VP Social Strategy and Planning

About The RolePosition 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 ResponsibilitiesLocal/Global Leadership and Strategic AlignmentRepresent 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 DevelopmentDevelop 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 ManagementServe 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 ExecutionOversee 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 & MentorshipLead 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 & SkillsHave 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.RequirementsProven 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.At Media.Monks, we believe in fostering an environment where a diversity of perspectives can thrive. We proactively work to design hiring processes that promote equity and inclusion while mitigating bias. We celebrate diversity and are committed to building a team that reflects the communities we serve. We welcome and encourage qualified applicants, from all backgrounds, who are excited to contribute to our mission.About Media.MonksMedia.Monks is the purely digital, unitary operating brand of S4Capital plc that connects 7,600+ digital natives across one global team. We are united by a mission to shift industries forward and pave the path towards ambitious outcomes so our clients and our people can realize their full potential for growth. Joining Media.Monks means becoming part of a highly ambitious collective of some of the most gifted, focused, joyful talent from all over the world, with the goal to change the industry for good.Our unified model combines solutions in media, data, social, platforms, studio, experience, brand and technology services to help our clients continuously reinvent themselves throughout increasingly rapid cycles of disruption. Our efforts to shape culture, build innovative technologies and unlock the future of growth have earned recognition from numerous esteemed panels: we maintain a constant presence on Adweek’s Fastest Growing lists (2019-23), regular recognition at Cannes Lions, and continual inclusion in AdExchanger’s Programmatic Power Players (2020-24). In addition, we’ve received the honor of being Adweek’s first AI Agency of the year (2023), the title of Webby Production Company of the Year (2021-24), a record number of FWAs, and have earned a spot on Newsweek’s Top 100 Global Most Loved Workplaces 2023. Together, these achievements solidify our experience in digital innovation, excellence in craft, and commitment to personal growth.We are 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. Including fresh voices and unique points of view in all aspects of our business not only creates an environment where we can all grow and thrive but also increases our potential to produce work that better represents—and resonates with—the world around us.While we continue to grow our teams, please be mindful of fraudulent job postings and recruiting activities that may use our company name and information. Please be mindful to protect your personal information, especially your national identification number, and bank account information during a recruiting process. While Media.Monks may reach out to potential candidates via LinkedIn, we will always ask applicants to apply through our website (https://media.monks.com/careers) and will never ask for payment or bank account information during the recruitment process.DisclaimerResponsible for resourcing and implementing security controls for your teams processes and systems Responsible that all your personnel apply information security in accordance with the established information security policy