Associate Strategy Director

You’re a confident strategic thinker and communicator who can guide a project, a client and a team. You know how to inspire belief – in the work, the thinking behind it, and the opportunity ahead. You bring energy to strategy, structure to complexity, and a generosity that grows those around you. You’re increasingly trusted by clients to lead conversations and by your team to shape the direction. You balance rigour and imagination, and are as interested in where a brand is going as where it’s been.

Strategic thinking & insight generation You confidently shape and drive the strategic direction of projects, drawing from research, culture and intuition to frame and direct distinctive thinking that resonates with clients and inspires creativity.

Creative briefing & storytelling You compile or direct on briefs and narratives that unlock meaningful ideas – translating positioning, insight and strategy into stories that are exciting, inspirational, relevant and strategically sound.

Brand & business strategy You lead work defining brand promises, architecture, and tone with confidence, ensuring each brand’s strategic foundation is strong, flexible and creatively rich. You challenge, adapt and deepen models as needed.

Client relationships & influence You’re a trusted partner to senior clients – guiding decisions, asking better questions and presenting thinking with confidence and clarity. You handle pushback with maturity and keep momentum moving.

Team leadership & mentoring You support the growth of strategists and junior strategists through honest, constructive feedback and day-to-day coaching. You model clarity, curiosity and collaboration – helping others stretch their thinking with support and challenge.

Commercial acumen You understand how to balance ambition and scope, shaping proposals, timelines and pitch responses that are both inspiring and deliverable. With creative and client partnership leads,  you’ll drive project momentum, shape thinking, and grow trusted client relationships.

• 6+ years of branding experience that spans different markets, categories and industries; must include working with brands in the personal care sector.
• A proven track record of success working with both established and entrepreneurial brands in delivering strategically driven creative strategies with an emphasis on 2D/3D packaging, identity and innovation.
• Ability to simplify the complex through rigour, clarity and inspiration.

JDO UK is home to two creative hubs: our headquarters in the historic heart of Royal Tunbridge Wells and our central London studio. Each of us is based at one location, but we work as one team; sharing ideas, collaborating across disciplines and supporting each other to deliver our strongest work.

Moving between the two studios gives us fresh perspectives and new energy, while helping ideas cross-pollinate.

We’re part of JDO’s international network of designers, brand strategists and client partnership experts, partnering with some of the world’s most loved and influential brands. Our work spans brand and creative strategy, packaging and product design, innovation and sustainability, and experiential and campaign activation.

Whatever the brief, we create brand worlds that connect, inspire and stay relevant in an ever-changing landscape.