Strategy Partner

We’re a globally recognized, award-winning strategic brand design consultancy with studios in London, New York, Singapore and Shanghai. Every day, we partner with some of the world’s most ambitious consumer, corporate, and healthcare brands to craft high-impact creative that moves people and markets.

Rooted in purpose and powered by creativity, our mission is simple: get our clients from intent to impact — faster.

As proud members of the MSQ Group and B Corp certified, we unite strategy, design, and experience to shape brands that are not only standout but stand FOR something.

About The Department

At Elmwood, our strategy team majors in driving meaning for our clients across brand, business and design strategies. We provoke new thinking and see possibilities that go beyond category norms. We bring clarity to each challenge, crystallizing convictions to prioritize what’s critical. And we craft compelling and intuitive brand stories that empower clients and engage consumers.

That’s how we help brands get from Intent to Impact faster - translating opportunity into tangible outcomes through agile strategies that you can see and make happen.

The Role

This role plays a crucial part in pitching, winning, leading and delivering large projects and workstreams for our clients of today, and tomorrow. You’ll be part of fast growing, strategy team with your own portfolio of client brands to lead. Equally at ease engaging C-suite clients as rolling up your sleeves to do the work, you’ll get your kicks inspiring creative teams and seeing the impact you make on client’s brands.

What You’ll Do

We’re looking for a Strategy Partner with an entrepreneurial attitude, an ability to simplify the complex and a passion for the power of design, to help our clients shape their convictions, drive distinctiveness and build brands with intent.

You will;

• Take an active role in new business, creating inspirational pitches that win new clients and identify new growth opportunities within existing relationships.
• Drive strategic vision across client portfolios, connecting brand strategy to business growth.
• Have a wealth of experience in creative strategy and a passion for upskilling members of the strategy team.
• Deliver the highest quality strategic content across insight and opportunity mapping; to brand and portfolio strategy and creative strategy.
• Partner with our clients at C-suite level to shape agendas and develop innovative strategic approaches to complex business problems.
• Identify opportunities clients haven't yet recognized, becoming an indispensable strategic partner at the most senior level.
• Be the go‑to expert on client audiences, categories, objectives, priorities - working with the team to transform insight into ideas with intent.
• Craft compelling stories that make the link between business and brand strategy and show how design can help to deliver this.
• Present with gravitas and conviction at all levels, bringing strategic narratives to life.
• Lead workshops and collaborative sessions that inspire teams, generate ideas and help clients to think differently.
• Lead the creation of new platforms or processes that create opportunity and elevate our strategic output.
• Ensure that every strategy workstream is set up to achieve our creative and commercial ambitions.
• Elevate the strategic thinking of the entire team, mentoring directors and strategists to deliver more impactful work.
• Own a strategic expertise that becomes a signature capability for Elmwood.
• Bring a T‑shaped attitude balancing left brain organization with right brain creativity.

Requirements

What You’ll Bring to Elmwood

You’ll will be both a leader and natural collaborator, becoming an indispensable partner for global businesses, confident in classic brand strategy such as purpose, positioning, innovation, architecture, and portfolio strategy, as well as powerful design strategies.

You will demonstrate;

• Passion about building brands with purpose, clarity and measurable impact.
• Proven impact at C‑Suite level with clients as a strategic partner that has helped to drive change within an established business or up‑scale a fast growth challenger.
• Extensive experience in brand and design with a deep expertise in the fundamentals of brand strategy as well as a confident understanding in how to design and refresh brand identities.
• Speak the language of design and with knowledge of its powerful role in digital content and brand experience.
• Confidence in the use and application of AI tools and platforms to enhance strategy delivery.
• Rich experience of different clients and sectors (healthcare, finance and tech is an advantage but not a necessity) at reputable agencies or consultancies.
• Experience in culture/employee engagement, customer experience, innovation, digital platforms and/or research insights and analytics.
• A true team player attitude, someone who knows their way around brand strategy but retains a passion for learning about and trying new ideas for the benefit of both the team and the client.
• Senior level experience but willing to roll up your sleeves and get stuck into some of the menial tasks when required.
• A brilliant collaborative communicator, able to connect with clients and quickly win their trust and confidence, talking their talk to provide solutions to their brand challenges.
• Passionate about your job and your career but with a maturity that allows for balance in your life and your support of colleagues.
• Someone who believes that great work comes first.

If your experience looks different from what we’ve described, but you believe you’d make a great fit — we’d love to hear from you.

What We Offer

We care about our people, and that’s why we create a collaborative culture where new thinking is celebrated, ambition is supported, and people are rewarded for their contribution. Whilst a competitive package, professional development and the opportunity to shape our next chapter is all standard here at elmwood, we thought we would highlight a few of our benefits:

• Responsible PTO
• 12 paid holidays
• 5 paid sick/wellness days
• A comprehensive medical, dental and vision plan (including family coverage)
• Life and disability insurance
• Flexible spending account for medical expenses
• Commuter benefits program
• 401k plan with company matching up to 4.5%, employees start receiving matching contributions after 3 months of employment.

Salary 200k - 225k