📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Senior Brand Strategist
🔹 Company: INNOCEAN USA
🔹 Location: Huntington Beach, CA
🔹 Job Type: Full-Time, Hybrid (2 days in-office)
🔹 Category: Advertising & Marketing
🔹 Date Posted: 2025-06-17
🔹 Experience Level: 5-10 years
🔹 Remote Status: On-site (local to SoCal)
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Developing strategic direction for Hyundai brand and product campaigns
- Representing the voice of the consumer through research insights
- Crafting compelling creative briefs and supporting integrated campaigns
- Collaborating with brand and social strategy directors, creative teams, and account leads
- Staying plugged into culture, emerging trends, and industry innovations
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strong understanding of the automotive industry and a passion for brands. Experience in social strategy is a plus.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Contribute to the development of strategic direction for Hyundai brand and product campaigns
✅ Represent the voice of the consumer by uncovering key insights from qualitative and quantitative research
✅ Support the development of creative briefs that inspire great ideas and work with teams to ensure those ideas stay rooted in strategy
✅ Assist in crafting go-to-market strategies for new vehicle launches and national brand campaigns
✅ Conduct and synthesize research on audience behavior, attitudes, and motivations as well as market trends, and the competitive landscape
✅ Help track brand and campaign performance, deriving key learnings for optimization
✅ Work collaboratively across disciplines, helping to bring strategy to life in ways that are actionable and creatively motivating
✅ Stay plugged into culture, emerging trends, and industry innovations to bring fresh thinking to the team
ASSUMPTION: This role requires strong analytical and communication skills, as well as the ability to present work internally and externally in a clear, compelling way.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Advertising, or a related field
Experience: 4-7 years in brand strategy at an advertising agency or similar environment
Required Skills:
- Proven experience in brand strategy development
- Excellent analytical and communication skills
- Ability to distill complex information into simple insights
- Strong collaboration skills
- Self-starter with a strong sense of curiosity and passion for culture, brands, and people
- Experience supporting brand or product campaigns across a variety of media channels
Preferred Skills:
- Experience in social strategy
- Automotive or large-scale brand experience
ASSUMPTION: Candidates with experience in the automotive industry or large-scale brand campaigns will be highly competitive for this role.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $125,000 - $130,000 per year
Benefits:
- 3 PPO Medical Plans through Anthem at low cost
- Free Dental and Vision
- 401k - up to 6% match at .70 cents on the dollar
- Wellness reimbursement program
- Company paid short- and long-term disability, and basic life
- Generous PTO
- On-site Barista
- Beautiful campus across from the Pacific Ocean
Working Hours: Full-time, typically Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is based on industry standards for a Senior Brand Strategist role in the Southern California area.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: Advertising Services
Company Size: 201-500 employees
Founded: 2005
Company Description:
- INNOCEAN USA is a full-service ad agency located in sunny Huntington Beach, CA
- They are driven by the belief that the further they go, the more they find
- Their mission is to be explorers, hunting for an intersection of art and science, creativity bolstered by data
Company Specialties:
- Advertising
- CRM
- Experiential
- Event Marketing
- Digital Marketing
- Media
- Automotive advertising
Company Website: http://www.innoceanusa.com
ASSUMPTION: INNOCEAN USA is a mid-sized agency with a focus on automotive advertising. They value exploration, creativity, and data-driven insights.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: Senior
Reporting Structure: Reports directly to the Brand Strategy Director
Work Arrangement: Hybrid (2 days in-office per week)
Growth Opportunities:
- Potential to grow into a leadership role within the brand strategy team
- Opportunities to work on a variety of clients and campaigns
- possibility to gain experience in social strategy
ASSUMPTION: This role offers opportunities for growth and development within the brand strategy team and across the agency.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: On-site (Huntington Beach HQ Office)
Office Location(s): Huntington Beach, CA
Geographic Context:
- Huntington Beach is a coastal city in Orange County, CA
- It offers a mix of urban and suburban living, with a strong sense of community
- Known for its beaches, surf culture, and mild Mediterranean climate
Work Schedule: Typically Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM, with flexibility for the hybrid work arrangement
ASSUMPTION: The Huntington Beach office is located across from the Pacific Ocean, offering a beautiful work environment with easy access to outdoor activities.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Phone or video screen with the Brand Strategy Director
