Job Description
At Waracle, we exist to create digital products trusted by millions of people, and this leadership role is vital to ensuring we continue to excel in building the right products. Our strategy involves creating a flywheel effect to drive growth and momentum across People, Product, and Profit. We have great people developing their skills and building digital products that are indispensable to our clients.
This newly created leadership role at Waracle will report to the Waracle CEO and play a critical role on the Waracle Senior Leadership Team (SLT). Contribute as a peer to our executive team. Each member of the SLT has discrete, measurable accountability for a functional area, but within the team, we also take shared ownership of running the business. You will contribute across various areas, especially to the overall company strategy, capabilities, strategic positioning and potential M&A..
Practice Leadership & Capability Building
The Director of Strategy & Innovation will lead and empower our Design and Product practices, each currently guided by strong practice leaders, who will report into this role. Your primary responsibility is cultivating exceptional teams within these practices, fostering outstanding craft and exceptional consulting skills and ensuring our readiness for successful sales and delivery. You will be entrusted with the freedom to strategically shape these practices for future success, exploring innovative approaches such as AI-driven role re-bundling or other transformative initiatives.
Collaborating closely with the Director of Engineering & Delivery, you will champion a culture of craft excellence and high-quality delivery for our clients. As an accomplished expert in product strategy and a servant leader, you will be instrumental in developing design, product, and strategy capabilities recognised as the best in the UK.
Key Responsibilities:
- Support Practice Leads and Heads in defining the vision and executing the strategic roadmap for their respective practices.
- Provide expert coaching and mentorship to foster skills development and professional growth within the practices.
- Cultivate a vibrant design, product, and strategy culture characterised by accelerated learning, honing craft, and enhancing overall consulting acumen.
- Champion a culture of high-quality excellence and forward-thinking digital product strategy.
Driving Growth & Client Engagement
A critical aspect of this role is contributing significantly to Waracle’s growth trajectory. We seek a leader who can establish trusted, C-level client relationships and cultivate a robust partnership ecosystem. Your proven experience will be vital in securing significant new clients and achieving ambitious revenue targets.
Key Responsibilities:
- Collaborate closely with the Chief Growth Officer and the wider demand team to build a strong sales pipeline and secure impactful projects.
- Develop market-leading proposals, leveraging established templates and processes, focusing on rigorous qualification and high-quality presentation to maximise win rates.
- Directly contribute to approximately one major proposal per month, and indirectly influence all proposals through expert reviews, strategic advice, and coaching of senior consultants.
- Represent Waracle as a thought leader by speaking at industry events and conferences, showcasing our product and strategy expertise.
- Act as an Executive Sponsor across key accounts, building strong C-level relationships to expand our influence and position Waracle as a valued strategic partner.
Strategic Leadership & Market Insight
We seek a strategic and trusted partner for our clients at the most senior level, serving as an influential Executive Sponsor and a valuable, billable consultant. This role is expected to have an annual billable target of 50%.
As a passionate advocate for all aspects of strategy, you will work directly with the CEO and be a key contributor to Waracle’s overarching company strategy.
Key Responsibilities:
- Providing insightful market intelligence and a well-informed perspective on the evolving digital product landscape.
- You will play a significant role in effectively communicating our strategy internally and externally.
- Define and evolve our service offerings and value propositions to maintain our competitive edge.
Professional and Personal Attributes
- This role is for the right person to hit the ground running, driving prioritisation, providing team leadership and mentorship, and generating impact.
- Comfortable with ambiguity; possesses the fortitude to make the right call without having all the information.
- Good prioritisation skills with the ability to steer the team toward quick wins and help maintain focus.
- A humble servant leader without an ivory tower mentality. A person who wants to engage with employees from all parts of the organisation and inspire an atmosphere and culture in which people work together.
- A growth mindset, an entrepreneurial and fast-moving individual who always thinks and acts quickly to drive the business forward.
- A driver personality with a servant leadership mentality, one who can understand what the business needs and roll up their sleeves to get things done.
