Senior Brand Strategist (Temp to Perm)

TAVERN is seeking a highly talented, motivated, and experienced Senior Strategist to join our team, working closely with our Creative and Client Services teams to develop insightful, culturally relevant, and commercially impactful brand strategies.

As a Senior Strategist at TAVERN, you'll play a key role in shaping the strategic direction of our clients' brands, translating complex business challenges, consumer behaviors, and cultural insights into clear, compelling strategic thinking that inspires exceptional creative work. You'll take ownership of strategic workstreams across multiple projects, confidently leading research, developing strategic recommendations, and presenting your thinking to clients and internal teams.

Our Senior Strategists are curious, insightful, and persuasive thinkers who bring a strong point of view to the table. You're a confident storyteller and presenter, able to challenge assumptions, uncover meaningful opportunities, and build trust with clients and creative partners alike. You balance analytical rigor with creative intuition and understand how to turn strategic thinking into actionable ideas that drive real business impact.

Most importantly, you bring a high degree of cultural and emotional intelligence, thrive in a collaborative environment, and know how to work effectively across different perspectives and disciplines. You're proactive, resourceful, and comfortable taking the lead, while contributing to the continued growth and excellence of TAVERN's strategic offering.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead the development of compelling brand strategies, positioning, and creative briefs that address client business challenges and inspire exceptional creative work
• Independently own strategic workstreams across multiple clients and projects, from research and discovery through strategic development, creative briefing, and execution
• Develop a deep understanding of clients' businesses, competitive landscapes, consumers, and cultural contexts to uncover meaningful insights and growth opportunities
• Translate complex research, consumer behaviors, and cultural trends into clear, actionable strategic recommendations and compelling brand narratives
• Champion the strategic vision for assigned projects, ensuring creative work remains aligned with the brand's positioning, objectives, and overall strategic direction
• Partner closely with Creative and Client Services teams to shape creative development, provide thoughtful strategic feedback, and elevate the quality and effectiveness of the work
• Confidently lead strategic presentations, workshops, and client conversations, clearly articulating recommendations and building trust with key stakeholders
• Identify opportunities to expand existing client relationships and contribute strategic thinking to new business pitches and proposals
• Collaborate effectively across disciplines, contributing to a culture of curiosity, strategic rigor, and creative excellence
• Support and mentor more junior team members, helping to strengthen strategic thinking and capabilities across the agency

QUALIFICATIONS

• 5–7+ years of experience in brand strategy, preferably within a creative, branding, or advertising agency
• Proven expertise in brand positioning, consumer and cultural insight development, and translating strategic thinking into creatively inspiring, business-driving briefs
• Demonstrated ability to independently lead strategic projects from initial discovery and research through positioning, creative development, and final recommendations
• Strong analytical and conceptual thinking skills, with the ability to identify meaningful insights, challenge assumptions, and uncover the real business problems that brand strategy can solve
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to craft compelling strategic narratives and confidently present recommendations to clients and internal teams
• Deep understanding of the role of brands, design, communications, and consumer experience in driving business growth, particularly within beverage, spirits, CPG, food, and hospitality
• Strong understanding of consumer behavior, cultural trends, and the competitive landscape, with a natural curiosity for how brands connect with people
• Experience designing and facilitating client workshops, leading brainstorming sessions, and contributing to new business pitches
• Ability to balance strategic rigor with creative intuition, serving as both a strong strategic partner and a hands-on contributor
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects and priorities independently while maintaining a high standard of strategic excellence
• Strong interpersonal and collaboration skills, with the confidence to challenge thinking constructively and build trusted relationships across teams
• Bachelor's degree in a related field, or equivalent professional experience
• Thrives on direct, honest, and supportive communication

Tavern offers 24 days PTO per year, paid holidays, paid sick leave, 401k matching, medical/dental and access to other benefits like HealthAdvocate, One Medical, Teladoc, TalkSpace, Kindbody. Plus half day Summer Fridays between Memorial Day and Labor Day.