At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead strategic planning and innovative campaigns for major global brands.
- Company: Join Citizen, a top global PR agency with a vibrant culture.
- Benefits: Professional development, global opportunities, and a supportive team environment.
- Other info: Be part of a collaborative network that empowers your growth and creativity.
- Why this job: Make a real impact while working with cutting-edge AI and creative strategies.
- Qualifications: Experience in strategic planning, digital consultancy, and team leadership.
The predicted salary is between 58500 - 71500 £ per year.
We're looking for an experienced Senior Applied Strategist to join our team. In this role, you'll help our clients to bridge the gap between their high-level business ambitions, and brand, channel and measurement strategy, creating real-world impact. To achieve this, you'll partner closely with our VP, Applied Strategy and oversee a dedicated team while working cross-functionally with our PR, Creative, and Experiential departments.
Our work ranges from delivering cultural intelligence and insights, running search (SEO/AEO/GEO) programs, building multi-channel content and narrative ecosystems, delivering integrated communications plans and building applied creative strategies and ideas for major global brands. Our Applied Strategy & Intelligence team works at the cutting edge of AI transformation, helping Citizen Relations to move beyond the traditional boundaries of PR and Earned Media.
About the role
- Portfolio & Account Leadership: You'll lead a portfolio of accounts, working with a cross-functional team (known internally as a Pod), made up of highly skilled intelligence and strategy specialists. You'll make sure we deliver original work and consistently raise the bar for our clients.
- Team Leadership & Advisory: You'll lead, inspire and nurture pod members, setting clear goals and supporting professional development. You'll quickly become a trusted advisor to internal leadership, coordinating with our Finance & Operations team to monitor revenue and forecast talent needs.
- Strategic & Measurement Planning: You'll take the lead on our annual strategic planning process, designing robust measurement frameworks (KPIs, desired outcomes, data sources), and proactively identifying operational risks.
- AI & Workflow Innovation: You'll integrate Gemini and Google AI Studio tools into daily workflows, finding opportunities for agentic implementation and establishing quality and ethical standards.
- Operational & Financial Excellence: You'll maintain standards for operational excellence by keeping a close eye on team utilisation and burn rates to ensure account profitability and value delivery.
- Integrated MarComms Strategy: You'll develop scalable campaign concepts, deliver integrated channel plans, and growing accounts.
- Innovation, delivered: You'll experiment with decidedly different ways of delivering insight, leading interactive workshops, and evolving tried and tested frameworks to enhance strategic impact.
About you
- Professional Experience: You have demonstrable depth of experience in strategic planning, digital consultancy, or agency account strategy, with a track record of team leadership and expert client counsel.
- Financial & Commercial Acumen: You have hands-on experience forecasting staffing needs, tracking utilisation/burn rates, and driving business growth.
- Advanced AI & Digital Capabilities: You have strong and deeply practical knowledge of AI integration, agentic workflow adoption, and scaling human-AI quality control processes.
- Strategic Measurement & Foresight: You've successfully built KPI models that measure what truly matters and at home conducting annual strategic planning.
- Client stewardship: You’re comfortable across all areas of client management, from converting complex client challenges into clear, actionable briefs and crafting compelling pitches, to onboarding new clients, aligning cross-functional teams and managing executive-level client relationships with care and a sharp focus on delivering impact.
About Citizen
Citizen is a global PR agency built to unleash the potential of ambitious brands. Integrated teams across PR, creative, applied strategy & intelligence, and experiential marketing give the curiosity, confidence, and courage to stay ahead of trends, make bold moves, and maximise measurable success. With 10 offices across Europe and North America, Citizen’s client roster includes P&G (15 brands across Home, Laundry, Personal Care, Professional), Emmi Foods, VW, Trivium and Valvoline. The agency's disruptive campaigns have been awarded across the world from such shows as The Clios, Webbys, The One Show, LIAs, PRWeek Global and the Cannes International Festival of Creativity. In 2024 the agency made the ‘Best in Business’ list from Inc. Magazine and was a Campaign Global PR Agency of the Year. In 2025, Citizen was named to PRNews’ Elite Top 120 Agencies List.
