Senior Marketing Strategist

Position Title: Senior Marketing Strategist Date: Aug 31st, 2026 Reports To: Marketing Team Lead FLSA Status: Exempt Department: Marketing Position Status: Full Time Supervisory Responsibilities: None Intro to the Role: We’re looking for someone to own marketing strategy for our clients and stick with it. Today that work lives with our leadership team, who build the plan at kickoff and work to maintain it, while our specialists execute. This role picks up strategy and carries it by coordinating with both clients and the broader agency team. You’d run discovery, write the plan, present it to the client, and then stay on it month after month: adjusting as results come in, briefing the specialists who execute it, and answering for whether it worked (and why). You’d be doing that here in Delaware, for organizations you already know. We’ve built brands, websites, and campaigns for BioConnect DE, the Cancer Support Community of Delaware, the Delaware Museum of Nature and Science, and the Delaware Center for Justice, alongside engineering firms, B2B businesses, universities, and performing arts organizations across the region. We are eleven years in, a staff of 26+, an Inc. 5000 (2026) agency, and a Delaware State Chamber “Superstars in Business” award winner. And we are doing work that shows up in our own community. You fit this role if you are genuinely curious about how businesses work, what makes marketing work, and why people value what they value. Curious enough to walk into a room with a CEO or Executive Director, and ask the question nobody else thought to ask, then go help build the answer. If that’s you, we’d like to meet. Experience & Skills Required: 5+ years in marketing strategy, brand planning, or digital marketing — agency experience strongly preferred. Demonstrated ability to think critically and strategically, translating complex business problems into clear, data-driven, and effective marketing plans. Solid command of both marketing and business fundamentals. Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with a talent for crafting compelling narratives and presenting complex ideas with clarity and confidence. Strong client-facing and presentation skills, with experience building rapport and establishing credibility with senior-level stakeholders. A deep, holistic understanding of the digital marketing ecosystem, including SEO, SEM/PPC, content marketing, email automation, and social media marketing. Proficiency in analyzing marketing data and using analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Ahrefs, HubSpot) to generate insights and measure ROI. Direct experience creating essential strategy documents, such as project briefs, marketing plans, content calendars, advertising campaign strategies, social media playbooks, audit reports, and creative briefs. A highly collaborative mindset with the ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams and inspire them to execute on a unified strategic vision. Excellent problem-solving abilities and a proactive, curious mindset, always seeking to understand the root cause and find innovative solutions. Ability to adapt to evolving situations and shifting priorities, willingness to re-adjust strategic approach as needed while thinking and learning on your feet. Ability and willingness to not just do the strategy, but do the work alongside the broader agency team as well. What You’ll Do: Own the strategy for your accounts across the life of the engagement, not just at kickoff. Keep the plan alive month over month, adjust it as results come in, and make sure the team executing it understands the why behind it. Develop comprehensive, multi-channel marketing strategies for a diverse portfolio of clients, aligning with their unique business goals and market position. Lead client discovery sessions and stakeholder interviews to deeply understand business objectives, target audiences, pain points, and success metrics. Conduct in-depth market, competitor, and audience research to uncover key insights, trends, and opportunities that will inform strategic recommendations. Craft compelling core messaging, value propositions, and brand positioning statements that resonate with target personas across all marketing channels. Author detailed marketing and campaign plans that clearly outline objectives, KPIs, recommended channels, tactical roadmaps, budget, and timelines. Translate high-level strategies into actionable and inspiring project briefs for internal creative, content, and technical teams, ensuring clarity and strategic alignment. Collaborate closely with account/project managers and specialists (SEO, PPC, Content, Social) to guide campaigns from concept to completion, keeping work on scope, on budget, and on timeline, and flagging adjustments early when they’re needed. Analyze campaign performance data and marketing analytics to measure effectiveness, derive actionable insights, and drive continuous optimization of strategy and tactics. Ensure that client deliverables and written work are completed to a high degree of quality, and are free of mistakes or misalignment with project needs and plans. Own the client communication cadence: monthly check-in meetings and progress updates, plus quarterly business reviews where you present strategic recommendations and performance reports and articulate the “why” behind the data and our approach. Work with our team leads and experts to craft estimates and “scope of work” documents for new opportunities. Stay at the forefront of marketing trends, emerging digital technologies, and consumer behavior to bring innovative and effective ideas to our clients and agency. Own the editorial calendar and content pipeline for your accounts, including rolling up your sleeves on production when the work calls for it. Create and deliver monthly analytics reports to report on campaign performance, providing recommendations and strategic insight on campaign health. Seek professional development opportunities, including acquiring and maintaining relevant industry certifications. Perform other functions and duties as required. Attributes for a successful candidate: Highly collaborative, respectful, and has a positive attitude Demonstrates personal ownership and accountability Ability to distill complex concepts into simple messages Ability to think and act both strategically and tactically Excellent verbal and written communication skills High levels of integrity, autonomy, and self-motivation Level of flexibility and adaptability to a fast‑paced workflow We use the tools below to collaborate: You’ll Get: Compensation range is based on skills and experience. Budgeted at $65-85k, but flexibility is available for best-fit candidates. Hybrid schedule (3 days in office, 2 days remote) Short term disability and long term disability as a company-paid benefit 401k with up to 4% match Primary office location in Wilmington, Delaware. Access to professional development tools where we encourage you to spend an hour a week learning new skills Lots of snacks Parking A close-knit, hardworking team that has fun and loves a good challenge Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this role. Physical Demands: Must be able to remain in a stationary position 50% of the time. The person in this position needs to occasionally move about inside the office to access file cabinets, office machinery, etc. Constantly operates a computer and other office productivity machinery, such as a copy machine and computer printer. Some travel or event attendance may be required First Ascent is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class. This position description does not imply that the stated requirements are the only expectations for the position. Incumbents are expected to perform any other duties that may be assigned. First Ascent Design has the right to revise this position description at any time. First Ascent Design is an “at will” employer and as such, neither this position description nor your signature constitutes any form of contractual agreement between you and First Ascent Design. #J-18808-Ljbffr First Ascent Design Llc