Associate Director, Strategy

Planning / Strategy London, United Kingdom

At Inizio Evoke, we put the soul into science, use empathy as our measure of excellence and commit to only brave action – because health deserves so much more.

Our health first, sector second approach covers the full spectrum of marketing and communications, using insight-driven creativity to inspire meaningful behaviour change across multiple channels and audiences.

We believe everyone has a purpose at Inizio Evoke, and it’s everyone’s role to Make Health More Human.

Location: This role can be based at our Brighton, Manchester or London office, on a hybrid model. Minimum 2 days in the office.

The Role

The Associate Director, Strategy plays a pivotal role in the Inizio Evoke Europe (IEE) Strategy & Insights (S&I) team by leading the development of creative, omnichannel marketing strategies with the objective of changing behaviour. Specifically, they are responsible for successfully planning, implementing and analysing strategies that enable us to deliver best in class creative and programmes grounded in behavioural science, as well as identifying opportunities for driving revenue growth via outstanding strategic consultancy. Put simply, they act as the catalyst for inspiring evidence-based ideas that thrive in real lives.

The Associate Director, Strategy will play a key leadership role as part of a highly collaborative, award-winning team. They will be expected to role model strategic excellence and work with the Strategy Leadership Team to identify opportunities for enhancing the agency’s strategic offering and elevating the team’s profile via thought leadership.

The Associate Director, Strategy will report directly to a Senior Associate Director, Strategy and will sit within the Strategy and Insights Team. The Associate Director, Strategy will have line management responsibilities. They will also be required to provide coaching and transfer of knowledge to colleagues within the S&I team and beyond, as appropriate.

The Associate Director, Strategy will also be expected, on occasion, to work with colleagues and services within the wider Inizio group - for example to deliver new business projects / opportunities.

Key areas of responsibility

• To be the strategic lead on designated projects. Ensuring that the overall strategy is preserved, and of the highest possible quality:
• To collaborate with IEE teams / functions to lead the planning and delivery of outstanding strategy and strategic consultancy that is insight-driven and rooted in behaviour change.
• To inspire outstanding ideas via insightful and thought-provoking creative briefs.
• To support, build and deliver omnichannel or multi-channel programmes including recommendation of appropriate earned, paid and owned channels, informed by behavioural science.
• To promote the value of analysis and evaluation of programme objectives against strategy, goals and expectations of all stakeholders.
• To advise, inspire and excite clients about our work, whether through face-to-face meetings, calls, workshops or written presentations and proposals.
• To act as a champion for measurement and evaluation of the impact of our work, supporting the Strategy Leadership Team to evolve and embed this across the agency.
• To promote the value of insights and behavioural science in inspiring creativity.
• To ensure excellence not only in strategic outputs but in the operational management and execution of programmes. This includes, ensuring that projects are delivered on time and to budget, ensuring commercial success.
• To lead the strategy for pitches and / or new business opportunities.
• To champion the agency’s strategic methodology, output and consultancy capability, contributing to a high value and differentiated proposition.
• To identify opportunities for thought leadership and actively contribute to promoting the agency’s strategic offering both externally and across the wider Inizio group.
• Responsible for other financial requirements for both self and team, including timely processing of expenses.
• To work with the Strategy Leadership Team to support the running and development of a high-performing S&I team.
• To support the overall business development effort, proactively identifying incremental revenue opportunities with existing and potential clients.
• To lead the development and presentation of the strategy on pitches and new business opportunities, as well as oversee pitch direction where necessary by providing consultancy and guidance to S&I team members.

Company Values

• To role model agency behaviours, actively champion and build team connection with the agency vision of creating ideas that thrive in real lives.

Key competencies and skills

• 10+ years’ experience within brand advertising and communications.
• Experience with healthcare / pharma communications essential.
• Comfortable working collaboratively with international client and agency teams across science and medical, commercial, creative, engagement and client services functions.
• Confident leading the strategic approach to new projects whilst influencing and inspiring confidence in senior clients and senior agency teams.
• Able to gather and sift relevant actionable insights from a wide variety of qualitative and quantitative sources at speed as well as translate them into inspiring creative briefs and unique agency points of view.
• Confident providing strategic feedback to creative teams that inspires and refines outstanding ideas grounded in evidence.
• Possess strong omnichannel / digital knowledge to work confidently with our engagement experts and identify opportunities for collaboration.
• Confident designing, organising and moderating workshops, with superb presentation skills.
• Advanced understanding of the regulatory environment we operate in and a thirst for pushing creative boundaries to deliver the best outcomes for patients.
• Advanced understanding of contemporary brand planning principles.
• Strong understanding of behavioural science principles and change techniques.
• Able to train and inspire more junior team members with empathy and a positive growth mindset.

We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, colour, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender, gender identity or expression, or veteran status. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace.

Don't meet every job requirement? That's okay! Our company is dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace. If you're excited about this role, but your experience doesn't perfectly fit every qualification, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right person for this role or others.

Apply for this job