VP, Brand & Innovation Strategy

<p>Material is a leading integrated marketing services company that leverages deep human understanding to help brands deliver material outcomes and experiences for their customers and the communities they serve. We build B2C and B2B brands from the insight out by providing a seamless journey that combines data and analytics, insights-led consulting, and experience activation into one integrated offering.</p>

Los Angeles; New York; Chicago; Philadelphia; San

Material

<strong>Material is a collaborative built from legendary practices across research, strategy, design, and brand building. Eleven pioneering companies united as one to solve wider, deeper, and more innovative challenges together.</strong><br /><br /><strong>We uncover what&rsquo;s important to people and create experiences that pull them in and open our worlds. We seek curious, experienced, and deeply empathetic humans to enrich our diverse teams of leaders and do-ers. Want in?</strong><br /> <h5>LRW | Kelton | T3 | Karma | Greenberg | Tonic | MotiveQuest | Salt Branding | Killer Visual Strategies | Strativity | Aruliden</h5> https://materialplus.io/

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Full-Time

Overview: Aruliden is an award-winning brand creation and product innovation agency building purpose driven brands products and experiences end to end. We work with a diverse range of Fortune 100 as well as startup clientele in the Beauty, Lifestyle, and Consumer Technology space, often rethinking categories and industries. Design excellence shows up in all parts of our work, from Innovation and Creative Strategy to Digital content creation with deep roots in bringing brands to life in non-traditional ways. Our international team works with global brands and clients throughout the world to create cultural impact through design. We are currently looking for an accomplished Vice President of Strategy to join with 15+ years&rsquo; experience building within innovation and brand strategy, creating future iterations of great products, brands and experiences. This leadership role at Aruliden is an important one. You are a key member of the Executive Leadership Team and are responsible for driving business growth while mentoring and guiding a team of exceptional Strategists, working side by side with C suite and founders. Our ideal candidate has a passion leading strategy across a range of client relationships and projects (rather than a single account), serving as the primary project leader on key accounts, while driving a range of new business efforts. As a VP you will help build an environment and culture &ndash; especially within the design studio - where the very best ideas can be born and thrive. You will be responsible for bringing in your own trusted relationships with clients, while growing Aruliden&rsquo;s robust network. You will be an expert in leading client presentations with strategic storytelling and an engaging presentation style to clearly communicate design ethos and approach to all levels of client leadership.&nbsp;&nbsp; You are passionate about design and keep your finger on the pulse of current and future trends. You are looking for a company where you have the opportunity to pursue your interests and push yourself beyond your own creative threshold, elevating every team member, brand, client and project put in front of you.
Responsibilities: What it will take: <ul> <li>Your team leadership and motivation skills are absolutely essential for the role, in fact they are the magic that will make this role work. You will coach, lead and inspire the team continuously so we are best in class.</li> <li>You will continue to push excellence throughout the organization while providing strategic leadership across multiple large, complex projects in a manner that is a role model for strategists and interdisciplinary project teams.</li> <li>You are a designer of complex systems, new methodologies for innovation and new futures. Excellence at Aruliden is delivered when design and strategy work hand and hand. We do not draw a boundary between design and strategy.&nbsp;</li> <li>You will be our front line. You will have trusted relationships with great leaders around the world, and will help grow Aruliden&rsquo;s key business relationships that will strengthen the overall company and its financial goals.</li> <li>Core to building culture, recruiting great talent, and creating a greater brand presence for Aruliden as a whole in the marketplace. Working with the partners to establish Aruliden as a key leader for design and creative excellence</li> <li>Identify appropriate resources based on project scopes and to evaluate teams for assigned projects</li> <li>Manage client relationships and strong influence in new business meetings to close projects.</li> <li>Actively involved in unlocking new opportunities with current or new companies</li> <li>Envision, present and deliver high-stakes work, emboldening clients to take action</li> <li>Working closely with the Client Services team to align with business objectives</li> <li>Provide strategic leadership by developing a cohesive brand vision, from presentation content, visual design briefs as well as market research</li> <li>Support the teams through the design process including brainstorming/ideation, project research, trend insights and overall strategic oversight</li> <li>Work closely with the teams to ensure projects are on time, on budget and on goal</li> <li>Manage and oversee client scope documentation, proposals and new business initiatives together with principal/s as needed</li> <li>Develop presentation materials to be presented to clients, working closely with the design teams</li> <li>Travel to Clients as needed to create deep partnerships, not just relationships.</li> </ul>
Requirements: What we look for: <ul> <li>15+ years experience in brand, design and innovation strategy for consumer-focused brands</li> <li>Proven experience leading corporate design functions with demonstrated success and results.</li> <li>Experience in driving multi million accounts/business,&nbsp; specific to brand and innovation strategy</li> <li>A selfless leader who inspires trust and commitment within their team and in the broader organization through integrity, passion, and professional excellence.</li> <li>Hands on work style &ndash; not one to overly delegate, but rolls up sleeves and interacts with the team</li> <li>Proven experience leading multiple projects at a given time</li> <li>Adept at uncovering strong insights and turning those into differentiated strategies</li> <li>Ability to shape and express ideas clearly through strong writing skills and compelling storytelling&nbsp;</li> <li>Proposal and SOW development experience&nbsp;</li> <li>Experience collaborating with designers&nbsp;</li> <li>Excellent communication and organizational skills</li> <li>Strong client relationship leader</li> </ul>