Strategist

Strategists at AKQA make our client's business their business. Working with account teams and creative teams, they are the voice of both the client and the consumer, and their job rarely ends at strategy. Adept storytellers, strategists use their endless curiosity and up-to-date knowledge of technology, culture and societal trends to provide unique outlooks and innovative solutions for our clients.

As a strategist at AKQA, you work to shape an organisation's identity, positioning, communications, and growth trajectory. Actively seeking to bring consumer voice into the work, you help companies of all scales relate to their intended audience, differentiate from the category, and take the lead in the culture. You work collaboratively with the rest of the studio to grow brands creatively and effectively, through the lens of expression, experience, and business.

We are currently seeking a Strategist to join our Paris team. You evaluate clients through the lens of Brand, Experience, and Business, delivering core outputs for Brand and Communication Strategy projects and defining KPIs to monitor project effectiveness. 

As part of the AKQA team, you will work in an environment that fosters a dynamic and meritocratic culture, surrounded by some of the brightest minds in their fields. You will report to the Associate Planning Director and collaborate with others across the Paris studio and wider EMEA region.

ROLE REQUIREMENTS

• Lead small clients & participate in pitches: Take ownership of smaller client accounts, acting as their trusted strategic voice and managing project deliverables from concept to execution
• Understand the client's business needs and collaborate with the team to define solutions.
• Research & Data: Conduct extensive research (qualitative and quantitative, interviews, desktop, etc) and digest findings into relevant, actionable insight. 
• Have a broad overview of all client data sources, and know where to get the specifics very quickly.
• Effectively interface with the Strategy team for approval and direction throughout the project lifecycle and to escalate points of concern.
• Develop a framework for approach including building out hypothesis, work streams and milestones.
• Keep abreast of cultural, creative and technological news and developments pertaining to clients/useful for the account team.
• Strategy : craft radical, culturally-relevant point of views across all ecosystems and touchpoints from TVC, to CRM, to Social, to ecom.
• Inspire : Proactively share emerging trends, and strategic thinking to inspire the strategy team and agency at large. 
• Ensure there is close integration with other disciplines within AKQA, especially with Account Management, User Experience, and Creative.
• Ensure work is to the highest possible standards at all times, and that client presentations are engaging and inspiring.
• Be proactive, provoke debate, and identify what the agenda for future discussion should be.

QUALITIES AND CHARACTERISTICS

• Experience in strategic planning within a digital or integrated agency environment.
• An insatiable curiosity and ability to observe and identify patterns, trends and insights. 
• Able to sport the kernel of an idea and experienced in helping form ideas.
• A gifted factual storyteller with one foot in the now and one foot in the future.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to influence and inspire people.
• Be willing to use your experience to sharpen and strengthen team skills.
• Insatiable curiosity and can observe and identify patterns, trends, and insights, turning research and data into effectiveness and performance.
• Lateral and creative thinker with the ability to make complex topics simple, and a passion for creativity, innovation, and compelling experiences.
• Fluent in both English and French .

Explore our extensive range of benefits here.

We believe great work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That's why we've adopted a hybrid approach including required in-office days. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.

AKQA is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to particular characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.