Director, Brand Strategy

Founded in 1983, Kele Inc. is a leading distribution and solutions partner with national reach and a global presence. Built around our customers and powered by our people, Kele provides millions of in‑stock parts from more than 300 brands to drive automation and efficiency in nearly every type of facility, from office towers and factories to data centers and hospitals.

Our goal is to empower progress for maintenance managers, engineers, contractors, and all those building the future. We do this by delivering parts rapidly, providing custom assemblies upstream, and offering unmatched support to ensure projects run smoothly and downtime is minimized.

With 12 locations nationwide and headquarters in Tennessee, Kele combines deep technical expertise, rapid logistics, and a solutions‑first mindset to help customers simplify supply chains, meet tight schedules, and deliver high‑quality outcomes.

Kele fosters a culture rooted in collaboration, innovation, and customer obsession, empowering associates at every level to contribute, grow, and make a meaningful impact.

We are currently hiring for the role of Director, Brand Strategy.

Summary

The Director, Brand Strategy synthesizes customer insights, market intelligence, and behavioral data to translate Kele’s brand vision into activations that deepen customer connection and accelerate market penetration. This role operationalizes the brand through persona development, behavioral mapping, and differentiated value propositions that drive measurable growth. The leader ensures Kele’s brand architecture and messaging frameworks reflect how customers think, decide, and buy to enhance loyalty and set Kele apart in a crowded marketplace. The Director partners across Marketing, Sales, and Customer Experience to ensure every channel, message, and program reinforces Kele’s unique position in the industry. This position reports to the VP, Brand Strategy with preferred base in Memphis, TN.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Customer, Market & Insights – Summarize and elevate customer and market intelligence (qualitative & quantitative) to guide decision‑making. Monitor competitors, surface business‑impact opportunities, and translate insights into actions that expand market share, enhance Kele’s differentiation, and strengthen brand health.
• Unified Brand Strategy – Own activation criteria and population models. Continuously refine brand architecture, behavioral playbooks, and identify opportunities for customer lifecycle programs that strengthen market connection.
• Brand Positioning – Lead competitive analysis to identify whitespace and growth potential. Define opportunities where Kele’s service levels and capabilities can capture share and drive preference.
• Activation Stewardship & Strategy – Leverage brand and behavioral playbooks to evaluate and forecast the ROI of new activations. Define audience and decision points to scope activation opportunities that reinforce brand equity and growth.
• Cross‑Functional Leadership – Serve as a business partner to integrate brand intelligence and internal feedback loops. Champion change management to ensure successful activation across departments.
• Definition of Success – Partner with Analytics to bring brand KPIs and proof points to life (like NPS). Monitor performance, identify trends, and recommend actions that link brand initiatives to total company growth and customer penetration by market.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Communications, Business, or related field.
• 8+ years of progressive brand leadership experience, ideally within B2B markets.
• Deep analytical background—able to synthesize & interpret customer data, segmentation, and performance metrics.
• Proven ability to translate customer insights into actionable brand strategies.
• Experience overseeing brand identity, messaging frameworks, and corporate communications.
• Demonstrated success managing multi‑channel brand programs and large‑scale campaigns.

Skills and Competencies

• Customer‑obsessed attitude—committed to delivering best‑in‑class experiences and continuously improving how customers interact with the brand.
• Strategic thinker with a deep understanding of customer‑driven branding.
• Exceptional leadership skills with experience managing and inspiring cross‑functional teams.
• Strong storytelling and communication abilities, both written and verbal.
• Data‑informed decision maker skilled at integrating insights into creative execution.
• Expertise in brand governance, voice/tone development, and content strategy.
• Collaborative mindset with the ability to influence across all organizational levels.
• Entrepreneurial and adaptable, thriving in a dynamic, fast‑paced environment.

Benefits

• Medical, vision, and dental insurance
• HSA
• FSA (medical and dependent care)
• 401(k) with employer match up to 4% with immediate vesting
• Employer‑paid short‑ and long‑term disability coverage
• Employer‑paid basic life and AD&D insurance; supplemental life for employees and dependents available
• Paid time off and paid holidays