Senior Director, Strategy

Salt XC

Toronto, ON
Permanent
Full-time

22 days ago

ROLE: SENIOR DIRECTOR, STRATEGYTEAM: STRATEGYLOCATION: TORONTO, ON (HYBRID - 2 DAYS ONSITE WEEKLY)COMPANY OVERVIEWSalt is a North American marketing agency that creates connected experiences through creative, digital & media innovation.Our mission is to “Earn the World's Attention” and Salt is built to find, develop, execute, and amplify the ideas that are worthy of our clients' audiences. We've structured our agency to do what's right for our clients - to connect different perspectives, to work across mediums, and to focus on delivering meaningful, effective results.We're committed to living up to the values in our name. “Salt of The Earth” means we value collaborative, humble, hard-working people here. We're looking for people who are as smart as they are kind because we believe the right talent and the right culture help us do what's right for our clients.ROLE OVERVIEWWe are looking for a Senior Director, Strategy to lead strategic thinking across multiple client portfolios and creative pods.This role is responsible for setting the strategic direction, standards and ambition for the Strategy team - ensuring our work translates human insight, culture and behaviour into ideas that drive both creative impact and commercial results.The Senior Director will act as a senior partner to Creative, Accounts and Clients, shaping the thinking behind the work - from defining the real problem to crafting inspiring briefs and guiding ideas through execution.You will oversee the development of insight-led strategies, creative briefs, audience and cultural POVs, connections strategies and measurement frameworks that ensure every program is grounded in behaviour change and designed to move people to act.This role requires someone who can simplify complexity, sharpen the thinking, and inspire great creative work.The Senior Director is both a strategic leader and cultural catalyst - someone who elevates the work, develops the team, and helps clients see new opportunities for growth.CORE RESPONSIBILITIESStrategic Leadership

Lead the strategic direction across multiple clients and creative pods
Define and uphold the quality bar for strategic thinking and output
Ensure strategy consistently identifies the real business problem and human tension
Guide the development of insights, strategy narratives and opportunity territories
Translate complex inputs into clear, simple strategic direction
Ensure all work connects human behaviour, cultural relevance and commercial impact

Creative Partnership

Act as a senior strategic partner to Creative leadership
Develop creative strategies and briefs that inspire great ideas
Help shape ideas from concept through execution
Provide strategic feedback that strengthens the work, not slows it down
Champion work internally and externally by grounding ideas in human truth and strategic clarity

Client Leadership

Serve as a senior strategic voice in client relationships
Lead high-level strategic conversations with senior client stakeholders
Present compelling strategy narratives that connect insight, idea and business impact
Help clients reframe challenges and uncover new growth opportunities

Connections Strategy

Lead the development of behaviour-led connections strategies
Define channel roles, consumer triggers and influence points across the journey
Ensure strategy integrates media, creative, commerce, retail and experiential
Guide teams in mapping how ideas travel across platforms and moments

Team Leadership & Development

Lead, mentor and develop a team of senior strategists
Foster a culture of curiosity, creativity and strategic rigor
Provide clear feedback that helps strategists improve their craft
Build a team known for clarity of thinking, strong briefs and inspiring insights
Encourage experimentation and new approaches to strategic thinking

Business Growth

Lead strategy on new business pitches and opportunities
Identify areas for organic client growth and expanded partnerships
Contribute to the evolution of Salt's Experiential Commerce™ strategic offering
Help position Salt as a strategic thought leader with clients and in the industry

EXPERIENCE & SKILLS

7-10+ years of experience in strategy, planning, connections planning, or integrated marketing
Experience leading strategy across complex, integrated marketing programs
Proven ability to turn insights and human truths into inspiring creative strategy
Strong experience connecting culture, behaviour and commerce
Deep understanding of media ecosystems, consumer journeys and modern marketing channels
Strong creative briefing and idea development experience
Exceptional storytelling and presentation skills
Experience leading senior client relationships and strategic conversations
Experience mentoring and developing high-performing strategy teams
Ability to simplify complexity into clear strategic direction

MINDSET & LEADERSHIP QUALITIESThe ideal candidate:

Finds the real problem rather than accepting the assignment
Is relentlessly curious about people, culture and behaviour
Thinks in ideas and opportunities - not just analysis
Believes strategy should inspire creativity, not constrain it
Has the confidence to make decisions and take a point of view
Is comfortable navigating ambiguity and complexity
Brings both creative instinct and commercial pragmatism
Raises the ambition of the work while helping teams focus on what matters most

PERKS & BENEFITS THAT SET US APARTWe don't just talk about balance, growth, and culture, we build for it:

Work-Life Flexibility: Hybrid setup, up to 28 paid days off, winter holiday shutdowns, and dog-friendly office vibes.
Comprehensive Coverage: Health, dental, and vision plans, plus Salt Bucks to spend on what matters to you-wellness, RRSPs, or extra time off.
Growth-Driven Culture: Dedicated Salt Days, top-tier learning access, and formal leadership development.
Celebration-First Mentality: Legendary team trips, seasonal socials, and Salt Swag that reps your squad.
Real Rewards: Referral and new business bonuses, exclusive lifestyle perks, and personalized wellness options.
Culture of Belonging: DEI programs, active ERGs, and a workplace where every voice counts.

WHAT WE STAND FOR

Salt of the Earth: We lead with humility, honesty, and heart-always.
Do What's Right: No shortcuts. We choose integrity over ease, every time.
Earn Your Salt: We roll up our sleeves, chase results, and celebrate the journey.
Make Things Better: We're solution-seekers, always pushing for smarter ways forward.
Seek Different Perspectives: Diversity fuels our thinking. Inclusion drives our impact.

Salt XC is committed to Equal Employment Opportunity and to attracting and retaining the most qualified employees regardless of race, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender, age or disability.#2 FASTEST GROWINGCreate a Job AlertInterested in building your career at SALT XC ? Get future opportunities sent straight to your email. Create alert

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