Strategic Planning Director - Marketing & Communication

Description

The company makes precision tool watches and professional instruments. It began in Florence in 1860 with work for the Royal Italian Navy and combines Italian design with Swiss expertise.

This is a Strategic Planning Director role for marketing and communication, based in Milan and reporting to the Brand Communication Director. You will co-build a full 360-degree marketing and communication strategy and make sure it is carried out well across departments, using market analysis to find business opportunities.

You will be the Brand Communication Director's deputy and the main link with product marketing, commercial, client, retail and market stakeholders.

Recruitment has five stages. After selection, the recruitment team contacts you within 2 weeks for an introductory call. Then come an interview with the Senior HR Manager, an interview with the Brand Communication Director, a business case, and a final round with key Executive Committee members, the Chief People Officer and the CEO.

Responsibilities

• Draft the yearly 360-degree marketing and communication plan with the Brand Communication Director, turning the global brand strategy into a plan that builds brand image and drives business growth.
• Run market and competitor research to uncover opportunities, challenges and client insights that shape the strategy.
• Give strategic direction and act as the main contact for product, commercial, client, retail and market teams, keeping everyone aligned with the strategy and business needs.
• Set strategic input and guidelines for the brand calendar so global and local initiatives match the overall strategy and business objectives.
• Work with creative production, activation, communication, press relations, commercial and product teams to build the strategy into the brand communication plan, product launches and the ongoing core offer, aiming for top go-to-market approaches.
• Keep HQ direction and market-level plans coherent, providing the strategic framework for 360 activation plans.
• Coordinate the timely rollout of the annual plan and brand calendar across HQ brand communication functions and markets, keeping messaging consistent while allowing local adaptation.
• Oversee the strategy behind global campaigns so they meet objectives and have maximum impact.
• Use performance data and strategic insights to identify and scale global best practices, monitor activation results and adjust the calendar to market trends.
• Lead and grow a lean, high-performing strategic planning team by mentoring, developing and motivating people, and taking part in their recruitment and onboarding.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or master's degree in marketing, business administration, communications or a related field.
• 8 to 10 years of experience in a similar position.
• Solid background in strategic planning, brand communication or marketing leadership, ideally within a global luxury brand.
• A record of building and executing marketing and communication strategies that grow brand and business.
• Extensive experience in market and competitor analysis, spotting key business opportunities and turning corporate strategy into clear marketing communication plans.
• Strong grasp of strategic planning methods, market analysis, consumer insight and brand building.
• Ability to turn complex data into clear actions and explain them to diverse audiences.
• Sharp analytical, problem-solving and critical thinking skills, with the ability to link strategic vision to execution.
• Business sense to seize opportunities, manage risk and keep strategy consistent across markets.
• Excellent communication, presentation, collaboration and interpersonal skills, with a track record of influencing and aligning stakeholders across departments and markets, especially between marketing communication, product and commercial teams.
• Strong project management and organisational skills, including running complex strategic planning cycles and brand calendars.
• Proactive and results-driven, comfortable in a dynamic, complex global environment.
• Fluent English is required. Italian and French are a plus.

Conditions

Based in Milan, reporting to the Brand Communication Director.

Executive contract under the CCNL Commercio collective agreement, Dirigente level.

The company values diverse talents and perspectives.

Benefits

• Annual bonus plan.
• Meal voucher of 8€ per worked day.
• Welfare plan.