Senior Strategist
About the Role
Equal parts strategic thinker, ideator, and navigator, the Senior Strategist charts the course and leads their teammates and clients through the creative development process. As an experienced collaborator who has contributed on a number of different projects across industries and client typologies, the Senior Strategist actively shapes our approach and creative output. As a true partner to studio leadership in ensuring excellence—both in terms of our product and process—the Senior Strategist role is an instrumental one within Brand Bureau.
Specifics of the Role
The below outlines general responsibilities of the role, and serve as guidelines only. Proportions may fluctuate depending on projects, team structure, and bandwidth.
Research
- Translate client and project questions into research plans, reflecting a keen understanding of the research requirements of a project and how to utilize data to inform strategy
- Brief others on research to be conducted, and/or parse findings from research done by others
- Fluidly conduct research across a wide variety of topics, gathering inputs and data to inform strategy and maintaining an understanding of the best sources for each type of information. E.g. competitive research, local/regional research, tourism, consumer data, demographic and psychographic data
- Interpret and synthesize findings from the research, forming succinct takeaways and molding insights into clear, concise, and expository language
- Present data in a way that supports our concepts and end goals, drawing upon primary and ancillary streams of research
- Maintain keen awareness and understanding of what’s happening in the creative world at large, including traditional hospitality (food & beverage, restaurants, bars, and hotel), but also retail, technology, art, and communications
- Capture and share knowledge with fellow Strategists and the studio at large
- Draw upon research to fuel creative ideation, ensuring that our work is ultimately solving a problem and responding to consumer and industry needs
Strategic & Creative Development
- Collaborate with teammates to develop exciting and viable concepts that address the Client’s business objectives and overall vision, and that set up our Design colleagues for success in their subsequent scopes
- Proactively schedule, lead, and facilitate brainstorms and ideation sessions, tapping our studio’s interdisciplinary talents whenever possible; encouraging creative thought through relevant prompts and useful exercises
- Advocate for the client’s needs and the supporting strategy to shape and refine ideas from collaborators
- Leverage creative thinking to solve business challenges; distinguishing between a fun idea and a strategic and potentially viable idea
- Present the team’s thinking and work compellingly and succinctly, balancing the need to ‘show our work’ with the power of a simple and straightforward argument
- Determine the big-picture narrative flow and story of a presentation; build decks, sourcing imagery and crafting language
- Maintain high standards and assure quality control across all work, including quality of image research, writing, and editing
Management
- Plan and optimize Strategy workflows, considering not just the immediate deadlines, but the full lifespan of the project , leveraging an overarching understanding of the creative process to guide & critique creative output across all departments of the studio
- Work ahead from the onset of a project to translate scoped deliverables and client objectives into actionable plans, balancing big picture thinking with detail-oriented planning
- Delegate and assign tasks, easily translating the broader objectives of a project or deliverable into smaller assignments while encouraging independent thought and inspiring respect
- Review the work of others to identify areas of weakness and provide actionable feedback that is clear, concise, and respectful; further developing capabilities in more junior teammates
- Coordinate internal reviews and approvals with Directors as necessary; taking initiative to check in regularly on work progress
- Oversee file organization, ensuring all work and source files are stored on the server
- Lead client reviews and presentations in partnership with teammates and Directors in a way that exudes confidence and reflects nuanced understanding of particulars of project and client objectives
- Engage clients in dialogue during presentations, truly listening to their reactions and questions, providing clarifying information, and soliciting additional input if needed.
- Support more senior colleagues on internal and external tasks as needed; in doing so, try on different roles in preparation for pursuit of either a “Management” or “Expert” growth path
- Prepare project timelines, iterating with more senior colleagues as well as Creative Resourcing Manager
- Monitor financial health of projects, including profitability and expenses; flag risks to the Directors and initiate problem-solving measures as-needed
- Coordinate client presentations
- Gather, organize, and disseminate information, brand assets, research, and other information necessary for the project
Culture
- Build enthusiasm and excitement for work and lead by example, demonstrating effective collaboration
- Champion colleagues in recognition that our work product results from collaboration and teamwork; readily granting credit where credit is due
- Mentor and guide more junior team members; acting as a role model and regularly providing direction and insight
- Be open and receptive to feedback, and share feedback directly and empathically with all colleagues (those more junior and more senior to you)
- Help to foster a culture rooted in creativity, reciprocity, and personal enrichment
- Suggest materials to read/watch/listen to, events to attend, or internal gatherings to plan in service of cultural development
- Exemplify professionalism while fostering warm and effective dynamics with colleagues throughout the studio
The Senior Strategist reports directly to the Director of Strategy
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor of the Arts or equivalent and higher
- 7 years relevant experience
- Strong presentation and client management skills
- Excellent communication, organization, and collaboration skills
- Strong knowledge of cultural trends (art, architecture, design, product, etc.)
- Fluency in Adobe InDesign preferred
- Must be legally authorized to work in the United States
Interested? Email us your resume at [email protected]