Strategy Director

ABOUT OGILVY SOCIAL.LAB

Ogilvy Social.Lab (OSL) is a full-service advertising agency headquartered in Brussels’ WPP Campus. As part of the international Ogilvy network, our operations span four continents with over 15 nationalities on the 130-strong team working in our offices – our mindset is borderless.

We proudly collaborate with a mix of prominent international brands and major public sector institutions, fueling their success and impact through modern, effective communications.

Entrepreneurship pulses through our veins, embodying our "lab” mentality. We constantly innovate and experiment, bringing a digital-first approach to complex communication challenges.

ROLE

We are looking for a Strategy Director, a seasoned and influential strategic leader, to join our team. With 10+ years of experience, you will serve as the senior strategic partner on some of our most significant accounts, particularly within the public institutions and EU sector.

This director-level role is critical to our leadership on large-scale public sector and multi-agency framework contracts. You will be at the heart of developing communication strategies that tackle major societal and policy issues. You will be the strategic anchor, providing clarity of thought and coordinating across multiple WPP agencies to deliver compelling and effective work. The Strategy Director is expected to work hands-on with creative, content, social, media and production teams, and to remain closely involved from strategic framing through execution and optimisation.

If you are a strategist who thrives on complexity, can deconstruct intricate policy into powerful narratives, and excels at steering multi-disciplinary teams toward a common goal, this role is for you.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead Strategic Development: Act as the senior strategic consultant and architect for overarching communication plans, with a strong focus on our public sector portfolio.
• Policy & Issue Analysis: Analyse complex policy, societal issues, and stakeholder landscapes to uncover core insights that will form the foundation of our communication strategies.
• Translate Complexity into Clarity: Convert complex information into single-minded creative briefs, compelling narrative frameworks, and actionable audience journeys that inspire creative teams.
• Cross-Agency Leadership: Drive seamless integration with planning and creative functions within our partner WPP agencies, acting as the central strategic voice on collaborative pitches and projects.
• Modern Channel Planning: Design modern communication ecosystems, determining the role of various channels (including paid social, digital platforms, and traditional media) to ensure our strategies effectively reach and engage target audiences.
• Ensure Effectiveness: Champion a culture of measurement and effectiveness, ensuring our strategic and creative work is not only inspiring but also delivers tangible outcomes.

PROFILE

• 10+ years of experience in a strategic planning role. Agency experience is a must.
• Exceptional command of English (both written and spoken) is required. Proficiency in any other language is a significant asset.
• Proven experience leading integrated, multi-channel communication campaigns for institutional or public-sector clients, within an agency environment.
• Proven ability to influence, convince, and make a tangible impact within a highly matrixed environment (e.g., across multiple agencies and departments).
• Exceptional analytical skills with the ability to distill complex policy documents, research, and societal trends into clear, actionable insights.
• A keen understanding of societal issues and political landscapes, particularly within Europe.
• Comfortable working as a highly autonomous and senior leader, while also collaborating effectively with diverse teams across multiple agencies.
• You are a cultural voyeur: able to connect high-level policy with the real-world culture and conversations of the people we need to reach.

OFFER

• A full-time opportunity to take on a senior, impactful leadership role in a trend-setting advertising agency.
• The chance to shape large-scale communication campaigns that address major societal issues, working on high-profile public sector accounts.
• A key position within the WPP Campus, the greenest building in Brussels, working alongside a diverse and people-focused team.
• An attractive package, a strong flexibility plan, and continuous training opportunities.
• A transparent and ethical work environment where our words and promises produce actions.
• As an Ogilvy Social.Lab employee, you will be provided with continuous opportunities to grow while doing strong work that works.