Associate Strategy Director - New York

In a nutshell

We are on the lookout for an Associate Strategy Director with experience working on core brand strategy, who has a confident understanding of the world of CPG, is fluent in brand architecture, portfolio strategy, and structuring a compelling narrative (for branding and comms). You’ll be acting as the lead strategist across the full spectrum of strategic projects in the US, developing captivating creative ideas which execute our BrandOpus philosophy within the agency and to our clients, working out of our New York studio (supported by the leadership team in London).

The role in more detail:

As Associate Strategy Director, you’ll be the strategic lead for the US on a spectrum of client accounts and briefs, including well-established CPG names and challenger brands.

You’ll own strategic conversations and workstreams for key US and Canadian clients, working in partnership with the Client Services and Design teams to ensure all strategic deliverables are well-executed, on time and in line with the agreed approach.

You will hold research conversations with clients; including recommending partners based on project objectives, liaising with our roster of vendors, inputting into test design, recruitment, set-up, evaluating data (analysis and insights), and delivering clear and coherent debriefs – without compromising our belief in implicit methods.

You’ll also help to drive Business Development and organic growth, leveraging your network and experience, as well as elevating the agency profile via compelling content generation including thought-leadership and attending and speaking at industry events.

You will also be responsible for nurturing talent within the Strategy team, helping to shape the strategic direction and mentoring a Strategist as they develop and hone their own skills and craft.

What we’re looking for

Aware of the fundamentals of behavioural economics, you recognise that people are not as rational as we are conditioned to believe. You appreciate the distinction between brand and product and are engaged in and motivated by the latest marketing discourse and principles.

You’re familiar with semiotics, and the relationship between culture, brands and meaning; you’re looking to broaden and develop your understanding of the drivers of effective branding.

You’re pragmatic yet imaginative, articulate and a sharp thinker. You’re unafraid of ambiguity, capable of distilling complex thought into compelling narratives, and you feel at home in a fast-paced dynamic environment, and you prefer starting/changing a conversation rather than having the final word.

You’re an engaging presenter; non-literal, open-minded, a pluralist and provocative.

The ideal candidate has robust interpersonal skills and will complement the agency dynamic with divergent perspectives and interests beyond the industry.

Why you should come work with us…

We’re passionate about making brands mean more and we do that by changing the way people feel about brands. We all have a vested interest in the business (we are an Employee Owned Trust so we all have a stake in our success) – we work hard and challenge ourselves to create the best work possible, but we look after each other along the way. There are lots of perks and we genuinely love what we do.

The nitty gritty:

  • 5+ years’ experience working in brand Strategy
  • A self-starter, comfortable walking the line between order and chaos
  • Curious, design-literate and culturally attuned
  • A trusted partner, capable of holding strategic conversation with C-Suite clients
  • Excellent presentation skills
Associate Strategy Director - New York