Vice President Integrated Marketing Communication Jobs in Naperville, IL

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We're looking for a Vice President, Strategy to help lead and shape the continued, fast-paced growth of the Strategy + Insights function at Walker Sands. This leadership role blends strategic depth, commercial thinking and team leadership, responsible for elevating strategic excellence, deepening client impact and driving measurable outcomes for some of B2B's most ambitious brands.

The VP partners closely with leaders across Marketing Strategy, Brand, Creative, Paid, Content, PR, Web and Analytics to unify our approach to audience insights, brand development, go-to-market planning and integrated marketing planning. You'll mentor Directors and Strategists across strategic disciplines, helping them to grow, elevate their craft and build cohesive, insight-driven marketing programs that deliver meaningful business outcomes.You'll also elevate the role and consistency of strategy across the agency, ensuring every engagement is grounded in data, meaningful insights and business alignment.

As a member of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT), you'll help guide agency direction, develop talent and build the systems and thinking that make Walker Sands synonymous with smart, outcome-based B2B marketing. 

This role is designed for a collaborative strategist who brings thought leadership, operational discipline and a holistic view of how strategy drives value for clients and the agency. 

• Serve as a senior strategic advisor for executive-level clients across brand, GTM, research and integrated marketing engagements. 
• Translate business goals into holistic strategies that balance creativity, insight and performance.
• Oversee strategy for high-value accounts, ensuring cohesive planning across brand, earned, owned and paid channels.
• Lead strategic presentations, workshops and vision-setting engagements.
• Identify opportunities to expand client relationships through strategic foresight and performance learnings.
• Partner with cross-functional leaders to deliver unified, insight-led marketing programs.
• Contribute to new business pitches with compelling strategic narratives and frameworks.

• Lead development of measurement frameworks that connect brand and marketing activity to business impact. 
• Partner with analytics teams to establish KPI models that clearly demonstrate marketing's contribution to business impact.
• Advance performance storytelling to make insights actionable and engaging for clients and teams.
• Foster innovation in research, planning and measurement to guide how B2B brands grow in a complex marketing ecosystem.

• Partner with the SVP, Strategy to build, mentor and inspire a top-tier strategy team that combines analytical rigor with creative curiosity.
• Establish systems, workflows and best practices for strategic planning, measurement and delivery.
• Lead a psychologically safe, inclusive environment that prioritizes collaboration, learning and professional growth.
• Partner with the SVP, Strategy to refine department structure, services, and staffing in alignment with agency and team goals.

• Serve on the Senior Leadership Team, contributing to agency vision, growth and decision-making.
• Partner with the SVP, Strategy to support Strategy P& management, including profitability, utilization and resourcing efficiency.
• Collaborate with fellow leaders to align strategy with Walker Sands' long-term business objectives.
• Represent Walker Sands' strategic point of view externally through thought leadership, speaking engagements and industry partnerships.

• You're an integrator. You connect dots across channels, data and disciplines to build cohesive marketing strategies that drive outcomes.
• You're a strategic storyteller. You can distill complex ideas into clear narratives that inspire clients and teams alike.
• You're outcome minded. You understand how strategy connects to business performance and how to prove it.
• You believe in team over ego. You create space for collaboration, learning and diverse perspectives to shape stronger work.
• You value curiosity and accountability. You lead with questions, data and a genuine desire to get better every day.

• 10-12+ years of experience in strategic brand and marketing leadership within an integrated, digital or B2B agency environment.
• Proven experience designing integrated marketing strategies across brand, digital and demand generation.
  Deep understanding of B2B audiences, buyer journeys and the interplay between brand and performance.
• Expertise in marketing analytics, measurement frameworks and KPI development.
  Strong presentation, facilitation and executive communication skills.
  Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and partner across disciplines.
• Experience managing financials, including P&L ownership, revenue forecasting, and utilization a plus. 
• With a builder's mindset, you combine creativity, systems thinking, and operational excellence.

Compensation & Benefits:

• We strive for salary range transparency in our hiring process. This is a major step towards not only complying with regulations where required, but also to make sure pay equity and DEI are top of mind during the hiring process. Base salary is only a part of the total rewards package - this role will also be eligible for a bonus based on company performance, as well as benefits. Below is the starting salary for this role:
  Starting Salary: $125,000 - $140,000 a year
• Placement on the salary scale will be determined by various factors, such as, but not limited to, relevant qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, seniority, geographic location, performance, education, business or organizational requirements and internal equity.
• Starting salaries are not inclusive of a full range of compensation for this role and are instead meant to reflect the expected beginning salary for a new hire. Merit-based increases can be earned after time in role.
• Total Rewards Package:
• Health Coverage: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans, plus mental health resources, pet insurance, fertility benefits, and more.
• Retirement Savings: Employer-matched 401(k) and access to financial planning services.
• Flexible PTO: Take time as needed for vacations, mental health, or personal days. Includes 8 paid holidays, half-day summer Fridays, and a week off between Christmas and New Year.
• Hybrid Work: Mix of in-office and remote work, with tools to stay connected across teams.
• Milestone Sabbatical: Celebrate five years with a two-week sabbatical and a $2,000 gift.
• Family Support: Generous paid leave for new parents and caregivers, plus policies for pregnancy loss, adoption challenges, and more.
• Growth Opportunities: Clear career paths, mentorship programs, and learning events to help you grow professionally.
• Culture: Our agency values our supportive, collaborative culture where we work hard to achieve the best outcomes for clients. Read more on our website here!

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