VP Social Strategy and Planning | Advertising | PR | Event Management

A recruiter is seeking a VP Social Strategy and Planning.

Position Overview:

As the VP Social and Planning for [MEA], you represent the Regional VP role by leading and directing the Social and Planning Capability within the market. This role involves managing local social media strategies and projects, ensuring they align with regional standards and practices from inception to completion. You will act as a strategic leader and a hands-on manager to maintain and grow our client relationships and social business in the market. You report directly to the Regional Managing Director – MEA within market and to the VP – Head of Social EMEA from a regional capability leadership, emphasising your strategic importance in aligning local operations with regional objectives.

Key Responsibilities

Local/Global Leadership and Strategic Alignment

• Represent the VP Social and Planning within the market.
• Ensure local social media strategies and operations align with regional goals and best practices.
• Forge strategic partnerships with regional hubs and leaders, integrating local initiatives with broader regional objectives while influencing leadership within the region and beyond.
• Maintain a close relationship with the Regional MD MEA and Head of Social EMEA to ensure strategic and operational alignment.
  
  
  

Market-Specific Strategy and Development

• Develop and implement market-specific social media and digital content strategies tailored to local client needs and the business environment.
• Identify and pursue new business opportunities within the market, adapting pitches and strategies to the local cultural and business context.
• Stay abreast of emerging social media trends and platforms relevant to the Middle East market (with a focus on KSA).
  
  
  

Client Relationship Management

• Serve as the primary social media consultant and point of contact for clients in the market, driving innovation in the social space.
• Build strong relationships with key clients, ensuring satisfaction and addressing specific needs and challenges.
• Proactively identify opportunities to expand client engagements and deliver additional value.
  
  
  

Project Management and Execution

• Oversee social media projects from inception to completion, ensuring they meet local and regional quality standards and are delivered on time and within budget.
• Monitor and optimise ongoing strategies to enhance performance and client satisfaction.
• Work with the Regional Head of Delivery to Implement effective project management methodologies and tools to ensure efficient workflow and collaboration.
• Ensuring excellence is at the centre of the output across the teams not only in the delivery to clients but also from a commercial standpoint across the social clients within the local portfolio.Team Management & Mentorship
• Lead and inspire a local team of social media professionals, fostering a collaborative, positive, and high-performing work environment.
• Provide mentorship and guidance to team members, supporting their professional development and growth.
• Engage the wider teams to create a community of sharing across disciplines to enhance workstreams, ideation and outputs.
• Business DevelopmentContribute to new business development efforts by collaborating with the Social Media category team and other internal stakeholders.Identify and develop innovative outbound strategies to attract new clients.
• Participate in client pitches and presentations, showcasing the agency’s social media expertise and capabilities.
  
  
  

Background & Skills

• Have 10+ years of experience in social media, digital marketing, or a related field and a proven track record in leadership and client management.
• Deep understanding of the MEA market’s social media and digital marketing landscape.
• Strong strategic thinking and planning skills with the ability to translate strategies into actionable plans.
• Excellent relationship-building and communication skills, with the ability to effectively interact with clients, internal teams, and stakeholders at all levels.
  
  
  

Requirements

• Proven experience in leading and managing high-performing teams.
• While the role is currently based in the UAE, frequent travel to KSA will be required with the potential of relocating.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data and derive actionable insights.
• Expertise in major social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, TikTok, Snapchat, etc.), including their algorithms, features, and trends.
• Excellent presentation and communication skills.
• Fluency in English and Arabic the predominant language(s) of the MEA market.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• A proactive approach to problem-solving and the ability to adapt to changing situations.
• Passion for social media and a desire to stay ahead of the curve in this dynamic field.
  
  
  

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