At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and deliver impactful brand strategies for global clients.
- Company: Award-winning strategic brand design consultancy with a vibrant culture.
- Benefits: Hybrid working, generous leave, private health insurance, and wellness initiatives.
- Other info: Inclusive workplace that values diversity and supports personal growth.
- Why this job: Shape the future of brands and make a real impact in a creative environment.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in brand strategy and strong leadership skills.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
We’re a globally recognised, award-winning strategic brand design consultancy with studios in London, New York, Singapore and Shanghai.
Every day, we partner with some of the world’s most ambitious consumer, corporate, and healthcare brands to craft high-impact creative that moves people and markets.
Rooted in purpose and powered by creativity, our mission is simple: get our clients from intent to impact — faster.
As proud members of the MSQ Group and B Corp certified, we unite strategy, design, and experience to shape brands that are not only standout but stand FOR something.
The Department
At Elmwood, our strategy team creates meaningful brand, business and design strategies.
We provoke new thinking and see possibilities that go beyond category norms.
We bring clarity to each challenge, crystallising convictions to prioritise what’s critical.
And we craft compelling and intuitive brand stories that empower clients and engage consumers.
That’s how we help brands get from Intent to Impact faster - translating opportunity into tangible outcomes through agile strategies that you can see and make happen.
The Role
And now we’re looking for a strategy director to join our team.
You’ll play a crucial role in defining, leading and delivering large strategy projects and workstreams for our clients.
Elmwood is a globally recognised, award-winning strategic brand design consultancy that builds brands with intent.
From studios in London, New York, Singapore and Shanghai, we partner with ambitious companies to create brands that are more meaningful, more memorable, and ignite more momentum.
You will be both a leader and natural collaborator, becoming an indispensable partner for global businesses, confident in classic brand strategy such as purpose, positioning, innovation, architecture, and portfolio strategy, as well as powerful design strategies.
- Deliver high-quality strategic solutions that connect business strategy to brand and creative strategy, inspiring design solutions that drive commercial impact.
- Bring a confident and highly experienced strategic skill set spanning insight mining to opportunity mapping; consumer journeys to portfolio architecture; creative strategy development to packaging hierarchy.
- Demonstrate deep understanding of client audiences, categories, objectives, priorities - transforming insight into ideas with intent.
- Present with confidence and conviction at all levels, bringing strategic narratives to life
- Lead workshops and collaborative sessions that inspire teams, generate ideas and help clients to think differently
- Provoke new thinking, proactively identifying the future agenda for our clients and leading discussions on next
- Work in partnership with the client and design project leads to direct beautiful, effective work that delivers results for our clients.
- Inputs into creation of new platforms or processes that create opportunity and elevate our strategic output
- Ensure that every strategy workstream is set up to achieve our creative and commercial ambitions
- Develop a strategic expertise that becomes a signature capability for Elmwood
- Bring a T-shaped attitude – balancing left brain organisation with right brain creativity
- What You\'ll Bring
- Proven impact at c-suite level with clients in a brand design consultancy as a strategic lead that has helped to drive change within an established business or up-scale a fast growth challenger.
- Extensive experience in brand design with a deep expertise in the fundamentals of brand strategy as well as a confident understanding in how to design and refresh brand identities
- Confident in the use and application of Ai tools and platforms to enhance strategy delivery
- Speak the language of design and with knowledge of its powerful role in digital content and brand experience
- Rich experience of different clients and sectors at reputable agencies or consultancies
- Experience in culture/employee engagement, innovation, digital platforms and/or research insights and analytics
- You Will Be
- A true team player who knows their way around brand strategy but retains a passion for learning about and trying new ideas for the benefit of both the team and the client.
- Someone who, whilst has the senior level experience, is willing to roll up their sleeves and get stuck in with some of the lower-level stuff
- A brilliant collaborative communicator, able to connect with clients and quickly win their trust and confidence, talking their talk to provide solutions to their brand challenges
- If your experience looks different from what we’ve described, but you believe you’d make a great fit — we’d love to hear from you.
What We Offer (London Studio)
- Hybrid working with flexi start/end time (8-10am / 4-6pm)
- A vibrant studio space in the heart of Covent Garden with unlimited tea/coffee, fruit baskets, showers, bicycle storage etc
- 26 days annual leave + wellbeing days + 3 additional days over Christmas & New Year + Enhanced parental leave
- Workcation (work from anywhere for up to 4 weeks per year)
- Private health insurance
- Wellbeing initiatives like subsidised Gym, Physio Sessions, GP Services, Life Coaching
- Apple MAC and i Phone hardware
- Let’s Build Better Brands — Getting them from Intentto Impact Faster
If you\'re ready to help shape the future of brand consultancy by growing purposeful, performance-driven partnerships, we’d love to hear from you.
