Associate Director, Brand Experience Strategy at Dentsu in New York, NY

Job description

Job Description: About Dentsu Creative Business-Driven and Creatively Obsessed. We are dedicated to helping our clients achieve growth. We understand the challenge of standing out in an increasingly competitive marketplace. We recognize that experiences are becoming indistinguishable across industries, and new technologies can both enable creativity and risk commoditization. In this context, the need for a distinct competitive edge is crucial. We believe that embracing creativity is key for sustainable business growth. However, the conventional definition of creativity will not suffice. Our view on creativity goes beyond norms; it’s not just how we execute, but a mindset that permeates our organization and our clients’ businesses. We call it Transformative Creativity. It’s outcome-focused creativity unleashed to solve business problems. This unique brand of creativity sets us apart and drives our clients to success. About Our Strategists We’re Proactive Leaders. Great strategists are proactive and take the initiative to lead teams and clients with new ideas and provocative thoughts. We get ahead of the ask, anticipating the next step and setting the agenda with the energy and optimism it takes to ensure that our work is fresh, our clients feel our partnership, and the team stays ahead of the curve and delivers exceptional ideas. We Challenge the Status Quo. Our strategists take pride in challenging the status quo, always seeking fresh angles and leading with innovative ideas. We push past right, to find what is interesting. We challenge assumptions. We generate the energy and enthusiasm needed to help our teams and clients find the next level in an ever-evolving world, embodying a challenger mindset. We’re Makers and Doers. At every level, from CSO to junior planner, our strategists are makers who take pride in creating things, not just managing projects. We hold ourselves to a high standard of creation, putting hands on keyboards and turning ideas into tangible outputs, fostering a culture of hands-on involvement and tangible creativity that make ideas in our heads a reality in the world. We Cherish a Growth Mindset. We value and fuel a growth mindset, encouraging our strategists to be their best and embrace feedback that challenges their thinking and actions. Our culture is hard on the work but kind to our people, recognizing that personal growth is key to our agency’s success. We’re Radical Collaborators. We are radically collaborative, working fluidly across teams and skill sets with the outcome in mind, not personal egos. Our strategists know that together we are stronger, actively seeking others’ input to solve problems and elevate the work, fostering a culture of collective excellence. Role Overview As Associate Director, Brand Experience Strategy, you will report to the VP, Brand Experience Strategy. You will join a team of smart, creative strategists shaping how spirits, alcohol, and non-alcohol brands come to life across retail, restaurant and bar, entertainment, digital, social, experiential and trade. You lead day-to-day strategy on assigned accounts, keep pulse on leading market and consumer trends, turn insight into go-to-market plans, and partner closely with Account, Creative and Analytics teams to make sure great strategy becomes great work in market. Help turn brand experience visions it into actionable strategies, points of view, experiential programs, and go-to-market plans for assigned brands Sharpen strategic thinking by bringing forward evidence-based ideas for client conversations Lead day-to-day strategy on assigned accounts, projects, and deliverables with minimal oversight Can turn research, data, and observation into clear points of view on where and how brands should show up Represent the strategy voice alongside the whole strategy team in internal and client reviews Qualifications 6+ years developing integrated brand strategies, with at least 2 years in experiential, events, shopper or retail-stra