Vice President of Marketing Strategy

Overview

Responsible for overseeing the performance, strategy, and executional excellence of all Sector/Practice Marketing Directors within HKS. Reporting directly to the Chief Marketing Officer, this individual will act as the strategic and operational mentor, coach, and quality assurance lead across all sector-specific marketing efforts.
Ensures that every practice marketing plan is audience-centered, insight-led, aligned with firmwide goals, and executed in collaboration with Marketing's Centers of Excellence (COEs). Works with both a strategic and operational mindset, responsible for driving consistency, innovation, and measurable business impact across all sectors.

Responsibilities

• Leads, develops, and manages the team of Sector & Practice Marketing Directors across all HKS sectors (e.g., Health, Community, Hospitality, Interiors, etc.)

• Pressure-tests marketing strategies to ensure alignment with firm goals, client insights, competitive dynamics, and brand positioning

• Ensures all Sector/Practice Marketing Directors follow HKS marketing best practices, frameworks, campaign calendars, and performance measurement protocols

• Serves as the strategic liaison between SMDs/PMDs and the CMO, surfacing key sector learnings, opportunities, and risks

• Drives consistency in value proposition development, messaging, campaign briefs, and sector marketing scorecards

• Facilitates peer learning and cross-pollination across sectors by leading regular SMD/PMD roundtables and strategy sessions

• Mentors SMDs/PMDs on effective stakeholder engagement, especially with Sector CEOs and COE leads

• Collaborates with all COEs including Marketing Ops, Market Data, Communications and Brand to align resources and support strategic needs

• Regularly assesses sector marketing performance and recommend improvements to people, processes, and priorities

• Contributes to broader marketing leadership, including governance, budgeting, capability building, and succession planning

• Models and holds others accountable to the firm's cultural values, including a commitment to quality, innovation, learning and growth

• Oversees and actively invests in the professional development of staff through mentoring, performance management and career planning

• Leads efforts in attracting, training, retaining, growing and recognizing diverse talent

• Manages conflict effectively and encourages a healthy team environment

• Fosters and maintains a collaborative professional working relationship with the project team, including promoting communication and creating approachability

• Takes personal responsibility for fostering a green workplace through sustainable work practices

• Develops budgets and timelines of team projects in collaboration with Chief Marketing Officer

• Responsible for the financial implications of overhead and chargeable time, including accountability to project plan and planned utilization rate

• Collaborates in managing projects to satisfy requirements with best possible ROI and delivering projects on defined budget requirement

• Coaches practice leadership, BD and Marketing to create go-to-market strategies to successfully deliver against the firm's growth and revenue goals

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Advertising, Marketing or related degree

• Typically with 15+ years of progressive marketing leadership experience, ideally in complex matrixed organizations

• Proficiency in MS Office Suite, including Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint preferred

• Prior experience in professional services, architectural or design industries preferred

• Experience leading high-performing B2B marketing teams and building integrated marketing strategies

• Experience working with or managing marketing Centers of Excellence (COEs)

• Strong understanding of market research, competitive intelligence, and performance analytics

• Successful track record with managing a team and performing duties in a fast-paced environment

• Proven ability to work across stakeholder groups, functional areas, geographies, and differing levels of seniority

• Proven record of aligning marketing strategies with business growth and delivering measurable outcomes

• Excellent writing skills with leadership experience in creative direction, storytelling, and visual communication

• Excellent attention to detail and commitment to excellence

• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to interact with all levels of staff and clients; ability to forge trusting relationships within a diverse team

• Strong presentation skills

• Strong organizational skills and the ability to work on multiple projects at the same time

• Ability to partner seamlessly with BD to align marketing activity with client growth

• Ability to manage team with diplomatic and collaborative leadership style which puts value on relationships and collaboration, both internal and external

• Ability to communicate and present ideas in a clear, concise and professional manner both verbally and in writing

• Ability to proactively problem solve and apply innovative solutions

• Ability to collaborate and encourage collaboration in a team environment, and ability to work independently and prioritize work

• Ability to effectively meet deadlines at expected quality

• Travel may be required

If you currently work for HKS, please submit your application via the Internal Careers Portal.

HKS is an EEO/AA Employer: M/F/Disabled/Veteran

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