ROLE:SENIOR DIRECTOR, STRATEGY
TEAM: STRATEGY
LOCATION:TORONTO, ON (HYBRID - 2 DAYS ONSITE WEEKLY)
COMPANY OVERVIEW
Salt 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 OVERVIEW
We are looking for aSenior Director, Strategyto lead strategic thinking across multiple client portfolios and creative pods.This role is responsible for setting thestrategic direction, standards and ambition for the Strategy team — ensuring our work translates human insight, culture and behaviour into ideas that drive bothcreative impact and commercial results.The Senior Director will act as asenior 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 ofinsight-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 cansimplify complexity, sharpen the thinking, and inspire great creative work.The Senior Director is both astrategic leader and cultural catalyst — someone who elevates the work, develops the team, and helps clients see new opportunities for growth.
CORE RESPONSIBILITIES
Strategic Leadership
- Lead thestrategic direction across multiple clients and creative pods
- Define and uphold thequality bar for strategic thinking and output
- Ensure strategy consistently identifies thereal business problem and human tension
- Guide the development ofinsights, strategy narratives and opportunity territories
- Translate complex inputs intoclear, simple strategic direction
- Ensure all work connectshuman behaviour, cultural relevance and commercial impact
Creative Partnership
- Act as asenior strategic partner to Creative leadership
- Developcreative strategies and briefs that inspire great ideas
- Help shape ideas fromconcept through execution
- Provide strategic feedback thatstrengthens the work, not slows it down
- Champion work internally and externally by grounding ideas inhuman truth and strategic clarity
Client Leadership
- Serve as asenior strategic voice in client relationships
- Lead high-level strategic conversations with senior client stakeholders
- Present compelling strategy narratives that connectinsight, idea and business impact
- Help clients reframe challenges and uncovernew growth opportunities
Connections Strategy
- Lead the development ofbehaviour-led connections strategies
- Definechannel roles, consumer triggers and influence points across the journey
- Ensure strategy integratesmedia, creative, commerce, retail and experiential
- Guide teams in mappinghow ideas travel across platforms and moments
Team Leadership & Development
- Collaborate with a team of senior strategists
- Foster a culture ofcuriosity, collaboration, creativity and strategic rigor
- Be part of a team known forclarity of thinking, strong briefs and inspiring insights
- Encourage experimentation andnew approaches to strategic thinking
Business Growth
- Lead strategy onnew business pitches and opportunities
- Identify areas fororganic client growth and expanded partnerships
- Contribute to the evolution of Salt’sExperiential Commerce™ strategic offering
- Help position Salt as astrategic thought leader with clients and in the industry
EXPERIENCE & SKILLS
- 7-10+ years of experience instrategy, planning, connections planning, or integrated marketing
- Experience leadingstrategy across complex, integrated marketing programs
- Proven ability to turninsights and human truths into inspiring creative strategy
- Strong experience connectingculture, behaviour and commerce
- Deep understanding ofmedia ecosystems, consumer journeys and modern marketing channels
- Strongcreative briefing and idea development experience
- Exceptionalstorytelling and presentation skills
- Experience leadingsenior client relationships and strategic conversations
- Experience collaborating and mentoring high-performing strategy teams
- Ability to simplify complexity intoclear strategic direction
MINDSET & LEADERSHIP QUALITIES
The ideal candidate:
- Finds the real problem rather than accepting the assignment
- Is relentlessly curious aboutpeople, culture and behaviour
- Thinks inideas and opportunities — not just analysis
- Believes strategy shouldinspire creativity, not constrain it
- Has the confidence tomake decisions and take a point of view
- Is comfortable navigatingambiguity and complexity
- Brings bothcreative instinct and commercial pragmatism
- Raises the ambition of the work while helping teamsfocus on what matters most
PERKS & BENEFITS THAT SET US APART
We 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.
- 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 GROWING
