Strategy Director, MEA

Role Overview

Strategy Director, MEA at Monks. The role is based in the MEA region and reports to senior leadership, shaping strategic direction for the company's most ambitious client relationships across the market.

Company Overview

Monks is the global, digital-first, data-driven, unitary operating brand of S4 Capital plc. The company combines an extraordinary range of global Marketing and Technology Services to redefine how brands interact with the world. Through Monks.Flow, its flagship AI ecosystem for marketing orchestration, Monks transforms marketing into a growth engine, collapsing timelines and connecting brands to culture in real time. Monks was named a Contender in The Forrester Wave™: Global Marketing Services, ranks among Cannes Lions' Top 10 Creative Companies (2022-25), and remains the only partner featured in AdExchanger's Programmatic Power Players list every year (2020-24). Monks was named Adweek's first AI Agency of the Year (2023) and The One Show's inaugural AI Pioneer Organization. The company was awarded Business Intelligence Group's 2025 Excellence in Artificial Intelligence Award in both the Organizational and AI Product categories. Monks earned titles including Optimizely Experimentation Partner of the Year (2025), runner-up for the Adobe Firefly Partner Award (2024), and Workato's AI Visionary Customer Impact Award (2024). Monks achieved a record-breaking number of FWAs and continues to hold the most of any partner.

Role Purpose

Shape and lead strategic thinking behind ambitious client relationships across the MEA region, bridging always-on, culturally fluent social media strategy with deep digital brand transformation. Act as the strategic backbone across cross-functional teams and serve as a trusted advisor to senior executive clients.

Key Responsibilities

Strategy Development

• Develop end-to-end social media strategies, channel-specific frameworks, content pillars, and influencer partnerships tailored to MEA platform landscapes.
• Lead brand positioning, architecture, and digital transformation engagements to help clients adapt from legacy models into digital-first market leaders.
• Translate audience research, social listening data, and market diagnostics into sharp, actionable strategic frameworks and white-space opportunities.
• Define social KPIs, paid strategy alignments, and measurement frameworks to convert performance insights into actionable creative recommendations.

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Partner with creative, media, data, UX, and technology leads to embed strategic narratives into executable campaigns and digital product experiences.
• Facilitate strategic workshops and presentations with senior C-suite client stakeholders to align on transformation roadmaps and go-to-market strategies.

Team Development & Business Growth

• Collaborate with new business teams on pitch narratives while mentoring and growing regional strategists.

Qualifications & Experience

• 10+ years of experience in brand or communications strategy, including 5+ years in a senior strategic leadership role at an agency, consultancy, or in-house function.
• Dual track record leading both social-first campaign strategy and large-scale brand transformation or repositioning projects.
• Strong regional expertise across MEA markets, with deep cultural fluency in local nuances, platform algorithms (Meta, TikTok, X, Snapchat, YouTube), and creator strategies.

Skills & Competencies

• Proficiency with social listening and analytics tools (e.g., Sprinklr, Brandwatch, Talkwalker) to drive data-informed decision-making.
• Exceptional presentation and storytelling skills, with proven confidence defending strategic recommendations to senior leadership, CMOs, and boards.
• Professional fluency in both English and Arabic.

Additional Information

Preferred Experience

• Experience integrating brand strategy into e-commerce, CRM, or digital product lifecycle touchpoints.
• Hands-on exposure to AI-driven social listening tools or automated trend discovery workflows.
• Familiarity with organisational change management practices during brand transformations.

Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion

Monks is an equal-opportunity employer committed to building a respectful and empowering work environment for all people to freely express themselves amongst colleagues who embrace diversity in all respects. Monks proactively works to design hiring processes that promote equity and inclusion while mitigating bias. The company welcomes and encourages qualified applicants from all backgrounds who are excited to contribute to its mission.