EVP - Head of Digital

Edelman is a voice synonymous with trust, reimagining a future where the currency of communication is action. Our culture thrives on three promises: boldness is possibility, empathy is progress, and curiosity is momentum. 

At Edelman, we understand diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) transform our colleagues, our company, our clients, and our communities. We are in relentless pursuit of an equitable and inspiring workplace that is respectful of all, reflects and represents the world in which we live, and fosters trust, collaboration and belonging.

Edelman is in search of a daring, transformative digital leader accountable for creating, driving, and implementing profound transformation and best-in-class digital work for our clients. This leader will have oversight of our digital capabilities across Canada, including digital strategy, advisory, technology, experience design, and social storytelling, and will be responsible for driving culture, sourcing the best talent, and ultimately, growing revenue at a more rapid pace.

Edelman is a global communications firm built for a digital world. With the benefit of over 70 years of building trust and earning attention through communications, our digital teams help clients create direct and impactful audience connections and tell magnetic stories that move at the speed of social, transform culture, and spark movements. 

The digital team integrates with every practice and sector to ensure that the digital mindset, strategy, and innovative practices are woven through the fabric of everything we do and offer our clients. The Head of Digital facilitates constant expansion opportunities, advances internal initiatives in close collaboration with other agency leaders, and creates unique and compelling thought leadership to ensure Edelman stands out and provides the highest quality of work. 

The role of the Head of Digital is to drive the growth and evolution of Edelman’s digital strategy, priorities, integration and capability across the firm. This is always done in partnership with practices, sectors, clients and integrated solutions, and with purpose-built applications across the region and individual markets

Our ideal candidate:

• A collaborative leader who will drive business development through the Edelman Canada and global networks; growing talent and expertise, building new relationships and securing new revenue streams through solutions and IP development
• A digital expert who will lead a cross-discipline and cross-office team, and establish a common vision to inspire innovative and thoughtful digital work
• A visionary in the digital marketing space who knows how to demonstrate the value of integrated marketing to our clients as well as internal stakeholders
• A recognized and highly respected digital expert who understands the rapidly changing digital landscape, including platforms, technology and innovation 
• An expert in the latest digital content formats and best practices to translate content strategies effectively within the digital ecosystem and make certain that assets developed by creative are designed to perform, particularly for social media 
• A leader who is knowledgeable about the markets, sectors and channels in which our clients operate; shepherds a comprehensive channel strategy to tell clients’ stories via earned, owned, social and paid 
• A partner who will serve as the client’s chief digital advocate and ensures broad understanding of the client’s business, goals and point of view 
• A mentor who will motivate, coach, provide feedback and accountability 
• An entrepreneur capable of functioning comfortably within a complex, matrixed organization

Key Responsibilities:

• Clearly articulate and execute regional digital strategy, approach and deliverables, with timelines and success factors 
• Oversee digital operations to ensure healthy top line growth and profitability, achieving consolidated growth in our Digital capability across the network 
• Develop, maintain and deploy unique and differentiated strategic digital offerings and solutions for clients 
• Engage as a trusted advisor with key clients, serving as primary senior strategic advisor on client work and primary moderator in client/prospect conflict resolution 
• Drive innovative capability growth and revenue growth strategies across a range of integrated solutions, practices, sectors and large clients 
• Collaborate with senior leadership across functions in developing business opportunities and operationalizing programs for clients 
• Work with digital leaders to manage ongoing transformation, investment and business strategy to drive full suite of digital offerings 
• Work with digital leaders to create a network which fosters collaboration and cohesion across the firm
• Champion diversity and continually map talent and manage succession planning to ensure continuity of bench strength in strategic priority markets
• Recruit, select, and retain top talent; serving as a highly effective coach and manager to guide/develop direct and indirect reports 
• Drive IP, education and innovative best practices across the agency that support clients and unlock growth 
• Maintain a high industry profile, bolstering Edelman’s Digital communications reputation through thought leadership, cultivating a network of contacts, attending industry events and leveraging this for business development 
• Lead and support new business efforts including prospecting, proposal writing and pitching 

Qualifications:

• Candidate should have 12+ years of agency experience in digital, advertising or an integrated agency with at least 5 years in a digital leadership role with a minimum of 6 years of team leadership experience 
• Proven track record of building and growing revenue 
• Inspiring team leader who is collaborative, energized, and excited about the team’s growth and success 
• Ability to navigate and collaborate a complex internal ecosystem 
• Experience managing P&L; driving organic and incremental growth, profitably 
• Maintain A+ client relationships with complex global companies and brands across industries, including CPG, corporate reputation and healthcare 
• Demonstrated track record of developing and executing successful social media marketing and communications programs; paid, organic, SEO/SEM activation; analytic benchmarks 
• Unmatched energy and competitive spirit &a tireless desire to win 

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We are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t perfectly align with every qualification, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.