Senior Strategist

We're looking for a Senior Strategist to join our team in New York as part of our Advisory function.

Your Team: On the Contagious advisory team, we work with marketing organizations on creative transformation programs that systematize bold and effective creativity so it becomes a likely outcome, rather than a lucky one. These programs include projects like creating tools and processes to facilitate the development of more impactful work, developing creative capabilities trainings to upskill marketing communities and running various forums that raise organizations’ creative ambition and nurture creative leadership. We also deliver best-in-class briefings and workshops to inspire and inform marketers on key topics around the world.

Your Role: Working as part of the talented advisory team, you’ll use your experience and knowledge in tandem with Contagious research, tools and services to provide our clients with the insight and inspiration they need to create more effective work. You’ll build their organization’s capability and improve how they collaborate with their creative partners. As a senior member of the team, you will be responsible for advising senior brand marketing executives on creativity, effectiveness and marketing innovation.

There will also be opportunities to contribute to other parts of the business such as writing for our online intelligence platform (Contagious IQ), our website, speaking at our events (e.g. Most Contagious), and delivering Contagious briefings around the world.

Key Responsibilities

• Leading and supporting on high-value projects advising clients on creativity in marketing and how it pertains to positive business outcomes such as growth
• Developing and delivering solutions that meet the specific needs of our client’s marketing communities
• Using Contagious content and research to enable those solutions and to drive change
• Collaborating closely with commercial colleagues to ensure projects are delivered to a high standard, on time, profitably
• Presenting Contagious content, case studies and trends to clients, facilitating workshops and building and delivering training sessions
• Helping to develop compelling, relevant proposals
• Mentoring junior members of the team
• Contributing to Contagious editorial and events
• Representing and promoting Contagious at industry events, in guest articles

Your Experience

• Experience in a relevant field such as strategy, planning, brand management, marketing capability, insights, trend forecasting
• Advanced knowledge of the advertising, marketing and media ecosystem
• An empathetic mindset and excellent listening skills with an ability to understand and handle multiple stakeholders
• A curious and analytical mind, and an appetite for staying abreast of the cutting-edge actions and theories taking place with advertising around the globe
• A strong understanding of the dynamics and wider context within marketing organisations, and which internal levers will generate change
• Proven ability to harness various research tools and methods to understand market trends, competitors and industry news that can help educate, inform and advise internal teams and clients
• Exceptional and clear one-to-one communication with clients at all times so that they are both inspired and motivated
• Super communication skills when presenting to or facilitating with larger audiences
• Industry qualifications are desired but not required
• Second language is desired but not required
• Management experience and skills would be beneficial
• Experience of writing for industry titles is desired but not required

If you don't meet every single requirement, we'd still encourage you to apply. At Contagious, we are committed to creating a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace, so if you are excited about this role we would still like you to apply.

Who are we?

Contagious is a creative and strategic intelligence firm that helps agencies and brands supercharge their marketing by learning from the world's most creative and effective companies and campaigns. Through its IQ intelligence platform, consulting services, training and events. Contagious inspires and enables marketers to deliver brave, effective and contagious creativity. Find out more at contagious.com.

Contagious is part of Ascential plc. Ascential takes the world’s leading brands to the heart of what’s next for their industries. We do this through our events, intelligence products and advisory services. Our 700 people serve a global customer base from more than 100 countries in the large and growing Marketing and Financial Technology sectors. Ascential plc is listed on London Stock Exchange.

Why Choose Us?

Two divisions. Three continents. One great culture.

We strive for the highest standards in everything we do. But that’s not just for our customers. We want working for Ascential to be the best career move you’ve ever made.

Ascential is a people-powered company, and we’re committed to supporting each and every one of them. We publish an annual Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Report that sets out our goals, commitments and progress so far. We invest in Employee Groups, empowering them to run educational events, support charities that they’re passionate about, and share experiences with colleagues. These groups include Able to Thrive, Ascential Pride, Black in Business and Empower Women's Network. And our inclusive recruitment practices and early talent programmes help us to bring curious, passionate people from every walk of life into our team.

We’re committed to ensuring that the impact of our business on our environment - and the communities we operate in - is a positive one. That means making sure that each event we run is the most sustainable it’s ever been. We also default all of our pension plans to ESG options, so that our people’s savings are invested in ways that help rather than hinder our planet.

Helping people to connect and drive progress isn’t a business-only goal. We know that the world is a better place when we all lead with heart, supporting charitable causes that make a difference. We provide opportunities to give back through Volunteer Days, our Employee Groups and our charity partner, The Prince’s Trust.

We value output, not hours. Most of our roles ask for 1-2 days a week in your nearest office. But if that’s not possible for you, let’s talk. Flexible work conversations are actively encouraged here, and always will be.

Only you know what’s most important to you. That’s why we offer benefits packages that you can tailor to your needs. These include:

• 15 days of holiday per year and an extra day for each year of service up to 20 days
• 401K – Saving Incentive plan
• Life Assurance and Disability insurance as well as Medical and Dental Insurance plans
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Employee assistance programme, Vision benefits, Volunteering and Commuter benefits
• Option to opt into the Ascential Shares Scheme
• Great learning and development opportunities

We want to ensure everyone has the opportunity to perform their best when interviewing, so if you require any reasonable adjustments that would make you more comfortable during the process, please let us know so that we can do our best to support you.

If we inspire you, why not join and inspire us? Find out more

Ascential anticipates in good faith that the position shall be compensated at a base salary no lower than the posted minimum and no higher than the posted maximum. Each candidate's actual salary will be a function of the candidate’s qualifications, the locally competitive market rate and will be consistent with Ascential's internal approach to base salary compensation.