Senior Strategist - McKinney Health

Agency Purpose

We are a dynamic and innovative marketing and advertising agency, committed to delivering exceptional client results. Our purpose is to discover and unleash the untapped potential in our world with our SMARTS and HEARTS.

• LISTEN. Before anything else, we seek to understand.
• PROVOKE. Proactively question assumptions.
• SIMPLIFY. Strive to take the complex and make it simple.
• PERSEVERE. Expect obstacles. Overcome them and keep going.
• BELIEVE. Trust that, together, we can do anything.
• LOVE. Love what we do, respect, and lift each other up.

Overview

A wise CSO once pointed out that on paper most strategy jobs look pretty much the same. The difference is how practiced we are at the tasks in front of us, and how well we “manage” projects and people. As a Senior Strategist, you are at an inflection point in your growth—the transition from supporting to leading. For that reason, this may be one of the more tricky levels to navigate, yet it is critical to your development. This is the point when you must establish your own point of view, build more

senior-facing relationships, and carve out a leadership role for yourself..because trust and responsibility won’t be given to you based on title alone, you must earn it.

Responsibilities

This is what the job entails, versus what the job requires, which is listed below under Competencies.

Leading

● Lead strategy on two pieces of business with minimal supervision, owning the strategy from beginning to end, including managing briefing, research, strategic insight, and persuasive communications with clients and internal teams

● Be seen as the go-to for information on the consumer, the culture in which they live, the company, and the category in which it lives

● Champion the work, from conception to sell-through to measurement and optimization

● Provide creative feedback that respects the creatives’ process/judgment, while making the work more strategically sound

● Identify what’s missing and what’s needed in terms of data and insights, then lay out a plan to get what we need, drawing on your experience with various research methodologies and information sources

Partnering

● Earn the respect/trust of your creative/account counterparts to lead the business, together

● Earn the respect and trust of clients at all levels as someone who is passionate about their business, their brand, their audience, and invested in their success

● Guide clients, alongside account partners, to clearly align on the challenge at hand

● Solve problems and “manage up” to the Directors of Strategy and CSO on any important issues before they become larger problems

● Partner with other strategic disciplines (social, influencer, media) and account to develop actionable comms frameworks which can be brought to life in targeted initiatives that support the brands goals.

● Work with data strategy (and media analytics when appropriate) to develop and shepherd a measurement plan for any given campaign or initiative

● You will not always be the one with the right answer. Listen well and respect the views of your partners; learn to synthesize what everyone’s saying into a clear and cohesive path forward

Teaching

● Manage younger strategists and/or interns through the fundamentals of research, trend analysis and development of simple human insights

● Be an example for junior strategists of how Strategy can help McKinney create better, more influential work

● Regarding leadership, don’t rush to prove yourself, take your time to build these skills and relationships well—you’ve done it right when your team looks first to you, not your manager, for strategic input and perspective. For that reason, you can’t be an effective leader without being a great partner.

Competencies

Now that you know what the role entails, here’s what you need to be able to do to thrive in it.

● Research Planning. Has familiarity with various research sources and methodologies to help design an approach to answer defined research objectives.

● Brief Writing and Storytelling. Can point to examples of persuasive narrative and presentation skills—making a logical yet inspiring case for our strategic POV

● Creative Perspective. Has a creative point of view and the ability to evaluate work, make lateral connections between ideas, and provide pointed direction to make the creative better. Also able to lead and contribute meaningfully to brainstorming sessions.

● Interpersonal Savvy. Demonstrates high EQ and the ability to relate to all kinds of people—on the team and off, inside the agency and out—working with cross-functional team members to excel at the job

● Growth Orientation. Shows eagerness to learn from experiences—both wins and losses—and can speak to examples of how s/he has taken learnings from one experience into the next

● Perseverance. Shows winning enthusiasm and drive.

● Comfort with the Complex. Enjoys working with brands that can come with highly technical vernacular and complex marketing landscapes in healthcare

● Familiarity with developing and executing campaigns involving social and/or influencers.

● Confidently summarizes key learning and insights for the team.

Experience

5-7 years of strategy work at a creative agency; some experience with at least one other strategy discipline—data, comms, digital and/or social strategy—is a must. Experience working with clients in healthcare or highly regulated environments is a plus.

Education & Training

A Bachelor’s degree is not mandatory, but nice to have.

Salary Range

Our estimated range for this role is $90 - $100k

Compensation packages are based on the skill level and experience each candidate brings to their role.

There may also be a more senior or junior position available that could be a better fit with your expertise. Each level has its own compensation range.

We pride ourselves on competitive salaries, and ensuring pay equity exists across our organization. We benchmark each position against existing employee competencies and 4As compensation data which includes geographic and agency size benchmarks. We also meet with department leaders 3x/year to ensure we are supporting employees in living into their full potential. Our promotions are not limited to a specific time per year. Promotions are tied to performance.

Right To Work In The US

You must be authorized to work in the US for any employer. At this time, we are not sponsoring or providing assistance with obtaining work authorization. McKinney is a place where everyone can grow. Studies have shown that marginalized communities such as women, LGBTQ+ and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. However you identify, and whatever background you bring with you, please apply if this is a role that would make you excited to come into work every day.

We are in the office Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday on a hybrid schedule. We look forward to meeting you!