Strategy and Development Director

Do you have experience in developing new services or in marketing and can you translate development opportunities into a concrete strategy? 

Are you someone who enjoys bringing multidisciplinary teams together, developing partnerships and providing guidance through change?  

Do you want to put your strategic vision and leadership at the service of a meaningful cooperative model with a high social impact?  

Come and help build the Smart of the future! 

Core mission 

The Strategy and Development Directorate (DSD) is responsible for developing and driving a coherent strategy by rolling it out through projects, partnerships, advocacy and communication. 

 Activities and tasks 

As Director of Strategy and Development, you will be responsible for defining, driving and coordinating the company's strategic guidelines to strengthen its impact, positioning and capacity for change.  

You will identify opportunities for new services and translate them into a concrete implementation strategy. 

You will develop an operational marketing strategy.  

You will ensure that the actions of the teams responsible for strategy, project management, service offerings, marketing, partnerships, advocacy and communication are coherent and complement one another. 

Furthermore, you will ensure that the company's ambitions are put into practice, that its ecosystem continues to grow and that it becomes even more visible to its stakeholders.  

As Director of Strategy and Development, your concrete tasks will be:  

• To define and roll out the strategy of the cooperative by translating collective ambitions into concrete actions, anticipating environmental changes and managing impact measurement 

• To define and steer the strategy for the evolution of the service offering in line with Smart's mission and economic model, and by ensuring that your teams have an in-depth understanding of members and their journey 

• To establish and drive the strategic marketing of Smart and its service offerings 

• To coordinate and steer strategic projects by guaranteeing that they align with the social purpose and development objectives of the cooperative 

• To provide guidance through change and strengthen cooperation between teams and stakeholders 

• To define and roll out a partnership strategy with a view to strengthening local roots and the development of the cooperative  

• To develop partnerships (social economy actors, public authorities, businesses, universities and the non-profit sector, etc.), find new collaboration and financing opportunities, and represent the company among its partners and within the networks of which it is a part 

• To define and promote the advocacy strategy of the cooperative to highlight its values and positions among policymakers and partners, and contribute to the development of the impact enterprise sector and the debate surrounding social, economic and ecological change 

• To drive the communication strategy to strengthen the visibility, awareness and outreach of the cooperative by highlighting its achievements and impact, and by ensuring that its image and messaging are consistent 

• To lead and bring together multidisciplinary teams by fostering collective intelligence, a cross-functional organization and engagement, guiding skills development and promoting a culture of cooperation, innovation and continuous improvement. 

• You hold a master's degree (in management, management sciences, political science, territorial development, social and sustainable entrepreneurship, public administration or similar) 

• You have at least three years of experience in a leadership role, as a manager of a multidisciplinary team and in change management 

• You have a fluent command of Dutch or French and an excellent knowledge of the other language (C1 level). Knowledge of English is an asset. 

• Knowledge of cooperative models, the social economy sector and impact enterprises, as well as regional challenges, is a plus 

• Key competencies: vision development, strategic marketing, service design and improvement, collaboration, development of others, decision-making, negotiation, stress management and change management

Job requirements

For this position, you will combine individual computer work with regular interactions with team members and other individuals. You will manage multiple priorities simultaneously, make decisions, lead meetings and support colleagues in their work and development. Meetings and occasional travel to other Smart offices are possible. 

• Phone/Teams screening

• HR interview

• Assessment

• Audition before a jury

Please send us your cover letter along with a detailed CV by 11/09/2026. This position is available immediately. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Therefore, we encourage you to apply as soon as possible. We reserve the right to suspend, modify or withdraw this job posting, in whole or in part, at any time prior to the aforementioned date.

Smart promotes diversity and encourages all individuals with the required skills to apply, regardless of origin, skin color, gender, age, sexual orientation, philosophical belief, disability, etc. If you need any accommodation, regardless of your disability, for the selection process for this position or afterwards, please do not hesitate to contact us.