Senior Brand Navigation Strategist/Account Planner

Senior Brand Navigation Strategist/Account Planner

 

At Saatchi & Saatchi S, We create sustainable visions for companies around the world and help them grow by embracing a grassroots approach to sustainability.  Please visit us at www.saatchis.com to learn more.

 

 

Overall

·Help Clients to build, incorporate and integrate sustainability into their brand.

·Lead the sustainability brand strategy process for assigned accounts

·While this role will focus solidly on integrating sustainability into Brand, Marketing and Communications, they will work with the goal of integrating sustainability through all company business units using cross cutting integration internally. 

· May require close cooperation with a Sustainability Consulting Strategist who audits total company sustainability and an Outreach Strategist, who devises and executes sustainability into Clients’ workforce.  Topline understanding of how to guide research methodologies and execute research is helpful. Expected to uncover key insights including consumer thoughts, feelings, attitudes, emotions and expectations; business dynamics and marketplace positioning; competitive threats and opportunities; and key Client points of differentiation to help generate opportunities and implications for how a Client can lay a sustainability lens across their brand, marketing efforts and communications. Lead and execute consumer and company research to derive these insights, opportunities and implications Drive the culling of insights into a Sustainability Brand Vision and Messaging ArchitectureInspire and lead creative strategy, concepting and idea generation sessions, which may include generating a Creative Brief and devising creative ideas to bring the strategy to life.Specific experience devising an integrated non-traditional media plan including the use of cutting edge offline and online communication channels is MANDATORY. Directing the execution of non-traditional offline and online channels REQUIRED.  This should include online direction to execute of blogs, UCG including video, message boards, micro sites, etc.  Offline expertise should include guerilla marketing promotions, events and retail space / shopper marketing.Work with a creative team who can then turn the strategies and concepts into big creative marketing ideas that will work to achieve Saatchi & Saatchi Sustainability’s mission – creating a healthy planet, full of happy people.--- while being responsible for ensuring that all client brand communications and marketing activities are consistent and reflect the key insights of the target.

 

Client Relationships:Work with clients to clarify business objectives, identify specific business opportunities around sustainability, understand sensitivities, challenges and pressures, craft appropriate Client strategies and communications, and conceive and execute breakthrough creative ideas to help achieve the client’s goals.

 

Strategy Development:Lead thinking and process for strategy developmentManage primary and secondary research insights, implications and opportunitiesSpearhead team in creation of Strategic Presentations Sell in strategy as the background for creative concepts to clientsCreate non-traditional media plans using offline and online media channelsInspire conceptual thinking and idea generationProvide the creative team with a clearly defined brief that contains concise information on product, audience and strategy Work closely with team peers to design, lead and prepare brand workshops. Further synthesize findings and actionable outcomes. Analyze a wide range of information to gain a comprehensive context to strategy development

 

Research: Advise best practices and methods for gathering insightsInitiate appropriate research to inform campaign strategy developmentLead the design, development and execution of appropriate research projects including dynamic research methods (ethnography, documentary, diaries, roundtables, one-on-ones)Drive analysis and key findingsBring to life key research learnings in a dynamic and creative fashionFoster and establish partnerships with cutting edge primary researchers, market research companies and outside vendors when appropriateAnalyze and conduct research to gauge consumer response and to evaluate the effectiveness of the campaign

 

Creative Development:Inspire creative teams by sharing with them an intimate understanding of the StrategyLead brainstorming sessions around conceptual developmentReview creative executions and work closely with creative teams to ensure all communications are on strategyFurther department and teams knowledge of sustainable brands and marketing initiativesManage and mentor entry level Brand Strategists as well as educate counter Strategists in MarketingDemonstrate initiative to continuously build professional knowledge around sustainability within the marketing industry and beyond Skills NeededBachelor’s Degree and at least 10 years of experience, of which the majority (60%-70%) should be in recent agency account planningInstills a desire to ingrain sustainability into corporate practices and consumer behaviorSeeking progressive mission driven workConversant in both qualitative and quantitative research, including experience in managing research projects, moderating focus groups/ethnographies/ interviews, and developing research reportsExperience planning across multiple client accountsCombination of creative and analytical thinkingDemonstrates strong initiative Passionate about brand-building and understanding human behaviorHave a strong ability to manage multiple projects at once in a deadline-driven environment Know how to translate key findings into actionable next steps  Willing to travel