- In-person or virtual interview with the Brand Strategy Director and a member of the creative team
- Final interview with the Executive Creative Director and/or other senior leadership
Key Assessment Areas:
- Strategic thinking and problem-solving skills
- Ability to present work clearly and compellingly
- Cultural awareness and understanding of the automotive industry
- Collaboration and teamwork skills
Application Tips:
- Highlight relevant experience in brand strategy and any exposure to the automotive industry
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to emphasize skills and experiences that match the required qualifications
- Prepare a portfolio or case studies showcasing your strategic thinking and creative brief development skills
- Be ready to discuss your understanding of the Hyundai brand and the automotive market
ATS Keywords: Brand Strategy, Consumer Insights, Creative Briefs, Market Research, Collaboration, Automotive Industry, Cultural Awareness, Data Interpretation, Campaign Performance Tracking, Audience Behavior Analysis, Trend Analysis, Creative Development, Presentation Skills
ASSUMPTION: The interview process will focus on assessing the candidate's strategic thinking, communication skills, and cultural fit with the INNOCEAN team.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Microsoft Office Suite
- PowerPoint
- Keynote
- Google Workspace
- Social media listening and analytics tools (e.g., Hootsuite, Sprout Social, Brand24)
- Market research tools (e.g., SurveyMonkey, Google Forms)
- Project management tools (e.g., Asana, Trello)
ASSUMPTION: The tools and technologies required for this role are standard for the advertising industry and can be learned on the job if necessary.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Exploration
- Creativity
- Data-driven insights
- Collaboration
- Growth
Work Style:
- Creative and strategic thinking
- Data-driven decision making
- Collaborative and team-oriented
- Adaptable and flexible
- Passionate about brands and culture
Self-Assessment Questions:
- How do you stay plugged into emerging trends and cultural shifts?
- Can you provide an example of a time when you used data to inform a strategic decision?
- How do you approach working with creative teams to ensure ideas stay rooted in strategy?
ASSUMPTION: INNOCEAN USA values candidates who are curious, creative, and data-driven, with a strong sense of collaboration and adaptability.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Managing multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously
- Working with diverse teams and stakeholders, including clients and internal teams
- Keeping up with industry trends and innovations in the automotive sector
- Balancing on-site and remote work effectively
ASSUMPTION: These challenges can be mitigated with strong organizational skills, effective communication, and a proactive approach to learning and adaptation.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- Unlike other brand strategy roles, this position focuses specifically on the automotive industry and the Hyundai brand
- INNOCEAN USA offers a unique blend of creativity, data-driven insights, and a strong focus on exploration
- Career growth opportunities may be more limited compared to larger agencies, but offer more specialized experience
ASSUMPTION: This role offers a unique blend of industry-specific experience and a creative, data-driven approach to brand strategy.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing a go-to-market strategy for a new Hyundai vehicle launch
- Conducting market research to understand consumer behavior and attitudes towards the Hyundai brand
- Crafting a compelling creative brief for a national Hyundai brand campaign
ASSUMPTION: These sample projects illustrate the strategic and creative aspects of the role, as well as the focus on the automotive industry and the Hyundai brand.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- How does INNOCEAN USA approach brand strategy development for the Hyundai brand?
- Can you describe the team structure and dynamics within the brand strategy department?
- What is the company culture like, and how does it support work-life balance?
- What opportunities are there for growth and development within the brand strategy team and across the agency?
- How does INNOCEAN USA support employees in staying up-to-date with industry trends and innovations?
ASSUMPTION: These questions will help assess the company culture, team dynamics, and opportunities for growth and development within the role.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through this link
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to emphasize your brand strategy experience and any exposure to the automotive industry
- Prepare a portfolio or case studies showcasing your strategic thinking and creative brief development skills
- Be ready to discuss your understanding of the Hyundai brand and the automotive market
- Follow up with the hiring manager one week after submitting your application to express your interest in the role
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
