Director, Brand and Communications Strategy

Job Description

At The Lede Company, our strength lies in developing culturally resonant marketing and communications strategies that help brands solve their most important business challenges.

The Director, Brand and Communications Strategy sits within the Brand Division and the New Business & Strategy team, a team responsible for driving the strategic thinking that powers both client work and The Lede Company’s growth. This role is designed for a seasoned, deeply strategic and intellectually curious leader who will set the strategic vision for brand strategy, campaign architecture and integrated communications planning for some of the world’s most innovative brands across fashion, lifestyle, beauty, wellness, automotive, technology and social platforms.

This role will own key strategic moments for clients, including annual planning, campaign development and special strategic projects. As part of the account work, this client-facing role will oversee all phases of marketing and communications strategy development, including campaign development, execution and results reporting. The Director will serve as a senior strategic counsel to clients, oversee project workflow and timelines, and lead and mentor the integrated account team.

This role offers the opportunity to shape strategy for culturally relevant brands, partner with Lede leadership, and play a leading role in growing The Lede Company.

Marketing & Communications Strategy

• Set the strategic vision and lead the development of integrated marketing and communications strategies that solve client business challenges and drive measurable brand growth
• Translate business objectives, cultural insights and consumer behavior into clear strategic frameworks and campaign platforms, and serve as the final strategic point of review before work goes to clients
• Oversee the development of campaign architecture, messaging frameworks and strategic briefs that guide integrated teams across PR, content, partnerships and brand marketing
• Serve as a the strategic connection point between brand marketing and PR/communications across client work and new business
• Lead strategic workshops and brainstorms with internal teams and senior client stakeholders to unlock breakthrough campaign ideas and cultural opportunities
• Direct qualitative and quantitative research plans from scope to synthesis to inform insights, positioning and campaign direction
• Identify emerging cultural, media and consumer trends and translate them into strategic opportunities for client brands
• Own strategic planning initiatives including annual brand planning, campaign strategy and special strategic projects
• Bring curiosity across industries, brands, design, entertainment and culture to inspire unexpected strategic ideas, and champion this mindset across the team

New Business

• Lead strategy for new business proposals from brief to pitch, including market and competitor analysis, insights development, campaign platforms and integrated communications plans
• Develop and communicate creative, big ideas based on client briefs, insights and research
• Shape compelling, visually impactful pitch narratives and present them to prospective clients
• Partner with senior leadership to define pitch positioning, strategic direction and creative campaign ideas
• Drive engagement with prospective clients, identify emerging opportunities and lead proactive outreach strategies
• Help shape the evolution of The Lede Company’s capabilities, positioning and thought leadership

Team Leadership & Project Management

• Manage, mentor and develop strategists on the team, providing direction, feedback and growth opportunities
• Oversee workback timelines and resourcing for client work and new business proposals, ensuring work is delivered on time and to a high standard
• Inspire and guide Lede’s team members to translate scopes of work into project plans, define responsibilities and manage workflow
• Align clients with a strategic approach that includes guardrails, considerations and industry insights
• Collaborate with Lede’s team members and leaders across divisions to champion assignments and develop comprehensive marketing & communications strategies that drive client business growth
• Lead the refinement of internal team processes to optimize productivity and efficiency within the account and new business workflows

Client Management

• Build and own senior relationships with existing and prospective clients, serving as a trusted strategic advisor and escalation point — managing communications, relationship building and resolving issues as they arise
• Drive scopes of work from start to finish and be a thought leader to existing clients, identifying opportunities to grow and expand accounts
• Advise and support clients in implementing marketing & communications initiatives and projects

About You

• Your professional background: 10+ years of experience in brand strategy, communications strategy or integrated marketing strategy on the agency or client side, including experience leading new business pitches and managing teams.
• Strategic leader: You excel at connecting cultural insight, business challenges and creative thinking to develop clear brand and campaign strategies, and you can set strategic direction for a team.
• Skilled presentation designer and presenter: Exceptional at translating strategy into compelling narratives and visually impactful presentations, with confident presentation skills in front of senior client stakeholders. Demonstrated ability to develop copy and design visually compelling presentations in Google Slides.
• Excellent communicator: Clear, persuasive written and verbal communication with exceptional attention to detail.
• Exceptional researcher and analyst: Strong research and analytical skills, with a track record of turning qualitative and quantitative data into actionable insight.
• Proactive self-starter: Driven individual who can thrive in a dynamic work environment with strong problem-solving instincts.
• Creative thinker: Demonstrates creativity by bringing innovative ideas to the table.
• Curious mindset: Brings a natural curiosity about brands, industries and culture, and actively seeks inspiration across disciplines to inform strategic thinking.
• Collaborative team leader: Showcases strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate across divisions and teams. Comfortable leading brainstorms, mentoring team members and inspiring cross-disciplinary teams.
• Process-oriented: Adept at following processes and proactive at identifying opportunities to optimize.
• Cultural-first mindset: Essential to be plugged into news and trends with pop culture and social media fluency is a must!

The Lede Company is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.

About The Lede Company

The Lede Company is a full-service strategy, communications and social impact consulting firm, specializing in corporate, entertainment, brand and nonprofit sectors. With dedicated Talent, Music, Strategic Communications, Brand, Content and Social Impact divisions, we work with our clients to advance business and social outcomes through innovative storytelling, media, campaigns and partnerships. Our service offerings draw on our expertise, relationships, and resources, all of which enable us to exceed client expectations and ultimately deliver results.