Senior Strategy Director
THE AGENCY
We build brands that lead culture by understanding the future of sports, esports and gaming fandom.
Our entire agency process is built on real-time listening with the new breed of fan. We do this by collaborating with our global network of over 11,000 fans. We call this Fan Intelligence®. You can learn more about Fan Intelligence® with a short film here
We pride ourselves on listening better than anyone and our purpose “To Make the World Listen” is fundamental in everything we do.
2021 was our fifth consecutive year of growth, we have long term partnerships with the likes of PlayStation, Sony Electronics, New Balance, and Coca-Cola.
OUR CULTURE…
We are dedicated to making Ear to the Ground an amazing place to work where people grow, develop and thrive. We pride ourselves on our dynamic and exciting culture, excellent support of staff and fantastic benefits package. We have made it our mission to lead the way in being an inspiring, future-thinking, creative agency and are invested in our people because they are the ones that will make that happen.
THE ROLE…
Job Title: Senior Strategy Director / Director of Strategy
Hub: Strategy
Location: Manchester
We operate a ‘Working from Anywhere’ policy so encourage applications from candidates anywhere in the UK. HQ is in Manchester UK, and depending on your permanent location you’d be required to be in the Manchester office 1 - 2 days a week.
Organisation Structure
Reports to: CEO
Responsible for: Strategy Hub
Job Purpose
Driving cultural relevance for some of the biggest and most ambitious brands in the world
Build & develop a world class team of Strategists, Analysts and Digital & Social experts. Lead, develop & deliver on all insight, planning & strategy projects across agency clients. Create best in class creative briefing processes. Ensure Fan Intelligence® is the central part of the insight, strategy & creative process for every brief.
Main Responsibilities and Activities
TEAM MANAGEMENT
Build and lead a world class strategy department with specialist teams
Oversee the management, scopes & briefing of all insight & strategy projects
Management of the team to ensure they deliver industry leading insight and strategy
Maintain and develop process & communication with wider team
INSIGHT & TRENDS
Lead the team on curating world class insights from our Fan Intelligence® model and wider tools to feed into all client work
Work with Fan Intelligence team to develop best practice research & insight methods
Oversee development market trend reports in line with client retainers
STRATEGY CREATION & DELIVERY
Oversee the delivery of all client strategy briefs & responses from projects ranging from global brand strategies through to more tactical campaign strategy
Develop best practice model for creative briefing
Lead team on creative brief writing & delivery to other departments
Lead a team of Digital & Social experts responsible for the development of communication strategy as well as campaign delivery
Integrate a collaborative Fan Intelligence approach at all stages
ROAD TESTING & DEVELOPMENT
Oversee concept testing and refinement within Fan Intelligence network
Develop process & tools for concept testing
MEASUREMENT
Oversee Evaluation team
Continually seek to prove effectiveness of the work and of Fan Intelligence
Work with CEO to define and roll out a successful value based pricing model
PROJECT PLANNING, RESOURCING & PROCESSES
Work to continually optimise agency and hub processes
Review, refine & agree all department briefs
Own & manage resource of department
Skills & Experience:
Must have:
10 years experience in related positions in Branding, Marketing or Advertising Agency
Experience in the development of brand positioning as well as campaign development
Experience and understanding of the development of Digital & Social campaign development
Understanding of measurement and how to prove effectiveness cases
A strategic thinker with the ability to instil confidence in clients and across internal teams
Passionate about sports / gaming / music desired
Must be an excellent verbal and written communicator, comfortable preparing proposals, presentations and speaking in front of groups
Creative problem solver
Powerful and concise storytelling skills
Excellent leadership skills & experience in developing team members
Passion for managing and mentoring junior members of the team
Hours: Full Time
- Department
- Strategy
- Locations
- Manchester
- Remote status
- Hybrid Remote

Manchester
Team Benefits
-
Private Medical Insurance & Medical Cash Plan
Two different health plans to help you keep a healthy body and mind, and to access the help you need if you're not well. -
Personal Development Coach
Book time, anytime with our external development coach to support you through your goals, or help you with challenges you may be facing. -
Work From Anywhere policy
Find the patterns of working and places to work from that are best for you to help you work productively and effectively, as well as balance work with everything else in your life. -
Enhance Maternity, Paternity & SPL
Packages that go above and beyond to support working parents -
Mental Health Support inc free counselling
We want to support our teams' mental health and do so though; mental health support pathway, 24/7 employee support helpline, free counselling, Mental Health Ambassadors -
Many more in our brilliant benefits package
Workplace & culture
Ear to the Ground is a place where people grow, develop and thrive.
We are proudly independent. At our core, we understand the importance of culture in enabling you to do your best work. Progress is possible for everyone that joins us. We reward ambition, invest in talent, and encourage you to forge your own path.
Our commitment to listening is felt by our own people too; this is an agency where every voice is heard. Supportive, collaborative, social, and inspiring.
You will benefit from our ‘Work From Anywhere’ policy and we encourage applications from candidates anywhere in the UK. Our HQ is in Manchester, which you should expect to travel to at least once a month for meetings and events; but otherwise you have the flexibility to work wherever suits you best.
About Ear to the Ground
EAR TO THE GROUND IS AN INDEPENDENT CREATIVE AGENCY.
POWERED BY FAN INTELLIGENCE®, WE USE REAL-TIME LISTENING TO BUILD BRANDS THAT LEAD CULTURE.
Senior Strategy Director
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