Head of Connections

WHAT WE NEED FROM EVERYONE:

Live our values & do the brave thing.

Our Values: Good Enough is Not Enough. Grab an Oar. Be More Human. Play Like a Pirate.

Doing the brave thing is about courage. It’s about never being a spectator. Speaking up with clarity and conviction and kindness. Not hedging our points-of-view with clients or each other. Saying what we think when it’s in the best interest of the idea or the people, even if it’s uncomfortable. Being willing to take smart risks. Making tough decisions without agonizing. And, being transparent and vulnerable in search of the best. This is the expectation for all of us. In turn, we commit to perpetuating a culture where bravery is rewarded and support is always within reach.

WHAT WE NEED:

From Live There and Shot on iPhone, to Win from Within and Backing You, powerful creative ideas are our greatest asset. Connections Strategy is how we elevate the impact of our ideas and unlock new thinking in communications and beyond. It’s a leading force in how we disrupt marketing and experience to create sticky ecosystems that people can't wait to get caught in and culture can't stop talking about.

WHAT WE NEED FROM YOU:

You inspire and lead across the agency and departments. You are responsible for growing our people, client relationships, your own group, and the reputation of the agency. You stay tight to the work and are indispensable to your creative partners. You shape ideas, kick down doors and opportunities, and take as much as ownership in our creative product as any comms architecture, or go-to-market plan. And you make those amazing too.

In Detail:

Disrupt how we think about a brand's end-to-end presence and experience, generating innovative ideas that didn’t fit neatly inside the standard boxes of advertising. Chiat\Day LA is searching for a dimensional strategic leader and conceptual thinker to head this critical discipline and lead the revolution around its next chapter, growing Connections influence and impact on our strategic and creative product.Expert in amplifying ideas into media and platforms, and amplifying media into ideas. Rather than seeing automation and algorithms as barriers, harnesses them to create more impactful work. Reorient the agency to see Connections as a key ingredient in unleashing creativity and unrivaled impact. Codify its philosophy and methodology.

Develop the conceptual behaviors and ideas that jumpstart and orchestrate creativity across journeys \ ecosystems. Point clients and creatives towards innovative opportunities across platforms, ad tech, and media partnerships. Build a team that can develop social strategies from beginning to end. Be on the bleeding edge of new social platform developments and formats. Identify the insights and pivot points to change behavior, understanding what it takes to move people and create change for our brands.  

Data is ubiquitous and accessible, so build a system for using it to inform our decisions, thinking, and measurement. Develop strong, influential relationships with executive leaders at partner media agencies. Create a team that makes sound media recommendations, and challenges plans that don’t serve the greater good. Partner with CSO and GSDs \ Leads to grow capabilities across the agency and share best practice. Continually question and evolve our approach to strategic and creative development. Challenge what the agency’s expected product is and take it in new directions. 

Build relationships with clients to ensure we’re seen as strategic partners, creative experts, and brand guardians. Be comfortable in the role of objective challenger, pushing for what is right for the brand, GTM, and creative product. Show up as a genius storyteller. A persuasive, compelling presenter that can command a room.  Be unflappable when things get tricky. Flex across new business pitches and existing CDLA clients. Manage a team of diverse talent. 

WHAT WE NEED FROM YOUR LEADERSHIP: 

• Lead by example
• Be a magnet for recruiting talent; hire and develop people who do the brave thing
• Create and nurture strong cross-departmental relationships
• Take a proactive role in improving your discipline and the department
• Foster an environment of opportunity, trust, respect, and transparency
• Provide energy, support, ideas, and inspiration for your team
• Coordinate your team’s activities to align with agency priorities and client business
• Meet with your team on a regular basis and provide regular, consistent feedback (including reviews) and unmissable expectations
• Create a team of diverse thinkers, not likeminded followers

QUALIFICATIONS:

• 10 years of experience in media, CX, marketing, advertising or related field demonstrating impactful creative work \ experiences or equivalent combination.
• Evidence of success in delivering brands and experiences to market.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Proven leadership abilities.

This job requires you to have the COVID-19 vaccine.  If you have a medical or religious reason for not receiving the COVID vaccine, the agency will engage in a discussion with you about whether there is a viable accommodation that can be provided.