Strategic Planner

Duties and responsibilities:

Strategy Development

a) Brand strategy:

• Understanding of core branding principles and processes.
• Development of effective new brand strategies using defined processes.
• Correct interpretation of existing brand strategies.
• Relevant tailoring of global concepts for the local market.

b) Insight development:

• Identifying relevant consumer insights to facilitate effective communication.
• Developing robust processes to gain consumer insights.
• Ongoing research into trends, competitor activity and target market for inclusion in communication strategies and brand plans.

c) Communication strategy development:

• To understand roles of media in meeting communication objectives, and to execute as 360-degree communication strategies.
• Development of promotional campaign mechanics that support strategic objectives and/or creative ideas.

d) Strategic control:

• Develop thought leadership position in the agency, with ability to challenge thinking.
• Correct understanding of existing brand strategies in order to effectively assess appropriateness of strategic or creative agency outputs.
•  Involvement in creative reviews to maintain strategic appropriateness of agency outputs.

e) Strategic Presentation:

• Compilation and delivery of client presentations.
• Engender trust of clients in strategic recommendations.
• Developing general marketing-related presentations including trend presentations, competitor analysis, market analysis etc.

Client:

• Involvement in initial briefing sessions with client to clearly understand and identify the challenge at hand.
• Involvement in clients strategic and research processes, including developing relationships with their CMI teams (where they exist).
• Involvement in client presentations to sell the strategic and creative solution.

Creative Team:

• Giving creative teams clear strategic guidance that both directs and inspires creative output.
• Participating in creative brainstorms when necessary, assisting creative with development of the Big Idea and guiding creative roll out.
• Reviewing of all creative work to ensure alignment to strategic approach throughout the creative process.

Account Management:

• Provide support to Account Management teams regarding brand/client business issues relevant to their portfolio.
• Input key strategic information required in the writing of creative briefs.
• Providing strategic rationales in support of creative work presented to client.

People Management:

• Delegates effectively to members of their team/other departments, and calls on the Head of Strategy for assistance where required.
• Involves the Head of Strategy appropriately on all relevant issues: status of business, brand health, creative projects, timings, etc.
• Supports other members of the team to deliver quality output.

Qualifications and experience:

• Diploma or Degree qualified in Marketing Communications (ideal)
• Minimum of 2-5 years advertising agency experience in a strategic planning role, and/or extensive marketing, planning or strategy experience in related field
• A sound understanding of both qualitative and quantitative research
• An understanding of media and channel planning
• Ability to find solutions to various levels of marketing challenges, demonstrating a sound understanding of marketing and branding disciplines
• Pro-active problem-solving abilities: both rigorously analytical as well as intuitive
• Thinking observer, with particular interest in human and brand behaviour
• Engaging and articulate presentation skills, with sound preparation and strong persuasion abilities
• Has knowledge of consumer motivation and behaviour patterns in the marketplace