Director, Brand Strategy

The Director, Brand Strategy is passionate about building an enduring brand. This role will require an insatiably curious, innovative brand strategist who can connect insights to unique brand differentiators. You will proactively guide and manage a team charged with developing and managing brand strategy, brand integration efforts and brand agencies, in collaboration with the broader NorthShore – Edward-Elmhurst Health marketing and communications team and organization.

Reporting to the Vice President, Brand Strategy and Communications this position will collaborate closely with the CMO and senior leaders on the CMO’s direct-report team. Indirect influence of and collaboration with other key organizational leaders is also necessary for success in this position.

This is a highly cross-functional role requiring both strategic and tactical execution. It will require someone who is able balance the science and art of brand strategy, is curious, highly collaborative, and works to be a little better every day.

Must Have the Ability to:

Define an innovative brand approach through unique brand narrative, distinctive partnerships and nimble execution of brand strategy in collaboration with marketing and organizational leaders.

Lead, train and empower an agile, collaborative and highly innovative marketing team to impact brand differentiation with agency, content studio and marketing partners.

Build and nurture relationships with marketing, clinical, operations and executive partners to collaboratively and proactively showcase the leading, community-connected care provided at NorthShore – Edward-Elmhurst Health.

Spearhead and develop comprehensive and integrated plans for both ongoing organization priorities and new initiatives. Problem-solve and possess the leadership skills to work closely with other marketing, medical, operations and executive stakeholders to help guide overall strategic approach and influence patient experience.

• Serve as the lead brand apostle - evolving and evangelizing brand architecture, showcasing with internal and external stakeholders and spearheading new business and brand education efforts.

• Develop a deep comprehension of the customer - use consumer insights to drive brand and campaign strategy; identify areas of opportunity to deepen understanding

• Collaborate with partners - both within marketing and across the organization to evolve strategic brand capabilities through insights, digital platforms and organization innovations.

• Direct a team - highly collaborative, strategic and able to influence the broader organization.

• Proactively steward results – develop and track performance metrics to provide ongoing feedback to stakeholders regarding brand performance. Gauge and proactively address ongoing brand performance needs.

• Anticipate and proactively influence the brand story - advancing the broader consumer voice and narrative into creative, and innovative story telling about the brand. Use digital media to leverage content across channels and platforms.

• Develop and nurture key organization relationships - engage important clinical, business and external insights relationships.

• Manage outside agencies - nurture and guide agency relationships to assure consistently excellent work and results.

• Develop and manage budget for all brand-related activities.

• 8+ years professional experience in insights and marketing

• 3+ years professional experience in building and leading teams

• Exceptional interpersonal and leadership skills

• Demonstrated experience using data to inform decision making & strategy planning

• Proven leadership experience

• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills

• Strong creative skills. Loves trying new approaches, platforms and executions

• Proficiency in guest/patient experience systems

• Ability to masterfully manage multiple projects at the same time in a fast-paced environment

• Experience engaging at an executive level with cross-functional groups

• Experience working with or in support of diverse communities