Requirements
- Extensive experience in senior leadership roles
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Strong people management with evidence of driving progress and decisions from teams that have both direct and indirect reporting lines
- Highly consultative with strong conflict management, C-suite client stakeholder management
- Strong judgment and ability to combine market data, tech services sector acumen and client insights to make high-quality recommendations
- Ability to improvise and lead ambiguous initiatives
- Ability to handle multiple, potentially conflicting workstreams and priorities simultaneously
- Sensitive, collaborative approach to problem-solving and conflict resolution
Recruitment process
The recruitment process you can expect for this role is an initial call with your dedicated Talent Acquisition Partner who will chat with you about Waracle and more details about the role, followed by an interview process meeting key people this role would work alongside.
Your Talent Acquisition Partner will guide you through the whole process to your first day with us.
Benefits for our people
Working for Waracle means you are part of an energetic and diverse community of technologists who care deeply about making a difference. We offer a wide range of benefits that support your wellbeing, health, personal and professional development goals. Our benefits package is reviewed regularly to ensure the best experience for everyone.
At Waracle, we prioritise your financial future. Teaming up with Royal London, we offer comprehensive pension services and expert financial advice. Benefit from an initial and annual 1-1 session with our dedicated financial advisor to explore joining options, understand the scheme and consolidate multiple pensions.
Waracle offers permanent team members the option to sign up for Medicash, providing access to a comprehensive healthcare cash-back plan. With Medicash, members receive cash back towards everyday healthcare expenses and access to virtual tools for family health and wellbeing. Whether it's cashback for new glasses, virtual GP services, or assistance with private scans, Medicash is there to help.
Group sickness cover at work provides peace of mind for employees in case long-term illness strikes. With this coverage, employees can rest assured knowing that they'll receive financial support during periods of sickness, helping to alleviate the stress of lost income.
We know it's tough to think about, but if the unimaginable were to happen during your time at Waracle, we've got you covered. We'll pay out a lump sum equal to 2 times your annual salary to your nominated loved one, along with bereavement counselling and support. It's our way of ensuring your peace of mind, even in the toughest times.
At Waracle, we nurture a vibrant culture where teams stay connected and inspired. From weekly catch-ups to casual meet-ups with leaders, there's always something exciting happening. Join our events, stay in the loop with our communications, and prepare for unforgettable outings and celebrations.
At Waracle, we offer enhanced maternity and paternity leave to support our employees during big life's milestones. Our policy ensures ample time for bonding with your new addition, reflecting our commitment to fostering a supportive work environment where employees can thrive personally and professionally.
Want to ditch the car and ride the green wave? Or maybe you're all about that fitness grind? Get revved up for savings on a brand-spanking new bike! With deductions straight from your salary before taxes, it's a win-win for your wallet.
Embracing the future of work, we champion an adaptive hybrid working model that combines flexibility and collaboration. Our goal is to empower our teams to thrive in their roles while maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
Benefit from ample time off with our generous holiday allowance of 35 days per year. At Waracle, we prioritise work-life balance, ensuring you have plenty of opportunities to relax and recharge.
Unlock exclusive discounts and savings by accessing our employee discount platforms. From dining out to entertainment, travel bookings, and homeware purchases, our platforms offer a wide range of deals and offers.
Whether you're an early bird or a night owl, our flexible hours policy allows you to balance work and personal commitments more effectively.
Frequently-asked questions
Here are some of the things that people tend to ask about working at Waracle.
Absolutely! At Waracle, we welcome both permanent and contract applicants. Each job posting indicates if it's open to contract applications. We offer a diverse range of projects, both within and outside IR35 regulations, catering to various preferences and expertise levels.
We work on a Hybrid working model and offer flexible working hours. We're spread across 4 vibrant UK offices, but our teamwork isn't confined to those spaces, it's all about collaboration! While using the office is encouraged for our teams to work together, each of us has a home office setup, relishing the freedom of hybrid workstyles. As of now, remote work outside the UK isn't part of our standard practice.
As proud sponsors, we're geared up to provide sponsorship for eligible roles. Be sure to view the specific job listing you're interested in to make sure we are accepting applications for sponsorship. If it doesn't quite fit, consider diving into our talent pool for potential future opportunities!
We always want to hear from talented people, join our talent pool 👇 and we'll contact you when a new opportunity becomes available.
Equal Opportunities
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, gender, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation or age.
We are not accepting applications from recruitment agencies.