This isn't just a job; it's an opportunity to grow, connect, and belong in a vibrant environment. Beyond global opportunities, and unforgettable team-bonding, we prioritise professional development, committed to developing the potential for our talent across all offices. If you lead with curiosity and are eager to make a lasting impact for the world's biggest brands, you can find out more about us here.
Joining Citizen Relations, you are part of the Plus Company. This network of entrepreneurial agencies is designed to collaborate, not compete. It empowers every agency – and every individual – to bring their own unique capabilities together to make magic happen. You will be empowered to take risks, dream big, develop your skills and grow in your career with the full support of the network and all it has to offer.
Senior Applied Strategist in London employer: Citizen Relations
Citizen Relations offers a dynamic work environment where employees can engage in cutting-edge projects at the intersection of AI and public relations. The company fosters professional growth through collaboration with cross-functional teams and leadership opportunities, allowing staff to make a real-world impact for major global brands. With a focus on cultural intelligence and integrated communications, Citizen Relations provides a unique platform for creative strategists to thrive.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Applied Strategist in London
✨Show Your Creative Side
In marketing communications, standing out is key. Get creative with your application! Consider designing a mini-campaign or pitch that highlights your skills and understanding of the brand. Tailor it for Citizen Relations and show them what you can bring to the table.
✨Engage in Marketing Communities
Get involved in local or online marketing communications groups. Check out platforms like Meetup for events and workshops. Networking here can lead to hidden job openings and valuable insights into the industry trends—this is where we often discover what companies like Citizen Relations are looking for.
✨Leverage Social Media
Use platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter to showcase your passion for marketing communications. Share insights, articles, and your own content that resonates with the industry. Tagging or interacting with Citizen Relations on these platforms can catch the eye of recruiters and show you're genuinely interested in them.
✨Attend Industry Events
Keep an eye out for marketing conferences and workshops. These are great places to meet potential employers face-to-face and make connections that could land you a full-time role at Citizen Relations. Bring your business cards and be prepared to chat about how you can contribute!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Applied Strategist in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Craft an Impactful Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Focus on your passion for marketing communications and how your previous experiences can benefit Citizen Relations. Make sure to mention specific campaigns or projects you’ve worked on that showcase your creativity and strategic thinking.
Showcase Your Writing Skills:As you're diving into a marketing communications role, your writing ability is crucial. Include samples of your work, like blog posts, press releases, or social media campaigns in your application. This lets us see your style and how you engage with different audiences.
Tailor Your CV to Marketing:Your CV should highlight relevant marketing skills and experiences! Include specific tools or platforms you’ve used, like Google Analytics or social media management software. Mention any certifications or workshops related to marketing that you've completed – they can give you an edge!
Demonstrate Your Understanding of Citizen Relations:Show us that you’ve done your homework! In your application, briefly mention what you admire about Citizen Relations’s marketing approach or any recent campaigns that caught your attention. This can reveal your enthusiasm for the role and your genuine interest in joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Citizen Relations
✨Showcase Your Creative Campaigns
Get ready to flaunt your portfolio! Include examples of previous marketing campaigns you've worked on, especially those that showcase your creativity and strategy. Recruiters at Citizen Relations will be keen to see how you conceptualise and execute campaigns, so highlight any measurable outcomes to back up your claims.
✨Know Your Digital Tools Inside Out
If you’re heading into a marketing-communications role, make sure you're comfortable discussing key digital marketing tools like Google Analytics, HubSpot, or Hootsuite. Expect some technical questions about how you've used these tools in the past, as they'll want to gauge your hands-on experience and how you analyse data to drive marketing decisions.
✨Be Ready for Scenario-Based Questions
At Citizen Relations, they may throw some scenario-based questions your way, aimed at testing your problem-solving skills in real-life marketing situations. Think through potential challenges you’ve faced, how you navigated them, and be prepared to discuss your thought process and outcome.
✨Demonstrate Your Passion for Marketing
As you’re applying for a full-time position, show that you're not just looking for a job, but a career in marketing. Talk about the latest trends in marketing communications, your favourite campaigns, and why they inspire you. Your enthusiasm can really make you stand out and demonstrate that you’re committed to growing within the field.
