Senior Strategist at Publicis Groupe

 Our strategists are expected to be provocative thinkers, who have shown that they have the presence and the skills to grow, with the right added experience, in to a Strategy Director. Never just taking and executing orders, they are expected to inspire and add value at every turn.

       Directly supporting the broader strategy team, the Strategist must be able to handle multiple (at least 3) work streams at a time, and is expected to be a strong thinker and collaborator.

       A good strategist will have an almost obsessive desire to ensure their research generates accurate and effective results. Often working closely with clients, it is important to give them confidence in your capabilities and campaign plans. Some working outside the traditional nine-to-five may be necessary occasionally.

The Job Purpose:

•        To be accountable for successful implementation of client’s strategic creative initiatives targeting appropriate audiences across multiple channels
•        To demonstrate real vision for the brand/account/client showing the art of the possible by a thorough understanding of initial client brief, targeted audience research, insight to creative teams, multi-channel planning activities and evaluation of previous creative campaigns
•        To use commercial and creative knowledge to translate business objectives into compelling creative briefs demonstrating entrepreneurial flair and creativity  
•        To collaborate effectively with other members of the agency team, including effective supervision and management of planners, to ensure famously effective campaigns which exceed client expectations

What you can expect in an average week:

• A strategist may be involved with a number of clients and/or brands at the same time. It is important to develop a good understanding and identify specific business needs for each one.

Your average week may include:

•        working with the client to establish their aims and objectives
•        Analysing existing data, market reports and trends
•        developing, managing and analysing research projects
•        working with colleagues to develop ideas for a campaign
•        briefing the creative team, allowing them to create an effective and well-targeted proposition for the client
•        Reviewing creative output, prior to client review, to ensure it is aligned with the approved strategic direction and the objectives of the brief
•        presenting ideas and conclusions to the client
•        monitoring the success of the campaign as it runs, suggesting changes and improvements where necessary
•        analysing campaign results
•        Liaising with strategic counterparts at partner agencies to ensure alignment and understanding of the strategy, as well as ensuring the various disciplines remain on track.
•        Attending strategic briefings, preparing and running workshopping sessions with clients and/or partner agencies
•        Attending internal agency briefing sessions and review sessions and giving strategic guidance and feedback on concepts, briefs.

Qualifications and Languages:

•        University degree with strong academic achievement
•        English fluency and language skills for effective business writing, proposals and strong presentation skills

Experience:

•        Strong experience of working in advertising and media across multiple channels including digital
•        Strong experience of project management
•        Strong client facing experience to understand the key aspects of client facing roles in major brands and a record of generating new business including keen insight of certain key industries
•        Experience of industry award submissions like Apex Awards, Effies, Loeries and any related industry awards

Skills:

•        Numerically strong and analytically able
•        Strong communicator with effective inter personal relationships across team and clients
•        Advanced IT skills including Microsoft Word, best-in-class Powerpoint, Excel, Outlook and web based applications. Proficiency in Keynote and/or other presentation formats.
•        Strong analytical research skills and ability to synthesise and reduce different inputs to create a well-considered and accurate representative view
•        Understands commercial context of communication and need to measure and track effectiveness
•        Be able to problem-solve and be resourceful to tackle even the most unusual marketing briefs
•        Be able to exercise strategic principles and structured-thinking to tackle business development projects assigned by client and/or non-marketing communication briefs
•        Be able to select appropriate frameworks, tools and approaches to use in solving client problems
•        Develop strategies that interpret cultural and social trends relevant to client business
•        Understands impact of macro and micro economic factors on consumer attitudes and behaviour. Understands primary and secondary research; first-hand experience designing & commissioning surveys, focus groups and other forms of primary research