Job Description

Critical Mass is looking for an exceptional VP, Strategy to lead strategic initiatives across a dynamic portfolio of premium brands and accounts spanning performance marketing, brand building, and customer experience domains. In this role, you'll operate at a high level across both brand and performance disciplines driving strategic excellence. This is an opportunity to work with some of the world's most recognizable brands, engage with clients, think strategically across channels, and build strong collaborative relationships.

Please note- this role is open to New York only and remote work is not an option.

You Will:

• Develop and articulate compelling strategic recommendations grounded in data and insights, ensuring these recommendations and address client business objectives across paid media, brand positioning, and customer engagement
• Partner with senior clients, serving as a trusted strategic advisor and able to confidently engage in robust discussions and defend strategic rationale
• Collaborate with media teams, creative partners, and account management to ensure integrated strategy execution and alignment across all disciplines

You Have:

• Proven strategic experience at a VP or Group Director level in advertising or marketing agency setting, or related field
• Proven success managing complex, high-stakes client relationships with senior stakeholders
• Strong experience with performance media platforms, DSPs, and data-driven marketing strategy
• Deep capability in both performance marketing strategy and brand strategy; ability to balance short-term performance needs with long-term brand equity
• Strong ability to articulate strategy clearly, defend recommendations with compelling rationale, and guide clients toward optimal solutions
• Experience working effectively with media, creative, and account teams in an IAT environment and the ability to align disciplines around shared strategic objectives
• Comfort operating across different client types, business models, and strategic challenges
• Ability to synthesize complex information and develop clear, actionable strategic recommendations
• Comfort moving between big-picture strategy and tactical execution
• Problem-solving mindset and intellectual rigor

Nice to Have:

• Experience with premium/luxury brands and/or performance-critical accounts
• Background with large multinational brands
• Media planning or buying experience

What We Offer:

• Global maternity and parental leave
• Competitive benefits packages
• Vacation, Flex days, and sick days
• Access to online services for families and new parents
• Summer Fridays (off at 3:00 PM local time every Friday)
• 12 Affinity Groups
• Internal learning and development programs
• Enterprise-wide employee discounts

Our new hires & employees are the future of our organization, and we want to set you up for long-term success. In an effort to do so, we expect our team to work in the Calgary office for a minimum of 3 days a week.

We continually review ranges to address skills, experience and markets. Base salaries are determined during our interview process, by assessing a number of factors that include, but aren’t limited to, a candidate’s experience and skills relative to the scope and responsibilities of the position. For current CM employees, tenure will also be a consideration.Salary Range $210,000—$240,000 USD

Critical Mass is an equal opportunity employer.

Critical Mass uses artificial intelligence in our recruitment process to enhance job postings, filter keywords during the review of prospective candidates, and, in some cases, transcribe interviews with our recruiters. Human review remains central to the process, and all hiring decisions are ultimately made by our team.

The Critical Mass Talent Acquisition team will only communicate from email addresses that use the URLs criticalmass.com, omc.comand us.greenhouse-mail.io We will not use apps such as Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, or Google Hangouts for communicating with you. We will never ask you to send us money, technology, or anything else to work for our company. If you believe you are the victim of a scam, please review your local government consumer protections guidance and reach out to them directly.

If U.S. based: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/job-scams#avoid
If Canada based: https://www.canada.ca/en/services/finance/consumer-affairs.html
If U.K. based: https://www.gov.uk/consumer-protection-rights
If Costa Rica based: https://www.consumo.go.cr/educacion_consumidor/consejos_practicos.aspx