Social Strategy Director (Mat Cover - 13 months) at 1000heads

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

28 Sep, 26

Salary

0.0

Posted On

30 Jun, 26

Experience

10 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Social Strategy, Team Management, Communications Planning, Insight Generation, Stakeholder Management, Social Listening, Audience Analysis, Measurement Frameworks, Strategic Storytelling, Workshop Facilitation, Paid Media Planning, Resource Allocation, New Business Development, Digital Ecosystems, KPI Definition, Cultural Analysis

Industry

Advertising Services

Description

STRATEGY, DATA & SOCIAL TEAM AT 1000HEADS The Strategy, Data & Social team at 1000heads answers critical questions that begin with WHY, are validated by WHAT the data tells us, and are delivered through HOW brands show up on social. If you are curious by nature, driven to uncover meaningful insights, enjoy connecting data with creativity, and thrive on turning complexity into clear, engaging direction, you'll fit right in. The team is embedded within account teams across the agency, ensuring strategy, insight, and social expertise are applied at every key stage of the work, including: Strategic content, media, and campaign planning Audience definition, segmentation, and targeting Insight generation and data analysis to inform ideation Trend analysis, social listening, and cultural understanding Platform, channel, and social editorial expertise Client workshops, strategic frameworks, and alignment sessions KPI definition, measurement frameworks, and success metrics Paid media planning, activation, and optimisation Post-campaign evaluation, learning, and optimisation In addition to integrated account support, the team delivers bespoke strategic engagements designed to help clients better understand their audience, brand, category, and social performance, combining strategic thinking, data-driven insight, and social-first expertise to drive stronger business outcomes. SUMMARY OF THE ROLE WE’RE LOOKING TO FILL AT 1000HEADS APAC 1000heads APAC is looking for an experienced Social Strategy Director to lead our Strategy, Data & Social function across the region during a 13-month maternity leave cover period. This role acts as the strategic lead for the agency, overseeing a team of Social Strategists and Social Creative Specialists while serving as the senior strategic advisor to both clients and internal teams. You will be responsible for shaping the strategic direction of the agency's work, ensuring excellence across all strategic output, and driving the integration of social-first thinking throughout client engagements. You will lead the development of innovative strategies, frameworks, and approaches that help clients navigate an increasingly complex social landscape. As department lead, you'll oversee team development, resource planning, capability growth, and ways of working. You'll partner closely with Client Services, Creative, Media and Leadership teams to ensure strategy is embedded across the agency and consistently delivers commercial value. Beyond client work, you'll play a critical role in the future growth of the business, contributing to new business opportunities, thought leadership, product development, and agency positioning. You will be a trusted strategic voice within the leadership team, helping steer agency direction and identify opportunities for growth and innovation. This role offers the opportunity to shape the future of social strategy at 1000heads APAC while leading strategic partnerships with some of the world's most recognised brands. RESPONSIBILITIES Department leadership & team management Lead and manage the Strategy, Data & Social team across APAC Set strategic standards, methodologies, and best practices across the department Oversee workload management, team utilisation, and resource allocation Mentor and develop strategists and social creative specialists, supporting career growth and capability development Foster a culture of curiosity, collaboration, innovation, and continuous learning Drive recruitment (if needed), onboarding, and succession planning where required Champion strategic excellence and ensure quality control across all outputs Strategic leadership Act as the agency's senior strategic authority and trusted advisor Lead the development of complex social-first strategies, communications frameworks, and audience approaches Guide strategic thinking across integrated campaigns, always-on social programs, and bespoke consultancy projects Ensure all strategic recommendations are grounded in insight, audience understanding, cultural relevance, and measurable business outcomes Lead workshops, stakeholder alignment sessions, and strategic planning engagements Client leadership & strategic counsel Build trusted relationships with senior client stakeholders Act as executive strategic lead across key agency accounts Present strategic recommendations and thought leadership to C-suite and senior decision makers Provide proactive strategic guidance that helps clients solve business challenges through social and digital channels Identify opportunities to expand strategic scope and deepen client partnerships Research, insights & measurement Oversee the development of insight led strategies informed by social listening, research, audience analysis, and performance data Ensure robust measurement frameworks are in place across all client programmes Drive innovation in reporting, insight generation, and strategic effectiveness measurement Champion the use of data and evidence based decision making throughout the agency Stay ahead of platform evolution, consumer behaviour shifts, and emerging trends New business & agency growth Play a leadership role in agency new business efforts Lead strategic responses to RFPs, pitches, and growth opportunities Develop compelling strategic narratives and agency propositions Identify emerging market opportunities and areas for service expansion Contribute to agency thought leadership, marketing initiatives, and industry visibility Partner with leadership to help shape the future direction of the business Cross functional leadership Partner closely with Client Services, Creative, and Production teams Ensure strategic alignment across all client work and agency initiatives Support integrated planning and collaboration across disciplines Advocate for social-first thinking throughout the agency Act as a key member of the APAC leadership team Your first priority will be to do your job to the best of your abilities. Your second priority will be to help those around you to do their job to the best of their abilities. This job description is not intended to cover everything that will be expected of you but rather to act as a guide and you may be required to get involved in other and reasonable ad hoc projects. 10+ years experience in social strategy, communications planning, and insight-led consulting roles Proven experience leading high-performing teams Strong commercial acumen and experience contributing to business growth Demonstrated success leading major client relationships and influencing senior stakeholders Deep expertise across social platforms, audience behaviour, culture, and digital ecosystems Exceptional strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities Outstanding storytelling, presentation, and workshop facilitation skills Strong understanding of research methodologies, social listening, audience analysis, and measurement frameworks Experience developing agency-wide strategic frameworks, products, or methodologies Ability to balance strategic leadership, people management, and commercial priorities Confidence operating at both a high-level business perspective and detailed strategic execution level Experience working within agency environments across multiple clients and industries Passion for mentoring and developing talent About 1000HEADS 1000heads combines expertise in data & analytics, strategy, technology and creativity to help the world’s best businesses build Social Age brands. 1000heads provides a fully integrated, end-to-end Social Transformation™ proposition to blue-chip clients encompassing data & analytics, strategy and implementation. 1000heads has a global footprint, employing over 200 people across 12 offices in London, New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago, Bogota, Sydney, Melbourne, Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo, Paris and Berlin. 1000heads’ clients include Alphabet, Keurig, The North Face, San Pellegrino, Amazon, Cisco, and Diageo. 1000heads is an Equal Opportunities Employer, we are passionately committed to working together to promote an inclusive environment which celebrates and promotes diversity. We are committed to our belief that diversity in our team generates better and bolder ideas, creativity, understanding and respect. We welcome applicants irrespective of age, sex, race, ethnicity, disability and other factors that have no bearing on an individual’s ability to perform their job. For more information on 1000heads, visit 1000heads.com.

Responsibilities

Lead the Strategy, Data & Social function across APAC, overseeing a team of strategists and creative specialists. Act as the senior strategic advisor for clients and internal teams to drive social-first thinking and business growth.