Director

About the role

We’re looking for a Chicago-based Director to join SHIFT’s growing consumer team. You will hit the ground running by managing programs for one of the country’s largest restaurant chains and have the opportunity to work on other exciting consumer brands, take part in business development, and mentor team members.

Responsibilities

• Managing a large client in fast food / restaurant space
• Ensuring your team’s work is client- and/or media-ready before we press send
• Collaborating with experts across the network who can strengthen your team’s efforts, and/or whom your team’s expertise can help strengthen theirs
• Running client events in the Chicago area (and beyond) in collaboration with owner/operators
• Identifying and working with media, influencers and partners
• Ensuring all clients are kept informed on emerging trends, actively engaged in our relationship and delighted with our work
• Broadening our base of relationships within your clients
• Nurturing and growing your network of trusted relationships with the media, industry analysts and influencers
• Leading new business prospecting, proposals and presentations
• Contributing to SHIFT’s content engine to help cement SHIFT as voice of authority/credibility and you as a thought leader in the consumer behavior/experience space
• Building SHIFT’s and your own personal profile through active engagement in relevant industry/trade groups, events and initiatives

Requirements

• Currently located in greater Chicagoland – we are in-office three days a week and this position will also require some travel
• Sixteen+ years of increasing responsibility in an agency or fast-paced client environment (some agency experience is critical)
• Experience in food, beverage, CPG and hospitality – fast food chain restaurant and/or franchise experience is preferred
• Ability to work with a remote team
• Ridiculously strong oral, written and interpersonal communications
• Experience and passion for bringing together various groups to a consensus and shared goal and moving projects forward
• A deep understanding of today’s consumer – from micro to macro shifts – and how those trends are impacting people’s purchasing power and the brands they engage with
• A demonstrated record of developing and executing successful public relations strategies and programs while closely managing budgets
• Experience in influencer marketing and social media best practices; with knowledge of what it takes to create earned media campaigns and sponsored opportunities
• Experience reaching top-tier media with creative storytelling
• Absolutely stellar personnel management and mentoring skills
• The ability to form strong client relationships

Qualifications

• Fluency in the agency’s brand and business; familiarize yourself with our teams, clients, best case work and best proposals
• Know what’s going on. Read/watch/listen to and then analyze and report the news that’s important to you and your clients; provide recommendations for actions that the client can/should take as a result
• Have a point of view. We’re not looking for people who agree with everything we say. We’re looking for people who think independently, believe in things important to them and can bring and defend that passion to work with them every day
• Learn the agency business. Ask questions of those around you/ attend proscribed training programs to understand how we budget, how we manage projects, how we develop and nurture client relationships and how we measure our own success as an agency
• Raise your hand. Don’t ever wait for someone to ask you to do something; ask what you can do to help your team, our clients and our agency succeed

Skills

• Google Analytics certification
• Google’s keyword tools mastery

Benefits

US salary range: $100,000 USD - $130,000 USD

Pay

$100,000 USD - $130,000 USD

Schedule

Full-time, in-office three days a week with some travel required