Job Description

About SA - Our People

Think of the world’s most talented creative thinkers. Problem-solvers. Strategists. At Strategic America, we don’t bring on anything less. The way we see it, if you’re going to make the best work of your life, you may as well do it with people you like.

At SA, we’ve always been passionate about our employees. Since 2021, we’re also employee owned with participation in an Employee Stock Option Plan (ESOP). Employee ownership ensures SA remains independent and allows our talented team members to share in the company’s success. With each year of employment, SAers build equity in the company, becoming fully vested after six years.

Our employee-led, leadership-supported ERGs celebrate the diversity of our team, foster inclusivity and belonging, and create a space to connect to each other. Through connections and understanding, we build a stronger and more dynamic team and help every person reach their personal peak.

About SA – The Company

When you join SA, you join a strategic team (yes, it’s in our name!) who is also wired for action. Authenticity is our focus, and every day we help our clients propel their potential. If you’re ready for a fast-paced environment that challenges you, supports you, and rewards you, then look no further. Our clients rely on us and we rely on each other to go the extra mile, to hold ourselves accountable because we’re better together and we know we can always find the better way.

The Chief Strategy Officer is responsible for shaping and elevating SA's approach to strategic thinking, insight development, and campaign execution. This role will lead research initiatives, develop insight briefs and strategic frameworks, and collaborate across teams to craft compelling narratives that inform creative, media, and client engagement.

• Ensure that strategy informs every aspect of client work, from creative ideation to execution, to media, to data/analytics and that projects are aligned with overarching client goals.
• Develop and standardize the insight briefing process, ensuring briefs provide clear problem definitions, consumer mindsets, and opportunities for differentiation.
• Ensure insights are presented clearly, compelling, and actionable for creative, media, and client teams.
• Lead qualitative and quantitative research efforts, identifying key trends, behavioral shifts, and category insights to inform decision-making.
• Establish repeatable processes for gathering and analyzing intelligence from diverse sources, including market research, cultural insights, and performance data.
• Play a pivotal role in collaborating with internal teams and external clients to craft innovative, insight-driven strategies that deliver measurable results.
• Guide the thinking of SA team members, coach and mentor critical thinking and storytelling skills, conveying their knowledge of clients, industries, and competitive landscapes while working closely with Data/Analytics to provide first-hand knowledge and data-driven insight.
• Work closely with Growth team to support new business efforts, guide the execution of client engagement, and ensure strategic excellence across the board, delivering integrated campaigns and growing the strategy function.
• Working alongside the Client Strategy and Service team, build and nurture long-term client relationships, contributing to business growth through exceptional strategy, execution and insights.
• Leads strategic discovery sessions, gathering insights and experience requirements to develop solutions that meet client needs.
• Partner closely with the COFO to ensure strategies are grounded in measurable frameworks and can be tracked for performance over time.
• Provide leadership in the ongoing development of the strategy function, helping to refine processes, define success metrics, and drive operational excellence.
• Serves as a positive role model by representing the SA’s Core Values.
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master's degree in business, marketing, communications, or related field required. 
• 10+ years of agency or client experience in marketing, strategic communications, or related fields, with a proven track record of leadership.
• Demonstrated ability to create strategic frameworks and deliver integrated solutions that address business challenges.
• Strong client-facing skills, with the ability to build and nurture senior-level client relationships .
• Experience working across disciplines, including digital, creative, data analytics to deliver comprehensive solutions .
• Proven success in supporting new business development, including pitching strategies and driving organic growth.
• Strong leadership and mentorship skills, with experience developing and guiding junior team members.
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills, with the ability to articulate complex ideas to internal teams and clients.
• Experience leading research efforts, including qualitative, quantitative, and trend analysis.
• Collaborative mindset with experience working in fast-paced, client-driven environments.
• Strong supporter of SA’s desired culture.

The right candidate will join our Des Moines office on a hybrid schedule.

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At SA, we are fully committed to expanding our culture of diversity and inclusion, one that will reflect the clients we serve and the communities we work in, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyways. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

Our Commitment to Inclusivity and Diversity

We are proud to be one of only 14 agencies nationwide, and the first in the Midwest, to earn the 4A’s Workplace Enlightenment Certification ® , and we couldn’t have done it without our associates, who participated in digital learning sessions on race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, age, disabilities, and faith. At SA, we are committed to creating an inclusive and diverse environment where people of every background can thrive and feel welcome.  Learn more about our commitments  here .

Don’t meet every single requirement for this role? Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. Because we are fully committed to our culture of diversity and inclusion, one that reflects the clients we serve and communities we work in, if you’re excited about this role but your qualifications don’t align perfectly, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

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