Senior Brand Strategist

📌 Core Information

🔹 Job Title: Senior Brand Strategist

🔹 Company: The Shipyard

🔹 Location: United States (Remote)

🔹 Job Type: Full-time

🔹 Category: Advertising Services

🔹 Date Posted: June 10, 2025

🔹 Experience Level: Mid-level (3-5 years)

🔹 Remote Status: Remote OK

🚀 Job Overview

Key aspects of this role include:

• Leading strategic development across an assigned client portfolio
• Uncovering insights and briefing teams to drive breakthrough thinking
• Collaborating seamlessly across integrated teams
• Contributing thought leadership to evolve department capabilities

ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strategic thinker with a strong creative background, capable of balancing client needs with innovative ideas.

📋 Key Responsibilities

✅ Develop comprehensive strategy presentations, POVs, and creative briefs that inspire breakthrough thinking and are built for measurable business impact

✅ Act as a trusted strategic partner to clients and internal stakeholders, demonstrating deep understanding of business objectives and category dynamics

✅ Conduct and synthesize primary and secondary research to uncover compelling human truths and cultural insights

✅ Collaborate seamlessly across integrated teams including creative, media, digital, and account management

✅ Contribute thought leadership and innovative approaches to evolve department capabilities and drive client business growth

✅ Support new business development through strategic thinking and presentation development

✅ Other duties as assigned

ASSUMPTION: This role requires a high level of independence and initiative, with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines.

🎯 Required Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Advertising, or a related field (or equivalent experience)

Experience: 3-5 years of strategic and branding experience in an agency environment

Required Skills:

• Proven ability to craft compelling narratives that bring strategic thinking to life
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in cross-functional team environments while taking initiative on independent decision-making
• Experience leading deep, connected qualitative research that uncovers authentic human truths
• Expertise in evaluating and synthesizing diverse data sources into actionable intelligence
• Excellence in writing inspiring creative briefs that unlock breakthrough work
• Strong presentation skills with ability to deliver impactful, persuasive strategic recommendations
• Tapped into culture and how that connects to the brand and audience
• Proven ability to build client trust while navigating complex organizational dynamics
• Willingness to travel as business needs require

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in a similar role at an advertising agency
• Fluency in multiple languages

ASSUMPTION: Candidates should have a strong portfolio showcasing their strategic thinking and creative problem-solving skills.

💰 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $85,000 - $100,000 per year (based on experience and location)

Benefits:

• Open PTO
• Flexible work hours and remote work
• Paid holidays + holiday closure between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day
• Company-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Life insurance and disability benefits
• 401k program with employer matching
• 6 weeks paid parental leave
• Employee bonus referrals
• Dog-friendly offices
• Company-provided snacks and beverages

Working Hours: Full-time (40 hours per week)

ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is an estimate based on industry standards for similar roles and experience levels. Actual compensation may vary based on individual qualifications and company discretion.

📌 Applicant Insights

🔍 Company Context

Industry: Advertising Services

Company Size: 201-500 employees

Founded: 2014

Company Description:

• Leading, independent agency building performance-driven brands
• Applies modern mindsets to established models for courageous and validated brand decisions
• Engineers brand love through aligning bold creativity with individual consumer motivations

Company Specialties:

• Brand Strategy
• Brand Campaign Development
• Tradigital Media Planning and Buying
• Performance Marketing
• Content at Scale
• Social Media Marketing
• Data Science & Optimization
• Campaign Analytics
• DMP/DSP
• SEO/SEM
• Design
• In-House Production
• Quantitative/Qualitative Measurement
• Brand Activations
• Global Expansion
• Web Development

Company Website: theshipyard.com

ASSUMPTION: The Shipyard is a well-established agency with a strong focus on strategic brand building and performance marketing.

📊 Role Analysis

Career Level: Mid-level (3-5 years of experience)

Reporting Structure: This role reports directly to the Head of Strategy

Work Arrangement: Remote OK, with flexibility for in-person collaboration as needed

Growth Opportunities:

• Potential to lead strategy for larger clients or new business pitches
• Opportunities to mentor junior strategists and contribute to departmental growth
• Possibility to take on additional responsibilities or special projects

ASSUMPTION: This role offers significant growth potential for the right candidate, with opportunities to take on more responsibility and make a significant impact on the agency's success.

🌍 Location & Work Environment

Office Type: The Shipyard has multiple offices across the United States, with a flexible remote work policy

Office Location(s): Columbus, OH; Newport Beach, CA; Sacramento, CA; San Diego, CA

Geographic Context:

• The Shipyard's offices are located in major metropolitan areas with diverse cultural scenes and vibrant business communities
• Remote work allows for flexibility in location, with the opportunity to work from home or co-working spaces
• The agency's remote-friendly culture fosters collaboration and connection among team members, regardless of location

Work Schedule: Full-time (40 hours per week), with flexible hours and open PTO policy

ASSUMPTION: The Shipyard's remote-friendly culture and flexible work arrangements allow for a healthy work-life balance and the ability to attract top talent from across the country.

