Chief Strategy & Brands Officer at Interior Office Solutions – Irvine, California

Job Description:

The CSBO is responsible for the overall management of the following brands: Architectural Solutions Group (ASG), Slate, and SCALE and will define and drive the company’s long-term diversification strategy, competitive positioning, strategic partnerships and growth.

The CSBO will be a key member of the executive leadership team and will partner with senior leaders to ensure strategic initiatives are aligned across sales, operations, service, and support functions. They will also be responsible for the research, development, and acquisition or creation of new brands in addition to ASG, Slate, and SCALE. This role reports to the Chief Executive Officer.

The Chief Strategy & Brands Officer will focus on these key areas on a day-to-day basis:

PeopleSpace Ambassador

• Models PeopleSpace vision and values.

• Engages clients, partners and influencers while maintaining brand image to deliver a positive, responsive and professional experience that drives an elevated level of customer satisfaction.

• Maintaining profitable business operations through effective processes and personnel management.

Personnel

• Recruit, hire, train, and develop high caliber personnel for direct report positions.

• Ensure leadership alignment and organizational effectiveness across brands to support long-term strategic objectives.

• Ensure consistent and compliant employee relations practices across all brands.

• Oversee performance management processes, including evaluations, compensation recommendations, and leadership development planning.

• Design and refine organizational structures, roles, and leadership competencies.

• Inspire a high-performance culture that promotes accountability, collaboration, and improvement through strong leadership and accountability.

Budget / Financial

• Develop budgets for each brand and strategic initiative in partnership with the CFO; monitor to ensure adherence.

• Ensure each brand operates profitably and meets defined financial performance targets.

• Evaluate return on investment for strategic initiatives.

Sales / Marketing

• Support go-to-market strategies for each brand, its products, and value-added services.

• Develop strategies that strengthen brand differentiation and market share.

• Analyze industry trends in workplace design, hybrid work, contract furniture, and client purchasing behaviors.

• Conduct competitive intelligence on pricing models, service capabilities, manufacturer partnerships, and market positioning.

Processes / Procedures

• Ensure that all brand policies and procedures are designed to maximize productivity and profitability while maintaining the highest quality of work.

• Ensure that work order processes are efficient, well documented and followed.

Cross Functional Collaboration

• Liaison between divisions, departments and personnel.

• Participate in company management meetings representing all brands and strategic partnerships.

Quality and Customer Satisfaction

• Define and monitor measurable standards of performance for each brand managed and delivered; drive a customer service focus throughout brands.

• Integrate customer insights into corporate strategy, to ensure innovation and operational priorities reflect evolving workplace expectations.

• Maximize use of technology, automation and AI to consistently reduce SG&A and improve customer experience.

Leadership and Management

• Overall management and performance of all direct reports; drive excellence and best practice in every department.

• Advise the CEO and executive team on risks, opportunities, and long-term positioning.

• Leadership competencies include strategic thinking, financial acumen, change leadership, executive communication, and the ability to influence and align organizations to achieve strategic objectives.

Administration and Reporting

• Establish and measure financial and strategic goals through effective management of brand budgets and resources.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree and 10+ years of leadership experience in strategy, business operations, or related executive role, with MBA or advanced business degree preferred.

OR

• 15+ years of progressive leadership experience across business strategy, sales, operations, corporate development, and market expansion, with demonstrated success leading complex cross-functional initiatives that drive growth within the industry or closely aligned markets.

Other Qualifications:

• Visionary leader capable of initiating ideas and implementing strategies.

• Excellent verbal, written, listening and presentation skills.

• Recruit and develop people, build teams, and create profitable strategic partnerships to deliver results and facilitate change.

• Successfully manage others and departments.

• Strong business and financial acumen skills.

• Strong negotiation skills to manage business and relationships.

• Strategic and analytical thinker capable of driving creative and tactical business decisions that support PeopleSpace initiatives.

• Make quick decisions and build consensus with team members and across all functional areas of business.

• Quickly learn and embrace PeopleSpace Values and demonstrate through daily behaviors/actions.

• Experience in the contract office furniture, built environment or specialty contracting space preferred.