer:

• Hybrid working (office-based on Mondays and two other days per week).
• Strong focus on flexibility, wellbeing and sustainable performance.
• Industry-recognised culture and career development opportunities.
• A broad benefits package including reflection days, flexible working, enhanced family policies and global mobility options.

Starcom has fantastic benefits on offer to all of our employees, including WORK YOUR WORLD opportunity to work anywhere in the world, REFLECTION DAYS, HELP@HAND BENEFITS, FAMILY FRIENDLY POLICIES, FLEXIBLE WORKING, BANK HOLIDAY SWAP & BIRTHDAY DAY OFF, and GREAT LOCAL DISCOUNTS.

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.