Director, Digital Shelf Design & Strategy (contract)

Company Description Arc is the lead shopper and retail agency within Publicis Groupe. In an era of unprecedented disruption, where the customers you seek actively resist brands like never before, everything we do is in service of making your brand irresistible. We call it Irresistible Commerce. And it starts by employing insights and data to uncover what’s standing in the way of growth. Then we deploy irresistible creative solutions to build connected shopping experiences that are personal, valuable and delightful for your customers. The results simultaneously drive brand sales and love. Helping us become WARC’s #1 Specialty Retail Agency with groundbreaking work recognized by Adweek, ANA Reggie Awards and Effies. Job Description Arc is looking for an innovative and highly strategic client-facing freelance Director of Ecommerce Strategy to develop and drive ecommerce strategy for multiple CPG clients! In this role, you will lead client ecommerce strategy and content planning across retail media and marketplace ecosystems with a specific focus on the Amazon ecosystem. Sitting squarely at the intersection of strategy, brand, and creative, you will set direction for best-in-class work in Brand Stores/Brand Shops and PDP experiences, guiding store wireframes and modules to maximize retailer capability. As a thought leader and subject matter expert, you will drive and advance Arc’s digital shelf approach for our clients while working in close collaboration and partnership across IATs and internal cross-functional teams. PLEASE NOTE: This is a 40hr/week freelance role expected to start in late May/early June and run for a period of 3-4 months. Extension beyond that window or conversion into a full-time role following the completion of the freelance period is possible but not guaranteed. This is a hybrid role based out of our Chicago office and will require occasional onsite engagement of 3-4 days/week on average. Candidates who are local to the Chicago area and willing to commit to a hybrid schedule will be prioritized but highly qualified candidates in other markets who are willing to work Central Time hours may also be considered. We are not able to support any form of current or future visa sponsorship needs for this role. No 3rd party-staffing agencies, please. Responsibilities Lead ecommerce strategy engagements end-to-end by serving as a senior strategic partner to client stakeholders, agency business leaders, and creative teams. Own Amazon Brand Store/retailer Brand Shop strategy and development including defining shopper journeys, producing/overseeing wireframes, and directing creative module selection based on platform capabilities. Guide PDP content development from strategy to briefing creative teams, including tiles, copy direction, and ATF/BTF content planning; ensure alignment across A+/Enhanced Content and other modules. Own strategic frameworks and POVs for AI-powered commerce and search. Partner with other subject matter experts internally at Arc and with partner agencies to embed category knowledge, shopper insight, brand guidelines, and retail media plans into recommended content strategies. Set the strategic standard for ecommerce content and ensure creative execution aligns to the strategy. Define measurement approaches and success metrics for ecommerce content and search performance (e.g., discoverability, conversion, share of voice, and content compliance). Direct and mentor strategists, writers, designers, and cross-functional teams by providing clear briefs, strategic feedback, and quality oversight across deliverables. Lead client presentations and synthesize inputs into clear and actionable narratives, recommendations, and decision-ready next steps. Drive agency advancement by contributing to new business and internal capability building such as tools, templates, case studies, and knowledge sharing. Qualifications 8+ years of progressively-responsible experience driving ecommerce strategy and tactical planning within an agency, retailer’s media organization, or CPG’s trade or customer marketing department. Bachelor’s degree in advertising, marketing, or related field preferred; experience may be substituted. Deep expertise in ecommerce ecosystems and platform mechanics across multiple retail channels such as Target, Walmart, Chewy, etc. with a specific focus on Amazon to include content modules, discoverability levers, and conversion drivers. Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and translate business objectives into actionable, prioritized roadmaps. Advanced understanding of search and discoverability, including keyword strategy, taxonomy, and on-platform SEO best practices; working knowledge of AEO and GEO implications for commerce content. Strong strategic and analytical mindset with an ability to analyze results, synthesize data, draw out insights & implications, and develop insightful and actionable reporting and recommendations. Experience working within a cross-functional, multi-disciplinary team on ecommerce-focused campaigns. Experience leading strategy as a part of a larger IAT. Experience partnering directly with clients to confidently present work, articulate rationale for approach in the context of both business and user needs, and workshop and brainstorm iterative changes to ongoing projects. Ability to identify, synthesize, respond to, and resolve issues and conflicts as they arise. Sound decision-making ability rooted in agency, client, and industry knowledge. Comfort operating with a high level of ownership, autonomy, and accountability. Strong leadership skills with experience mentoring strategists and guiding cross-functional teams. An outstanding listener with clear and persuasive verbal and written communication and presentation skills, a high degree of emotional intelligence, and an ability to tell a smart, concise story using data. Experience communicating with and presenting to executive-level clients on a regular basis including leading workshops, presenting and defending recommendations, and build consensus across stakeholders. A natural sense of urgency with an ability to work quickly, efficiently, and accurately within tight deadlines and constantly-evolving project parameters, scope, and goals. Flexible and adaptable with an ability to manage and drive success across multiple concurrent projects and competing priorities. Highly collaborative but independently capable. Additional Information The Power of One starts with our people! To do powerful things, we offer powerful resources. Our best-in-class wellness and benefits offerings include: Paid Family Care for parents and caregivers for 12 weeks or more Monetary assistance and support for Adoption, Surrogacy and Fertility Monetary assistance and support for pet adoption Employee Assistance Programs and Health/Wellness/Comfort reimbursements to help you invest in your future and work/life balance Tuition Assistance Paid time off that includes Flexible Time off Vacation, Annual Sick Days, Volunteer Days, Holiday and Identity days, and more Matching Gifts programs Flexible working arrangements ‘Work Your World’ Program encouraging employees to work from anywhere Publicis Groupe has an office for up to 6 weeks a year (based upon eligibility) Business Resource Groups that support multiple affinities and alliances The benefits offerings listed are available to eligible U.S. Based employees, are reviewed on an annual basis, and are governed by the terms of the applicable plan documents. We also offer medical and voluntary benefits to our freelancers and temporary employees. Voluntary benefit options include supplemental medical insurance, transportation, and parking benefits, legal benefits, pet insurance, and auto and home insurance. You must be actively employed for 90 consecutive calendar days in order to be eligible for Publicis medical and voluntary benefits. You will also be eligible to participate in the Publicis 401(k) Plan after you complete 1,000 work hours in a consecutive 12-month period. Arc is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our employment decisions are made without regard to actual or perceived race, color, ethnicity, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, disability, medical condition as defined by applicable state law, genetic information, marital status, military service and veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws and ordinances. If you require accommodation or assistance with the application or onboarding process specifically, please contact View email address on click.appcast.io. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines. Compensation Range: $3,000-$4,000 weekly. This is the pay range the Company believes it will pay for this position at the time of this posting. Consistent with applicable law, compensation will be determined based on the skills, qualifications, and experience of the applicant along with the requirements of the position, and the Company reserves the right to modify this pay range at any time. Temporary roles may be eligible to participate in our freelancer/temporary employee medical plan through a third-party benefits administration system once certain criteria have been met. Temporary roles may also qualify for participation in our 401(k) plan after eligibility criteria have been met. For regular roles, the Company will offer medical coverage, dental, vision, disability, 401k, and paid time off. The Company anticipates the application deadline for this job posting will be June 1, 2026. #J-18808-Ljbffr