Our Commitment to Inclusion
Elmwood is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.
We celebrate and value difference, and we’re committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels they belong.
We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences — including underrepresented groups.
Need adjustments to support your application?
Let us know.
We’re happy to provide alternative formats, remote interviews, or any other support you might need to show your best self.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Strategy Director employer: ELMWOOD SOLUTIONS LIMITED
Elmwood is an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work culture in the heart of Covent Garden, London, where creativity and collaboration thrive. With a commitment to employee wellbeing, we provide hybrid working options, generous leave policies, and unique benefits like 'workcation' opportunities, ensuring our team members can balance their professional and personal lives while growing within a globally recognised brand design consultancy. Join us to be part of a purpose-driven team that values diversity and fosters innovation, empowering you to make a meaningful impact in the world of brand strategy.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Strategy Director
✨Dive Into Corporate Strategy Communities
Get yourself involved in online communities or forums focused on corporate strategy. Places like LinkedIn groups or specific Slack channels can hook you up with industry insights, trends, and many potential job leads. Don't hesitate to share your thoughts or ask questions; it’ll boost your visibility!
✨Attend Industry Conferences and Events
Keep an eye out for corporate strategy conferences or networking events in your area (or online!). These gatherings are gold mines for meeting hiring managers and making impactful connections. Plus, having a few good conversations can lead to job referrals at companies like ELMWOOD SOLUTIONS LIMITED!
✨Showcase Your Strategy Skills
Create content that showcases your knowledge of corporate strategy—think reports, blogs, or even video discussions. Sharing these on platforms like LinkedIn or Medium can demonstrate your expertise and make you stand out to employers looking for fresh talent.
✨Apply Directly Through Our Website
Don’t forget to apply for the Strategy Director position at ELMWOOD SOLUTIONS LIMITED via our website! This shows your genuine interest, and who knows, you might just land that interview in a matter of days. Keep your application focused on how you can add value to their strategy team.
We think you need these skills to ace Strategy Director
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Us Your Strategic Thinking:When crafting your CV and cover letter, highlight your strategic analysis skills. Focus on past experiences where you've effectively assessed market trends or made impactful recommendations. Evidence-based achievements, like improving processes or contributing to significant projects, will help us see your potential for driving corporate strategy at ELMWOOD SOLUTIONS LIMITED.
Tailor Your Narrative:Don’t just send us a generic application! Personalise your cover letter by connecting your experiences and aspirations to ELMWOOD SOLUTIONS LIMITED’s mission and goals. We love seeing candidates who genuinely understand what we do; share how your vision aligns with ours and what you can bring to the table.
Highlight Relevant Academic Credentials:In your CV, make sure to showcase your academic background, especially if you have qualifications in business, economics, or analytics. We appreciate candidates who can back up their skills with relevant degrees or certifications, so don’t be shy about flaunting those achievements!
Utilise Professional Language:While we want you to be yourself, remember that corporate strategy roles demand a level of professionalism in communication. Use clear and concise language in your application materials, ensuring that your ideas come across as well-structured and sophisticated. It’s all about making a great impression right from the written application stage!
How to prepare for a job interview at ELMWOOD SOLUTIONS LIMITED
✨Master the Numbers
Corporate strategy often involves data analysis and financial forecasting. Brush up on your quantitative skills, and be prepared to handle case studies or numerical problems during the interview. We might get questions about how to approach market trends or assess the performance of a hypothetical company — so practice these scenarios!
✨Know Your Frameworks
Familiarity with strategic frameworks like SWOT, PESTLE, or Porter’s Five Forces can set you apart. We should be ready to discuss how we’d apply these tools to real-world business situations — maybe even relating them to ELMWOOD SOLUTIONS LIMITED. This shows we’re not just theory-happy but can articulate our practical application.
✨Engage in Strategic Conversations
In a full-time role like this, it’s crucial to show that we're engaged and informed about current trends in the industry. Keep up with major news and prepare to discuss how recent developments could impact strategic decisions at ELMWOOD SOLUTIONS LIMITED. This will demonstrate our passion and proactive approach to the field.
✨Showcase Relevant Experience
Whether through internships or projects, we should highlight any experience that relates to corporate strategy. Have specific examples ready to talk about how we’ve contributed to strategic growth or improvements. It's about showcasing our unique journey and how it will bring value to ELMWOOD SOLUTIONS LIMITED.