Vice President, Strategy

Unlock Health•Chicago, IL

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Vice President of Strategy sets the standard for strategic quality and leads a portfolio of clients toward rigorous, differentiated work designed to drive impact. The role centers on uncovering the human problem behind business challenges, identifying emotional, behavioral, and cultural insights, and translating those insights into meaningful strategies and effective creative work. The VP serves as a trusted advisor to senior client leaders, guiding teams through complexity, challenging assumptions, and identifying opportunities for growth. Internally, the VP is a leading voice for strategic excellence, raising the quality of thinking, strengthening methodologies and processes, and inspiring teams to develop ambitious, insight-driven solutions. The role connects business challenges to human insight, shapes compelling strategic narratives, and ensures work is effective and meaningful. The position operates under a hybrid work model from the Nashville or Chicago office, combining regular in-office presence with remote work. Schedules may vary by team and are aligned with manager expectations and organizational needs. Unlock Health is a full-service marketing communications agency grounded in technology and focused on healthcare, integrated with a managed care consultancy with revenue strategy expertise. The company brings together healthcare firms to align brand, marketing, technology, and revenue strategy, helping healthcare organizations attract and retain patients, grow brand equity, and protect margins. Its work includes patient acquisition, brand building, simplifying marketing technology ecosystems, and creating digital experiences, grounded in clarity, authenticity, and an understanding of what moves healthcare forward. Unlock and its affiliates are equal opportunity employers committed to an inclusive and diverse workforce.

Requirements

10–15 years of experience in strategy, consulting, or healthcare planning, with a track record of leading complex, high-impact work.
Agency experience and a strong understanding of operating and leading in a fast-paced, client-driven environment.
Proven ability to shape strategic thinking at the highest level, bring clarity to ambiguity, and influence senior stakeholders.
Executive presence and strong communication skills, with the ability to build trust quickly.
Exceptional storytelling and narrative development skills to shape compelling strategic stories that inspire teams, clients, and creative work.
Expertise leading high-impact workshops and facilitating strategic conversations across diverse audiences and organizational levels.
Strong cross-functional relationship-building skills and ability to create trust and alignment across strategy, creative, media, analytics, client experience, and leadership teams.
Demonstrated ability to mentor, develop, and elevate strategic talent.

Responsibilities

Own and drive understanding of high-value client business problems and develop insight-driven, effective, creative solutions.
Identify the human problem behind business challenges and translate audience insight into strategic opportunity and creative direction.
Lead strategy across multiple clients or a portfolio of accounts, setting direction and ensuring consistency and quality.
Serve as the primary strategic advisor to senior client stakeholders, building credibility through expertise and perspective.
Partner closely with creative teams to bring strategy to life and develop bold, differentiated, effective work.
Lead high-impact workshops, working sessions, and presentations across client organizations to align teams and drive decisions.
Mentor and develop strategists, senior strategists, and directors, strengthening talent and overall capability.
Set and uphold high standards for strategic output, quality, consistency, innovation, and measurable results.
Integrate and inspire across disciplines, drawing on fluency in media, analytics, and creative to ensure connected solutions.
Participate in pitches and new business efforts, shaping the strategic narrative and approach.
Shape methodologies, processes, and strategic approaches to evolve how the organization works.
Foster a culture of curiosity, creativity, discipline, and generosity, raising the level of thinking across the organization.
Use emotional intelligence to challenge and align teams and clients, advancing ambitious thinking and moving work forward.
Elevate strategic thinking across the organization and help others build stronger problem-solving skills and sharper perspectives.