Strategy Managing Partner, Carat (Mat cover)

Job Description:

Dentsu is an integrated growth and transformation partner to the world's leading organizations. Founded in 1901 in Tokyo, Japan, and now present in over 145 countries and regions, it has a proven track record of nurturing and developing innovations, combining the talents of its global network of leadership brands to develop impactful and integrated growth solutions for clients. Dentsu delivers end-to-end experience transformation (EX) by integrating its services across Media, CXM and Creative, while its business transformation (BX) mindset pushes the boundaries of transformation and sustainable growth for brands, people and society.

Carat is an award-winning media agency that uses its peerless understanding of the passions, motivations, and behaviours of real people to bring brands and their customers together. It is part of dentsu - a close-knit collection of companies, and an integrated growth and transformation partner to many of the world's leading organizations.

Purpose of the Role

We are looking for a talented Strategy Managing Partner to join our team on a 12-month maternity cover. This is a senior-level position reporting directly to the Head of Strategy. We need someone who thrives on shaping compelling strategic thinking across high-profile clients and new business opportunities.

This role sits within our UK agency and can be based in either Edinburgh or London, with occasional travel to other locations.

Key Responsibilities

• Partner with client leads to shape transformative communications and media strategies that accelerate business growth.
• Unite cross-functional teams behind a powerful, integrated strategic vision that drives client ambition across the full customer journey.
• Steer the strategic direction of new business pitches - crafting persuasive narratives, defining standout strategies, and confidently bringing them to life in pitch presentations.
• Beyond client work, spark bold and influential agency thought leadership that challenges convention and leads industry conversation.

Qualifications + Skills

• Substantial experience in a senior strategy role within a media agency, with a strong track record of delivering strategic excellence and real-world impact.
• A strategic thinker rooted in human insight - empathetic, inquisitive, and skilled at extracting actionable intelligence from cultural trends, search, panel data, qual and first-party data.
• A creative mind with a history of delivering innovative, attention-grabbing work that breaks through the noise and differentiates brands.
• Fluent in the languages of both brand and performance. While not necessarily a technical expert, you're media-savvy, imaginative, and comfortable collaborating across disciplines.
• A natural communicator and people person - able to bring teams together, influence senior stakeholders, and energise and uplift those around you. Skilled at cutting through complexity to drive clarity and action.

What we offer

• This is a 12-month Fixed Term Maternity Cover contract
• The position can be based in either Edinburgh or London (and might involve some travel to the other location) but also operates under flexible working arrangements.
• As well as a competitive salary, you'll enjoy a benefits package that you can tailor to your needs.

Inclusion and Diversity

Our diverse and inclusive culture enables our employees to bring their best selves to work and be proud of doing so. For us, this is the foundation for great innovation which, in turn, generates better outcomes for our people, partners and communities. This is why we encourage applications from people with disabilities, and of all ages, nationalities, backgrounds and cultures.

We are happy to discuss flexible and agile approaches to working for all our roles - we can't promise we will be able to offer you everything you want or need but we do promise to discuss it with you openly and honestly. If you have any reasonable adjustment needs arising from a disability or medical condition to fully participate in the recruitment process, please discuss this with our recruitment teams.

#LI-Hybrid #LI-CARAT

Location:
London

Brand:
Carat

Time Type:
Full time

Contract Type:
Fixed Term Contract (Fixed Term)