Merkle is a leading technology-enabled, data-driven customer experience management (CXM) company. For over 30 years, Fortune 1,000 companies and leading nonprofit organizations have partnered with us to build and maximize the value of their customer portfolios. We work with world-class brands to build and execute customer-centric business strategies.

The Strategy Director is a remote opportunity to lead strategist on a select number of accounts in addition to leading the agency's strategic approach on some new business pitches. A specialist in integration combining expertise in brand strategy, creative strategy, customer research and communications with a foundational understanding of media, analytics and technology. You will be expected to understand client goals, to question, inspire, and integrate and above all, lead. This is an opportunity for someone with ambition who wants to redefine what it means to be a strategist today and implement innovative strategies that are unique.

Team and Reporting Structure:

The Strategy Group is a team of sixteen strategists and you will report into the SVP of Strategy. You will join and lead a diverse team with a depth of expertise throughout strategy and there will be opportunities to work with different members of the team.

Responsibilities

Work with other agency teams (Analytics, Vertical Strategy, Media, Client Services) and act as the coordinator/ integrator between those teams and Merkle Creative teams

• You will lead the strategic planning and ideation for select clients that position Merkle B2B as consultants to our client's business
• Identify growth opportunities that create commercial value for the agency and clients
• Lead client teams in the creation of integrated experience strategies and lead such projects from initiation to implementation from a strategic perspective
• Lead the development of creative test planning and roadmaps, including coordinating with other agency teams to ensure the sound execution and measurement of test plan recommendations
• Use insight tools to develop meaningful audience insights that inspire relevance into Merkle's creative executions
• Understand the big picture challenges the clients are facing and determine how creative can help solve those problems
• You will develop creative briefs and briefing sessions and then nurture the ideas developed to ensure they achieve brief and strategy
• Work with creative teams to translate client challenges and express our POV, and you'll ensure creative product is on strategy and aligned with expectations.
• Operate as a solutions architect, integrating several Merkle services (customer strategy, analytics, media, data, research, studio, and development)
• Work with a diverse team of creative strategists on developing innovative ideas and content programs
• Lead research and pitch development for existing portfolio growth and new client opportunities
• Develop thought leadership pieces to help build the agency's profile externally
• Lead, design and facilitate both client-facing and internal workshops
• Be a career advocate and mentor for junior strategists.

• 10+ years' of experience building strategies and working with analytics, media, data, and research teams
• Demonstrated past successes in B2B and B2C marketing
• Bachelor's Degree in business related field
• Experience motivating clients, our teams or other strategists to approach solving marketing challenges in new and better ways
• Experience leading integrated marketing strategies with expertise across all aspects – foundational brand strategy / brand architecture work; communications planning, content, social and digital.
• Well versed in multiple marketing research tools and methodologies – from new ways of using technology to conduct primary research, a deep working knowledge of 3rd party research, secondary research and social listening
• A demonstrated fluency and comfort level working with many agency disciplines including media, social, content, UX, analytics and technology

The anticipated salary range for this position is ($113,000-$182,850)). Actual salary will be based on a variety of factors including relevant experience, knowledge, skills and other factors permitted by law. A range of medical, dental, vision, 401(k) matching, paid time off, and/or other benefits also are available. For more information regarding dentsu benefits, please visit dentsubenefitsplus.com

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About dentsu 
Dentsu is the network designed for what’s next, helping clients predict and plan for disruptive future opportunities in the sustainable economy. Taking a people-centered approach to business transformation, dentsu combines Japanese innovation with a diverse, global perspective to drive client growth and to shape society www.dentsu.com. 

We are champions for meaningful progress and we strive to be a force for good—for our people, for our clients, for the industry and for our society. We keep our people at the center, creating space for growth, understanding and learning so they can thrive. We embed diversity, in our mindset, in our solutions and in our teams to empower an inclusive, equitable and culturally fluent environment. Building this culture within our teams makes us better collaborators with each other and with our clients, driving better outcomes for all.

Dentsu (the "Company") is committed to a policy of Equal Employment Opportunity and will not discriminate against an applicant or employee of the Company, on the basis of age, sex, sexual orientation, race, color, creed, religion, ethnicity, national origin, alienage or citizenship, disability, marital status, veteran or military status, genetic information, or any other legally-recognized protected basis under federal, state or local laws, regulations or ordinances. Applicants with disabilities may be entitled to reasonable accommodation under the terms of the Americans with Disabilities Act and/or certain state or local laws. A reasonable accommodation is a change in the way things are normally done that will ensure an equal employment opportunity without imposing an undue hardship on the Company. Please contact your recruiter if you need assistance completing any forms or to otherwise participate in the application process or to request or discuss an accommodation in connection with a job at the Company to which you are applying.