💼 Interview & Application Insights

Typical Process:

• Phone or video screen with the Head of Strategy
• In-depth interview with the Head of Strategy and a senior strategist
• Case study presentation and Q&A with the strategy team
• Final interview with the CEO and other senior leaders

Key Assessment Areas:

• Strategic thinking and problem-solving skills
• Cultural fluency and understanding of consumer behavior
• Presentation and communication skills
• Collaboration and teamwork
• Adaptability and initiative

Application Tips:

• Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your strategic thinking and creative problem-solving skills
• Prepare a case study or portfolio showcasing your strategic approach to branding challenges
• Research The Shipyard's clients and industry to demonstrate your understanding of the agency's work
• Be prepared to discuss your cultural fluency and how you stay tapped into consumer trends and insights

ATS Keywords: Brand Strategy, Strategic Thinking, Consumer Behavior, Creative Briefs, Presentation Skills, Collaboration, Agency Experience

ASSUMPTION: The interview process at The Shipyard is designed to assess candidates' strategic thinking, creativity, and cultural fit, with a focus on their ability to drive breakthrough thinking and business impact.

🛠️ Tools & Technologies

• Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel)
• Google Workspace (Gmail, Google Docs, Google Slides, Google Sheets)
• Project management tools (e.g., Asana, Trello, JIRA)
• Research and analytics tools (e.g., Google Trends, SurveyMonkey, Tableau)
• Design tools (e.g., Adobe Creative Suite, Sketch, Figma)

ASSUMPTION: The Shipyard uses a variety of tools and technologies to support its strategic and creative processes, with a focus on collaboration and efficiency.

👔 Cultural Fit Considerations

Company Values:

• Courageous
• Curious
• Collaborative
• Accountable
• Inclusive

Work Style:

• Creative and innovative
• Data-driven and strategic
• Collaborative and team-oriented
• Adaptable and responsive
• Culturally fluent and consumer-focused

Self-Assessment Questions:

• Do you thrive in a creative and collaborative environment that values courageous thinking and innovation?
• Are you comfortable working with data and analytics to inform strategic decisions?
• Do you have a strong understanding of consumer behavior and cultural trends?
• Are you able to adapt to changing priorities and work effectively in a remote or hybrid environment?

ASSUMPTION: The Shipyard values candidates who are creative, strategic, and collaborative, with a strong understanding of consumer behavior and a commitment to continuous learning and growth.

⚠️ Potential Challenges

• Managing multiple projects and deadlines for various clients
• Navigating complex organizational dynamics and building client trust
• Staying tapped into cultural trends and consumer insights in a rapidly changing landscape
• Balancing the need for courageous, innovative thinking with the need for measurable business impact

ASSUMPTION: This role presents unique challenges that require a strategic thinker with strong communication and collaboration skills, as well as the ability to balance creativity with data-driven decision-making.

📈 Similar Roles Comparison

• Unlike traditional advertising agencies, The Shipyard focuses on engineering brand love through strategic alignment with consumer motivations
• This role requires a strong understanding of both brand strategy and performance marketing, with a focus on driving measurable business impact
• Career progression in this role may involve taking on additional responsibilities, leading strategy for larger clients, or contributing to new business development

ASSUMPTION: This role is unique in its focus on strategic alignment with consumer motivations and requires a strong understanding of both brand strategy and performance marketing.

📝 Sample Projects

• Developing a comprehensive brand strategy for a new product launch, including consumer research, competitive analysis, and positioning
• Creating a creative brief for a digital marketing campaign, including target audience definition, key messaging, and channel strategy
• Conducting a brand audit and providing recommendations for a mature brand looking to re-energize its identity and marketing efforts

ASSUMPTION: These sample projects illustrate the range of strategic and creative challenges that a Senior Brand Strategist at The Shipyard might face, requiring a strong understanding of consumer behavior, cultural trends, and brand dynamics.

❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview

• Can you describe the agency's approach to brand strategy and how it differs from traditional advertising agencies?
• How does the strategy team collaborate with other departments, such as creative, media, and account management?
• What opportunities are there for growth and development within the strategy department and the agency as a whole?
• How does The Shipyard stay tapped into cultural trends and consumer insights in a rapidly changing landscape?
• What is the agency's approach to work-life balance and supporting employees' well-being?

ASSUMPTION: These questions are designed to help candidates better understand The Shipyard's unique approach to brand strategy, its collaborative culture, and the opportunities for growth and development within the agency.

📌 Next Steps for Applicants

To apply for this position:

• Submit your application through this link
• Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your strategic thinking and creative problem-solving skills
• Prepare a case study or portfolio showcasing your strategic approach to branding challenges
• Research The Shipyard's clients and industry to demonstrate your understanding of the agency's work
• 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.