Associate Director, Strategy

About the Role

As an Associate Director of Strategy, you are responsible for developing strategic recommendations that solve client challenges. You will work across all accounts and clients, producing outstanding communications strategies recognized through awards, client satisfaction scores, and tangible examples of innovation. Your role involves strategizing, producing, and interpreting key cultural, consumer, and market intelligence to design holistic communications plans. You have a passion for people, brands, and ideas, with an insatiable curiosity for culture. You believe brands should have meaningful impact and are driven to understand the changing world and shifting consumer motivations and behaviors.

You will create strategic recommendations and engage with clients in an advisory capacity alongside the Strategy Team. While you are not responsible for managing the client relationship, you will report to the Client Lead to deliver brilliant strategic thinking. Creative thinking and strong presentation skills are critical to success in this role. Your work should drive re-appraisal of communications and media’s role in the world, positioning you as a key lever in advancing the agency.

Responsibilities

• Demonstrate a strong understanding of consumers and their behaviors, using qualitative and quantitative research (communications channels, cultural tools) to develop actionable insights into consumer-brand connections.
• Craft strategic narratives that align with business needs, focusing on results and measurement.
• Bring fresh thinking and inspiration into the strategic process to elevate team ideation, leading sessions with the Communications Design team and relevant SBUs to generate creative and compelling communications ideas.
• Contribute valuable insights during client meetings, such as research or deep understanding of consumer interactions with culture (behaviors, motivations, mindsets).
• Maintain effective relationships with key strategic partners (vendors, academic institutions, creative consultancies), staying updated on their offerings to unlock new growth opportunities for clients and the agency.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent work experience.
• 6-8 years of experience in an integrated planning role within media, creative, innovation, or communications disciplines (e.g., digital, content, invention, social, activation).
• Ability to think differently: creative, adaptive, entrepreneurial, and independently minded, with deep immersion in cultural understanding and a drive to explore people’s motivations and behaviors in a shifting landscape.

Benefits

• Medical and dental coverage.
• 401(k) plans.
• Flexible spending accounts.
• Life insurance and disability coverage.
• Employee discount program.
• Employee stock purchase program.
• Paid family benefits.

Pay

$100,000.00 - $125,000.00. The final salary will depend on factors such as experience, qualifications, market considerations, and budgetary constraints.

Schedule

This role requires a minimum of three days per week in the office, with the potential for additional in-office days as directed by the agency or manager. The objective is to increase in-office attendance over time.