Strategist (Retail & Shopper)

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Talent Acquisition Manager at ZEAL Creative | DEI&B Advisor | Tortoise Owner

Please note, we are open to applicants based in Manchester or London

A bit about us

We are ZEAL – the UK’s Most Effective Brand Activation Agency.

Founded in 2014 by friends and colleagues Stewart Hilton and Robert White, ZEAL has pursued its ambition to be the World's Most Recommended Agency by recognising that our amazing people are the key to our success.

We’re proud partners to Nestlé, Carlsberg, Arla, Weetabix, Suntory, Bacardi, PZ Cussons, and more, delivering award-winning work across brand strategy, shopper marketing, experiential, partnerships, social and integrated campaign development.

Twice named IPM 'Agency of the Year' (2024 & 2023) and winner of the Campaign Experience Awards’ 'Most Outstanding Creative Idea' (2024), our principles around our people are simple - you bring your passion, creativity and drive and we invest in your training, long-term personal development and give you the resources you need to thrive and create your best work.

We’re passionate about creating an inclusive place to work that celebrates and values diversity and inclusion and ultimately, enriches our culture.

So, if working with leading global brands on award-winning campaigns sounds like your ideal day, look no further!

Role in summary

Reporting to the Head of Retail and Shopper, you will play a key role in our Planning and Strategy team. Working as part of a fast-paced but supportive planning team, where your insights, planning and strategy will inspire our creative and account teams, as well as our clients.

Working across multiple categories, retailers and channels, we are looking for someone who can bring their existing experience and knowledge to the team, whilst embracing the opportunity to grow and develop with our evolving team.

We’re seeking those with a passion and curiosity for retail and shopper, bringing ideas and initiatives to the table.

What you’ll be doing:

• Working with our Client Services’ account handlers to take and dissect client briefs
• Identifying and uncovering real shopper insights that unlock marketing challenges and inspire our creative teams
• Crafting succinct tailored strategies for key retail accounts to help our clients win in their priority accounts across all marketing channels e.g. in-store and digital
• Tailoring activation strategies and developing touchpoint plans for retail execution
• Developing impactful and effective omnichannel media recommendations and rationale to the wider business, including senior stakeholders
• Working with our Creative team to produce collateral which maximises opportunities within the retail space
• Selling planning responses to clients with passion and professionalism
• Evaluating overall campaign effectiveness and making any recommendations for future activity

What you’ll bring to the role:

• Proven experience in agency planning or strategy roles or similar
• Experience in developing strategic retail and shopper planning across client responses, ideally for FMCG clients
• Ability to shape and articulate tailored retail activation plans
• A passion for changing retail landscape, emerging retail media, and evolving shopper journeys
• Strong presentation and storytelling skills
• Excellent writing skills and a real passion for crafting compelling copy
• Some research experience is desirable, although expertise is not required

How we reward you:

• Contributory pension scheme
• Annual company bonus scheme
• Private Medical Insurance
• Life Assurance
• Continuous learning and development
• Enhanced parental benefits

Additional benefits:

• The last Friday of every quarter is a ZEAL Day off
• Christmas closure
• Work from home budget to help you achieve your dream set up
• Dog friendly offices
• A wealth of social events from our seasonal gatherings to our quarter review get together

Seniority level

Mid-Senior level

Employment type

Full-time

Job function

Business Development and Sales

Industries

Advertising Services