VP, Social Innovation

Barkley•Chicago, IL

About The Position

This is a senior executive leadership position at MissionOne Media, part of BarkleyOKRP. As the Vice President of Social Strategy & Innovation, you will be the primary architect responsible for defining and driving the overall vision, strategy, and operational evolution of the agency’s social media innovation practice. This role requires a transformational leader who can identify high-impact, first-to-market opportunities and translate them into scalable revenue streams. Positioned adjacent to the Planning team, you will serve as the agency’s senior strategic anchor for social innovation and the primary bridge between Creative and Social Media disciplines. This requires masterful collaboration with the Omni-Channel Activation team to ensure that visionary concepts are technically feasible and flawlessly executed. You will be a key voice in the agency’s strategic leadership, accountable for MissionOne Media's competitive positioning in the social landscape. Here’s what it takes to be successful in the role: Strategic Architect & Industry Visionary: You possess an unrivaled understanding of the global social ecosystem. You don't just follow trends; you anticipate them, architecting long-term social roadmaps that provide our clients with a distinct competitive advantage through platform, creative, and media innovation. Creative & Media Convergence Architect: You excel at bridging the gap between storytelling and technical execution. You can serve as a translator between Creative teams and Media Activation, ensuring "Social-First" creative is designed for platform algorithms and media strategies are built to amplify high-impact content. Executive-Level Collaboration & Feasibility: You are a seasoned expert at bridging the gap between high-level strategy and technical reality. You work in lockstep with the VP, Omni-Channel Activation to ensure all innovation initiatives are grounded in operational feasibility and are ready for performance-driven execution. Planning Integration & Creative Catalyst: You are a strategic powerhouse who partners with Planning leadership to weave sophisticated social strategies into the fabric of integrated media plans. You push the boundaries of creative-media integration, specifically identifying "big picture" opportunities that drive significant client business results. Master Communicator & Influence Leader: You have an exceptional executive presence. You are a masterful storyteller who can simplify complex innovation theses for C-suite clients and agency stakeholders, securing buy-in for transformative social investments.

Requirements

Minimum 10 years of extensive experience in Social Media, Digital Strategy, or Integrated Planning, with a specific, proven track record of architecting innovation at an agency level.
Proven track record of bridging the gap between Creative and Media, with experience influencing social-first creative development.
Deep, authoritative expertise in the Paid Social ecosystem and a sophisticated understanding of its intersection with Programmatic media and data activation.
Proven track record of building and scaling new service offerings or strategic practices within a high-performance agency environment.
Exceptional negotiation and relationship-building skills with senior leaders at major social platform partners.
Outstanding executive presence, with the ability to influence C-level stakeholders and navigate complex organizational dynamics.
Strategic thinker with a data-driven approach, capable of bridging the gap between visionary strategy and performance-driven activation.
Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Communications, or a related field.

Responsibilities

Architect the overarching strategic vision for the Social Strategy & Innovation practice, ensuring MissionOne Media remains at the absolute cutting edge of the industry.
Act as the primary strategic bridge between Creative and Media, collaborating with creative directors and content creators to ensure social assets are platform-optimized and media-ready.
Own and drive executive-level partnerships with major social platforms (Meta, TikTok, Pinterest, etc.), securing "first-look" access to proprietary betas and first-to-market ad products.
Lead agency-wide transformation by identifying, vetting, and operationalizing emerging social technologies (e.g., AI-driven creative, social commerce, and advanced data linkages).
Serve as the Senior Strategic Lead in high-stakes client meetings and presentations, articulating the value of social innovation as a driver of performance and brand growth.
Directly collaborate with the Paid Social Activation team to design rigorous testing frameworks and pilot programs, ensuring a seamless transition from "big idea" to "flawless execution."
Partner with Planning leadership to integrate social-first creative strategies into integrated media roadmaps, ensuring creative and media are working in total lockstep.
Drive new business development initiatives, serving as the senior social strategist in major pitches and demonstrating the agency's superiority in social innovation and activation.
Develop and publish industry-defining thought leadership (white papers, executive briefings, speaking engagements) that positions the agency as a dominant force in the social space.
Collaborate with Analytics and Activation leadership to architect proprietary measurement models for non-traditional social engagements and innovation pilots.
Manage the strategic roadmap for technology and data investments related to social innovation, ensuring resources are aligned with future client needs.
Foster a culture of curiosity and excellence, mentoring talent across the agency to elevate their understanding of the evolving social and creative-media landscape.