Agency:
BBDO
Job Function:
Communications and PR
Job Subfunction:
Communications
Job Description:
OVERVIEW
Before we begin, a quick observation. You're reading a job description. Most people skim job descriptions. Some people stop reading after the title.
A few people make it this far.
Which means this page has the same challenge every piece of communication has:
How do you earn attention?
How do you keep it?
How do you make someone care enough to take action?
That's a Comms Strategy problem. And if you're excited by that problem, keep reading.
THINGS WE BELIEVE
BBDO exists to do big things. For clients and creativity. Comms Strategy at BBDO exists because doing big things requires more than a great brief and a great idea. It requires understanding how ideas gain momentum and move through the real world. Through culture. Through communities. Through channels.
That's where we come in.
We sit between brand planning and media planning. Between creative ambition and business reality.
We answer questions like:
Why would anyone care?
Where does this idea have the most energy?
How does it earn attention instead of demanding it?
How does it become bigger than advertising?
How do we create two-way conversation with our audience?
Our discipline is simple: We shape how big ideas move through the world.
THINGS YOU’LL DO
We're looking for a Comms Strategy Director. Someone who understands that the way an idea enters culture is just as important as the idea itself. You'll lead communications strategy across major accounts and help shape everything from campaign architecture to tactical brief writing.
Some days you'll be helping define the behavior a brand needs to change. Some days you'll be helping a creative team make an idea bigger. Some days you'll be helping a client find the confidence to buy brave work.
Most days you'll be doing all three.
HOW WE SEE THE ROLE
Making the work impossible to ignore You'll lead communications strategy across key accounts.
You'll help define big jobs to be done, identify opportunities, map journeys, build communications frameworks, and create go-to-market programs that maximize the impact of creative ideas.
You'll partner with creatives from the earliest stages of development. Your fingerprints should be visible in the work.
Growing the discipline Comms Strategy at BBDO is still being built. Which means every Director has a responsibility to leave the department stronger than they found it.
You'll mentor junior strategists, develop thought leadership, refine how we work, uncover new opportunities for Comms Strategy across the agency, and shape where the discipline goes next.
Helping us win You'll play a key role in new business efforts, bringing fresh thinking to pitches, helping shape the communications opportunity, and turning complex challenges into clear, inspiring narratives.
THINGS WE ARE LOOKING FOR
You think in people, not channels. You understand what motivates people, what stands in their way, and what will move them to act before thinking about channels, formats, or tactics.
You can zoom in and zoom out. One moment you're debating a business challenge with a brand strategy lead. The next, you're diving into creator selection, earned media extensions, TikTok mechanics, or OOH best practices. You enjoy both.
You care about the work. A lot. You don't disappear after your section of the deck is finished. You stay involved. You keep pushing. You help make the work better.
You know how to make brave ideas feel safe. Not by watering them down. By giving them strategic proof. You help clients understand why an idea works, not just why it's exciting.
You make people around you better. You mentor. You teach. You collaborate. You share credit. You leave rooms smarter than you found them.
In-Office Policy:
At BBDO Chicago, we believe being together in person enhances our ability to collaborate, communicate, and innovate. Currently, BBDO Chicago’s in-office policy requires employees to work in the office on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, with the flexibility to work from home on Monday and Friday.
Benefits:
BBDO Chicago offers a competitive compensation package, with benefits including:
Comprehensive Health & Wellness benefits
Leadership Benefits
Paid Time Off
401K Retirement Savings Plan
Paid Parental Leave
The salary range for this position is $125,000 to $150,000 annually. Actual salaries will vary and be based on various factors including but not limited to budgetary and market considerations, as well as an applicant's experience, pertinent/specialty experience, qualifications, and tenure in role/similar role.
This job description is not an exhaustive list of all functions that an employee may be required to perform, and the employee may be required to perform additional functions, reserving the right to revise the job description at any time.
It is the policy of BBDO Chicago and any of its affiliates to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, religion, color, ethnic origin, gender, gender identity, age, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, disability, or any other basis prohibited by applicable federal, state, or local law. EOE/AA/M/D/V/F.
Omnicom’s policy requires employees to work in the office for a minimum of three days a week, unless additional in-office days are directed by their agency or manager. Our objective is to increase this requirement over time, and many of our agencies as well as Omnicom’s corporate group already require five days of in-office attendance.
Omnicom is committed to hiring and developing exceptional talent. We agree that talent is uniquely distributed, and we’re focused on developing inclusive teams that can bring the best solutions to everything we do. We strongly believe that celebrating what makes us different makes us better together. Join us—we look forward to getting to know you. We will process your personal data in accordance with our Recruitment Privacy Notice.
Link to Recruitment Privacy Notice:
https://www.omc.com/privacy-notice
For US Job Seekers:
It is the policy of Omnicom and any of its affiliates to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, religion, color, ethnic origin, gender, gender identity, age, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, disability, or any other basis prohibited by applicable federal, state, or local law. EOE/AA/M/D/V/F.