Strategy Director

We are ZEAL - the UK's Most Effective Brand Activation Agency.

Founded in 2014 by friends and colleagues Stewart Hilton and Robert White, ZEAL has pursued its ambition to be the World's Most Recommended Agency by recognising that our amazing people are the key to our success.

We're proud partners to Nestlé, Carlsberg, Arla, Weetabix, Suntory, Bacardi, PZ Cussons, and more, delivering award-winning work across brand strategy, shopper marketing, experiential, partnerships, social and integrated campaign development.

Four-time IPM 'Agency of the Year' winner and, winner of the Campaign Experience Awards' 'Most Outstanding Creative Idea' (2024), our principles around our people are simple - you bring your passion, creativity and drive and we invest in your training, long-term personal development and give you the resources you need to thrive and create your best work.

We're passionate about creating an inclusive place to work that celebrates and values diversity and inclusion and ultimately, enriches our culture.

So, if working with leading global brands on award-winning campaigns sounds like your ideal day, look no further!

Role in summary

We'relooking for asenior,insight-led strategist, whowill be adept at developing effective, inspiringbrand and retailactivationstrategies across the entire buying cycle; bringing insight and strategic clarity that will unlock ingenious ideas that create intense energies at the all-important moments.

Reporting to the CSO,you'llbring yourcreative passion, curiousperspectiveandpersuasiveness, working across multiplebrands,categoriesand touchpoints.

Continuously growing as a strategist, you'll be mentoring and collaborating with a range of team members of vary backgrounds and experiences, getting stuck into building an award-winning, strategic power-house with a global reputation.

What you'll be doing: Strategic Leadership

• Develop and deliver compelling strategic responses and briefs, rooted in insightful research and data analysis across a wide variety of clients and projects
• Lead the development of multi-channel activation strategies and campaigns (focusing on end-to-end retail and shopper activation campaigns and buying journeys, translation of ATL into BTL comms and tactics, annual planning processes)
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams and all agency teams, including CS, creative and design, to ensure alignment and deliver impact and effectiveness for our clients.
• Mentor and develop junior team members on projects to foster a culture of excellence.

Client Relationship Management

• Build andmaintainstrong relationships with clients at all levels.
• Understand client needs and translate them into actionable strategic recommendations.
• Presentcompellingstrategic insights and recommendations with confidence and clarity.
• Proactivelyidentifyopportunities for growth and expansion within client accounts.

Thought Leadership

• Stay up to date on industry trends and emerging technologies/ opportunities.
• Proactively share knowledge and insights to inspire and educate the team.
• Contribute to the development of innovative strategies and solutions.

Operational Excellence

• Manage projects effectively, ensuringtimelydelivery and adherence to budget.
• Collaborate withCS,creative anddesignteams to ensure seamless execution.
• Monitor campaign performance and make data-driven adjustments as neededin partnership with the head of effectiveness.
• Remain commercially aware on your clients and projects to ensure we deliver in scope

What you'll bring to the role:

• Provenexperienceat a senior level developing and delivering retail,shopperand wider activation strategiesfor big brands (this isamust)
• Extensive understanding of activation and communications strategyand its effectiveness principles with retail, promotional and shopper at its heart
• Asolid FMCG groundingwith knowledge of the retail marketing landscape in particular
• A thirst to win awards, shift product, build brand energy and dogreat work
• The ability to work independently and at pace
• Attention to detailand high personal standards
• As a leader; personal awarenessand emotional intelligence that enables them to adapt to different rooms
• Strongcollaboration,communication,presentationand strategic storytelling skills
• Excellent writing skills and a real passion for crafting compelling copy

How we reward you:

• Contributory pension scheme
• Annual company bonus scheme
• Private Medical Insurance
• Life Assurance
• Continuous learning and development
• Enhanced parental benefits

Additional benefits:

• The last Friday of every quarter is a ZEAL Day off
• Christmas closure
• Work from home budget to help you achieve your dream set up
• Dog friendly offices
• A wealth of social events from our seasonal gatherings to our quarter review get together

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