Senior Vice President, Creative Director of Content

Title: Senior Vice President, Creative Director of Content Location: San Francisco, California, United States

Senior Vice President, Creative Director, Content

The Creative Director, Content is an integral part of Highwire’s leadership team, elevating our content marketing strategies and storytelling quality, fostering integration across departments, and maximizing the client value of content across all marketing channels. We are looking for a special leader that is equal parts right brain and left brain—a strategic thinker and marketer that can inspire unforgettable writing and pixel-perfect visuals.

This role offers an exciting opportunity to shape the future of highwire’s content marketing team, drive integration and make a significant impact on our business growth in categories such as Enterprise Technology, Cybersecurity, Healthcare, Energy and Sustainability and Financial Services. The ideal candidate will be a strategic thinker, a strong leader, and a skilled collaborator who can navigate complex organizational and interpersonal dynamics while delivering exceptional results for our clients.

You will lead a highly-skilled team of content strategists, designers, writers and editors, partnering with our discipline leads across Social Media, Creative, Insights and Analytics to continually find ways to multiply our impact. We will look to you to establish new benchmarks for branded content, developing reach, relevance and engaging both new and existing audiences with high-quality deliverables that meet client needs, demonstrating value and ROI.

Key Responsibilities:

• Content Marketing Leadership:
• Oversee the team responsible for the development and execution of innovative content marketing and editorial strategies that drive growth, engagement and thought leadership for our clients and their executives
• Lead new business and organic growth, with a responsibility and ownership of a new business pipeline, built in partnership with practice leads and in response to standalone content marketing growth opportunities
• Stay abreast of industry trends and best practices to keep our content marketing efforts cutting-edge. These include the impact of AI on content generation, dissemination and consumption.
• Evaluate and build upon existing programs through strategic direction, strategy, and content development. Establish yourself as senior counsel to our most important clients, helping them navigate new challenges and apply content marketing or editorial solutions
• Serve as the ultimate guardian of content quality, ensuring all our deliverables meet the highest standards in both writing and strategy
• Team Management and Development:
• Lead and manage the Editorial and Content Marketing teams (including Writers and Editors), Designers,Producers and Motion Graphics.
• Hold regular one-on-one meetings and execute performance evaluations for direct reports, leveraging individual OKRs and quarterly targets
• Set departmental OKRs in conjunction with the team and agency leadership
• Mentor, coach, and provide feedback for career path development of team members
• Foster a positive, collaborative culture that contributes to job satisfaction for all teams
• In partnership with our Delivery and Operations (project management) teams, ensure effective work distribution, optimized staffing and timely delivery
• Establish and monitor freelance and contractor budgets, ensuring additional capacity is deployed where necessary, and justified against the above
• Client Strategy and Relationship Management:
• Actively consult on cross-channel client storytelling strategies
• Maintain a strong understanding of key clients' businesses, verticals, voice, preferences, and operational nuance
• Oversee high-profile client relationships, ensuring satisfaction and retention
• Identify client growth opportunities and prepare proactive proposals to continually enhance the programs we deliver
• Identify clients at risk of churn and create tailored retention strategies
• Work closely with Account Managers on key client relationship development, satisfaction and retention beyond editorial and content marketing
• Process Improvement and Operational Efficiency:
• In collaboration with our Delivery and Operations teams, design, document, and implement processes that improve internal efficiency, ensure quality and elevate the client experience
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency or reduce costs via process enhancements, technology or staffing optimization
• Develop and deliver team training (both in person and via on-demand materials), ensuring standardization of approach and scalability of delivery
• Ensure that every account is properly resourced for client satisfaction. If this requires additional resource, be prepared to make the business case leveraging your familiarity with standardized metrics: Revenue, capacity and utilization
• Business Development:
• Support business development by contributing to the development of new business pitches, reviewing proposals, and approving new scopes of work (designed in collaboration with our Delivery and Operations teams)
• Establish yourself as a thought leader, and continually contribute to Highwire marketing materials
• Collaborate with business development teams to expand our client base through networking, speaking engagements and acting as an ambassador for the agency
• Cross-Functional Integration:
• Spearhead the integration between Content Marketing, Editorial and the wider agency
• Work particularly closely with our Insights and Analytics teams, leveraging analyst input for more sophisticated, cross-channel content marketing strategies and approaches
• Foster collaboration and knowledge sharing across teams to create more sophisticated understanding and application of our integrated abilities
• Work closely with CRMs, account and practice leads to ensure clients are consistently presented with content solutions which anticipate need, enhance their competitive advantage and deliver tangible, measurable value

Success Factors:

• 15+ years of experience in content marketing, editorial, or related field, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership role
• Proven track record of developing and executing successful and highly creative campaigns
• Strategic thinker with the ability to translate vision into actionable plans
• Strong understanding of the digital marketing landscape, including paid, earned and social media. A background or experience in PR is beneficial.
• Experience managing and mentoring teams of designers, writers, editors, and content marketing strategists
• Strong understanding of technology industry, players, and trends, especially in the B2B or healthcare spaces
• Experience in change management and organizational development
• Expert knowledge of search engine optimization (SEO) and inbound marketing concepts.

Personal Attributes:

• Visionary and personable leader with the ability to inspire and motivate teams and clients alike
• Adaptable and resilient, able to thrive in a fast-paced, changing environment and structure which at times may seem ambiguous, even if our ambitions and aspirations are not
• Collaborative mindset with strong interpersonal skills
• Results-oriented with a focus on driving growth and innovation
• Excellent problem-solving and decision-making abilities
• Capable and confident in performing phone or video calls on behalf of the company and at short notice

The salary range for this position is $195,000 to $249,000, with the final offer based on a combination of factors, including education, relevant experience, skills, prior training, internal equity, and local geographic market data. This role also includes a competitive benefits package with medical, dental, and vision coverage, 401(k) matching, generous paid time off, and additional perks designed to support your overall well-being and growth. #LI-Hybrid