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- Tasks: Lead strategic brand activation for top global brands and mentor a dynamic team.
- Company: Join ZEAL, the UK's Most Effective Brand Activation Agency with a vibrant culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, bonuses, private medical insurance, and flexible working options.
- Why this job: Make an impact with award-winning campaigns while developing your skills in a creative environment.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in retail and shopper activation strategies for major brands is essential.
- Other info: Experience a dog-friendly office and exciting social events while growing your career.
The predicted salary is between 48000 - 72000 £ per year.
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’re looking for a senior, insight-led strategist, who will be adept at developing effective, inspiring brand and retail activation strategies 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’ll bring your creative passion, curious perspective and persuasiveness, working across multiple brands, categories and touchpoints. Continuously growing as a strategist, you’ll be mentoring and collaborating with a range of team members of varied 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 and maintain strong relationships with clients at all levels.
- Understand client needs and translate them into actionable strategic recommendations.
- Present compelling strategic insights and recommendations with confidence and clarity.
- Proactively identify opportunities 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, ensuring timely delivery and adherence to budget.
- Collaborate with CS, creative and design teams to ensure seamless execution.
- Monitor campaign performance and make data-driven adjustments as needed in 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:
- Proven experience at a senior level developing and delivering retail, shopper and wider activation strategies for big brands (this is a must).
- Extensive understanding of activation and communications strategy and its effectiveness principles with retail, promotional and shopper at its heart.
- A solid FMCG grounding with knowledge of the retail marketing landscape in particular.
- A thirst to win awards, shift product, build brand energy and do great work.
- The ability to work independently and at pace.
- Attention to detail and high personal standards.
- As a leader; personal awareness and emotional intelligence that enables them to adapt to different rooms.
- Strong collaboration, communication, presentation and 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.
Click apply to share your CV or reach out to talent@zealcreative.com. No recruiters, please.
Strategy Director in London employer: ZEAL Creative
Contact Detail:
ZEAL Creative Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Strategy Director in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join online forums, and don’t be shy to reach out on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on your dream job!
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio that highlights your best work and showcases your strategic thinking. When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, use this as a visual aid to demonstrate how you can add value to their team.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews like it’s a big presentation. Research the company, understand their clients, and come armed with insights and ideas. This shows you’re not just interested in the role but are genuinely invested in their success.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to engage directly with us.
We think you need these skills to ace Strategy Director in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When you're writing your application, let your passion for brand strategy and creativity shine through. We want to see that you’re not just looking for a job, but that you’re genuinely excited about the opportunity to work with leading global brands.
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to highlight your experience in developing retail and shopper activation strategies. We love seeing how your background aligns with our needs, so don’t be shy about showcasing your relevant achievements!
Craft Compelling Copy: Since excellent writing skills are key for this role, take the time to craft your application carefully. Use clear, engaging language that reflects your strategic storytelling abilities. Remember, we’re looking for someone who can present insights with confidence and clarity!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team at ZEAL!
How to prepare for a job interview at ZEAL Creative
✨Know Your Brands
Before the interview, dive deep into ZEAL's portfolio. Familiarise yourself with their key clients like Nestlé and Bacardi, and understand the campaigns they've executed. This will not only show your genuine interest but also help you discuss how your strategic insights can align with their brand activation goals.
✨Showcase Your Strategic Mindset
Prepare to discuss specific examples from your past experience where you've developed successful retail and shopper activation strategies. Be ready to explain your thought process, the data you relied on, and the impact of your strategies. This will demonstrate your ability to bring insight and clarity to the role.
✨Emphasise Collaboration Skills
Since the role involves working across multiple teams, highlight your experience in cross-functional collaboration. Share stories that illustrate how you've effectively worked with creative, design, and client service teams to deliver impactful campaigns. This will showcase your ability to foster teamwork and drive results.
✨Stay Ahead of Industry Trends
Research current trends in brand activation and shopper marketing. Be prepared to discuss how these trends could influence ZEAL's strategies. Showing that you're proactive about industry knowledge will position you as a thought leader and someone who can contribute innovative ideas to the team.