Vice President of Brand

Overview:

Responsibilities:

• Defines manages and evolves the HKS brand strategy and architecture

• Ensures brand consistency across all practices regions and offices

• Creates brand governance frameworks and enforce adoption across marketing and BD functions

• Leads the development of brand campaigns and creative assets that reinforce HKSs positioning

• Oversees visual identity design systems and templates to support both practice and regional needs

• Partners with COEs (Creative Digital PR) to ensure brand is integrated across every touchpoint

• Partners with PMDs to translate practice strategies into brand-aligned assets campaigns and content

• Ensures practice value propositions are consistently expressed in all materials

• Partners with firmwide leadership to localize the brand for regional relevance while protecting consistency

• Develops scalable brand tools playbooks and templates for regional teams and local coordinators

• Provides direct brand support for priority regional campaigns and pursuits

• Defines KPIs to measure brand strength (awareness perception consistency)

• Monitors adoption of brand guidelines and consistency of execution across practices and regions

• Reports regularly to CMO and firm leadership on brand performance and alignment

• Collaborates with PR Digital and Creative teams to deliver fully integrated campaigns

• Provides high level of interactive service to others building relationships addressing identified needs and following through with implementing resolutions for the firms brand identity system

• Stays current on trends and developments in graphic design

• Models and holds others accountable to the firms cultural values including a commitment to quality innovation learning and growth

• Oversees and actively invests in the professional development of staff through mentoring performance management and career planning

• Leads efforts in attracting training retaining growing and recognizing diverse talent

• Manages conflict effectively and encourages a healthy team environment

• Partners with leadership business development and marketing teams to implement/maintain the strategic plan goals for brand

• Fosters and maintains a collaborative professional working relationship with the project team including promoting communication and creating approachability

• Takes personal responsibility for fostering a green workplace through sustainable work practices

• Develops budgets and timelines of team projects in collaboration with Chief Marketing Officer

• Responsible for the financial implications of overhead and chargeable time including accountability to project plan and planned utilization rate

• Collaborates in managing projects to satisfy requirements with best possible ROI and delivering projects on defined budget requirements

• Collaborates with practice leaders and Marketing team to ensure the brand is presented across all tactics and assets in a synchronized and impactful way

Qualifications:

• Bachelors degree in Advertising or related degree

• Typically with 15 years of experience in advertising/design agency environment with experience in brand strategy and visual identity within a global or matrixed organization

• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite such as InDesign Photoshop Illustrator and Sketchup graphic software

• Proficiency in MS Office Suite including Microsoft Word Excel and PowerPoint preferred

• Prior experience in professional services or design industries

• Successful track record with managing a team and performing duties in a fast-paced environment

• Proven experience in successfully scaling a global brand in a competitive market landscape

• Proven ability to balance consistency with flexibility across diverse practices and markets

• Proven ability to work across stakeholder groups functional areas geographies and differing levels of seniority

• Proven ability in identifying issues determining their cause developing creative solutions

• Excellent writing skills with leadership experience in creative direction storytelling and visual communication

• Excellent attention to detail and commitment to excellence

• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to interact with all levels of staff and clients; ability to forge trusting relationships within a diverse team

• Strong presentation skills

• Strong organizational skills and the ability to work on multiple projects at the same time

• Ability to thrive in a complex matrixed global organization

• Ability to influence senior stakeholders across practices regions and BD teams

• Ability to measure and report brand performance

• Ability to manage team with diplomatic and collaborative leadership style which puts value on relationships and collaboration both internal and external

• Ability to communicate and present ideas in a clear concise and professional manner both verbally and in writing

• Ability to proactively problem solve and apply innovative solutions

• Ability to collaborate and encourage collaboration in a team environment and ability to work independently and prioritize work

• Ability to effectively meet deadlines at expected quality

• Travel may be required

Base Salary Range: $115k to $175k annually - Chicago Denver Los Angeles New York San Diego Seattle and Washington DC locations only.

The estimate displayed represents the general base salary range of candidates hired in the above locations only. We may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range based on the location of the role. Factors that may be used to determine your actual salary may include internal equity experience education specialty and training.

HKS offers a comprehensive total compensation & benefits package with health dental and vision care coverage 401(k) plans life & AD&D insurance short/long term disability plans paid days off (sick leave parental leave vacation) and much more for benefits-eligible employees. To learn more about our benefits visit this page.

Application Deadline: 1/1/2026

If you currently work for HKS please submit your application via the Internal Careers Portal.

HKS is an EEO/AA Employer: M/F/Disabled/Veteran