Near Creative is seeking an experienced and insight-driven Strategy Manager to join our team. In this leadership role, you will develop and oversee insight-led communications strategies for pitches, client campaigns, and renewal initiatives. You will translate business and brand objectives into actionable strategic frameworks, guide creative and operational teams, and mentor Junior Strategists to elevate the quality and consistency of strategic outputs. As a key advisor to clients and internal teams, you will drive strategic alignment, enhance campaign performance, and contribute to Near's long-term growth.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Campaign Strategy & Strategic Planning
- Translate business and brand objectives into actionable, insight-driven communications frameworks.
- Conduct market, competitor, audience, and cultural research to inform strategy.
- Define brand positioning, value proposition, and target audience segments.
- Develop strategic routes, messaging territories, and initial content direction for campaigns.
- Plan campaign phasing and message rollout across relevant touchpoints.
- Ensure consistency of strategy across pitches, campaigns, and client touchpoints.
- Audit campaign performance to identify learnings and inform future improvements.
- Collaborate with Creative, Channel, and Operations teams to develop scalable strategic playbooks.
Pitch & Proposal Leadership
- Manage end-to-end pitch workflow: timelines, alignment, resource allocation, and deliverables.
- Draft and synthesize pitch strategy content with cross-functional teams.
- Oversee quality control to ensure strategic fit and differentiation for all proposals and MOAs.
- Handle multiple pitches in parallel (e.g., 46 per month) with staggered timelines.
Client Engagement
- Participate in client and prospect meetings to understand objectives and priorities.
- Translate client discussions into actionable strategy recommendations.
- Adapt messaging to different client audiences (marketing teams, executives).
- Serve as a strategic advisor across cross-functional teams within defined scope.
Cross-Functional Alignment & Operational Oversight
- Ensure teams understand and implement the communications strategy effectively.
- Review creative and channel outputs to ensure alignment with strategy.
- Facilitate iteration and refinement of strategic approaches based on campaign results and team feedback.
- Maintain organized strategy documentation, templates, and playbooks for reuse.
- Capture lessons learned to continuously improve and scale strategic approaches.
Team Leadership & Capability Development
- Mentor and coach Junior Strategists and other team members in research, strategic thinking, and execution.
- Conduct performance audits and provide structured feedback to drive individual growth.
- Lead training programs or initiatives to strengthen strategic capabilities.
- Support People & Culture and Heads of Departments in hiring and onboarding new team members.
- Reinforce Near's culture and quality expectations in client interactions and internal processes.
Commercial & Performance Leadership
- Contribute to revenue growth by identifying strategic upsell opportunities and informing pitch positioning.
- Ensure strategy aligns with client objectives, campaign budgets, and operational feasibility.
- Monitor strategic delivery across pitches and campaigns to maintain high-quality outcomes.
QUALIFICATIONS
Education: Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Advertising, Communications, or related field.
Experience:
- 57 years of agency, brand, or marketing experience in strategy, client servicing, or campaign leadership.
- Proven success developing high-impact communications strategies and campaigns.
- Experience overseeing or mentoring teams and guiding cross-functional alignment.
Skills:
- Strong strategic thinking, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to translate insights into actionable strategic frameworks and creative guidance.
- Confident communicator capable of influencing senior client stakeholders.
- Proficiency in Google Workspace, Asana, analytics dashboards, and digital/influencer marketing tools.
- Ability to balance strategic vision with operational execution.
Traits:
- Emotionally Intelligent: Maintains composure and empathy when managing clients or teams.
- Autonomous and Accountable: Leads independently with clear decision-making impact.
- Customer-Centric: Drives alignment and operational excellence to strengthen client satisfaction.
- Critical Thinker: Identifies gaps, inefficiencies, and opportunities for improvement.
- Grit and Resilience: Performs under pressure, manages multiple priorities, and resolves challenges proactively.
- Positive Accountability: Promotes constructive dialogue and a culture of trust and professionalism.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience leading multi-level strategy teams in digital, creative, or influencer marketing.
- Strong understanding of performance analytics, insights-driven creative strategy, and campaign measurement.
- Cross-functional leadership experience with Creative, Accounts, and Operations teams.
- Certifications in digital marketing, strategy, or leadership.
Who You Are:
- A strategic thinker who can connect insight with execution.
- Relationship-driven, able to navigate client conversations with confidence.
- Structured, process-oriented, and committed to elevating team performance.
- A mentor who enjoys developing talent and guiding others through complex projects.
- Driven by continuous improvement for both personal and organizational growth.
Interested applicants may also apply through https://nearcreative.co/careers/strategy-manager.
About Near
Near Creative is an agency specializing in influencer marketing campaigns that drive measurable brand results. With a focus on creating social media strategies aligned with brand goals, Near Creative has worked with over 200 brands and 1000 influencers since its establishment in 2017.
