Brand Strategist

Senior Brand & Communications Strategist JConnelly is a boutique integrated communications and PR agency founded in 2003 by Jennifer Connelly, headquartered in New York. We work with clients across financial services, tech, entertainment, food & beverage, health & wellness, and consumer brands — everything from media relations and crisis communications to digital marketing, content, and reputation management. We're looking for a senior Brand & Communications Strategist with deep roots in PR and earned media who can bring that expertise to a much broader strategic mandate. The right person understands how reputation is built, how narratives take hold, what makes a story matter to media and audiences, and how earned, owned, shared and paid channels work together to influence perception and drive business outcomes. This is a hands‑on senior role for someone with intellectual curiosity, sharp strategic instincts, creative ambition, and commercial judgment. You can quickly understand an unfamiliar business or category, challenge conventional thinking when needed, and make a persuasive case to senior executives, prospects, creative partners, and internal teams. You will advise clients, shape the work, and help colleagues become stronger strategic thinkers. What You'll Do Shape communications strategy for current and prospective clients Define the business challenge, interpret the evidence, and set the strategic direction from planning through execution Use research, behavioral data, media intelligence, and direct observation to determine what matters and why Bring a sophisticated understanding of earned media to integrated strategy: what makes a story relevant, how news cycles and media narratives develop, where clients can credibly enter the conversation, and when earned media is—or isn't—the right answer Turn insight into original ideas and strategic opportunities that give clients a meaningful advantage Bring clients ideas and counsel beyond the immediate assignment, strengthening the relationship and creating new opportunities to support their business Assess prospective clients, categories, and competitors to create differentiated proposals and pitches that demonstrate how JConnelly thinks Exercise sound independent judgment and use AI and other emerging tools where they strengthen the work Strengthen strategic thinking across the agency Mentor colleagues, helping them become stronger strategic thinkers through hands‑on coaching and feedback Push teams past the obvious answer, sharpen the thinking behind their recommendations, and help them make better strategic choices Develop practical frameworks and tools that teams can apply across client assignments Requirements At least eight years of agency experience in PR, corporate communications, integrated communications or a closely related discipline, with significant responsibility for communications strategy, senior client counsel and competitive pitches Significant hands‑on earned‑media experience is required. You understand the media landscape, news judgment, narrative development and what it takes to earn attention—not simply how earned media fits into a channel plan. Strategic work that has solved significant business or reputation challenges, strengthened client relationships, and created new growth opportunities The presence and judgment to earn credibility with senior executives and become someone clients actively seek out for counsel Evidence that you have made others stronger strategic thinkers through coaching, feedback, or approaches they adopted Exceptional writing and storytelling skills; your thinking must hold up on the page as well as it does in the room Featured benefits Guardian/VSP)Company-funded Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) on select medical plans Company-paid life insurance & AD&D coverage ESOP — employee stock ownership, fully funded by JConnelly, no cost to you 401(k) with company match (traditional &Roth options) Supplemental coverage through Aflac (disability, critical illness, and more) Free 24/7 healthcare navigation through Health Advocate Virtual vet consultations through Petzey #J-18808-Ljbffr