At AKQA, we believe in the imaginative application of art and science to create beautiful ideas, products and services. With an entrepreneurial and collaborative approach, we design adaptive digital services and applications that capture the imagination, delivering impressive returns for our clients.

Associate Strategy Directors at AKQA see the world in a unique light and shape. Their endless curiosity fuels an unwavering desire get to the root of a challenge or uncover a latent opportunity. They champion the consumer, building empathy for our clients’ audiences and turning human understanding into actionable insights and impactful experiences that drive improved business outcomes.

Our New York studio offers teams the opportunity to produce innovative work that moves world-class companies, and their communities forward. All disciplines collaborate to find the best solution while delivering each aspect to the highest standard. From products and services to imaginative storytelling, our shared vision is to create experiences that drive progress and results. We are fortunate to partner with forward-thinking clients, including Verizon, IBM, Mayo Clinic, HSS, Volvo, and Campari.

ROLE REQUIREMENTS

• Good interpersonal, organizational, and presentation skills
• Ability to tackle multiple tasks/projects quickly, calmly, and efficiently
• Confidence in meeting with clients to discuss and recommend strategic solutions
• An informed and thoughtful POV
• Proactivity in tracking relevant trends in the marketplace
• Interest in fostering team culture and in learning from as well as growing others’ skills
• Develops an in-depth understanding of our client’s brand, business, and their customers through primary and secondary research
• Develops and synthesizes user research to map user journeys that inform and inspire the development of new customer experiences and interactions with a brand
• Develops CX strategies and creative briefs drawing on data-driven as well as cultural insights
• Communicates and guides the strategy throughout the project both internally and with clients
• Manages and develops the work and thinking of more junior strategists
• Fosters strong, collaborative relationships with team members from UX, creative, analytics, technology, client services, and project management
• Supports new business initiatives and the continued development of the strategy team

QUALITIES AND CHARACTERISTICS

• Ability to understand and lead a cross-disciplinary team through the dynamics of a client’s business and the sector in which it operates
• Strong communication skills and the ability to partner with senior clients are essential
• Ability to drive the creative process in partnership with your creative piers: honing and crafting ideas and selling them in successfully to clients
• Ability to judge creative ideas for their distinctiveness and effectiveness
• Familiarity with the design, application, and analysis of a wide range of qualitative and quantitative research techniques
• Can provide strategic direction on product and experience initiatives, identifying the key value proposition, consumer needs, and value to the business
• Can clearly and persuasively communicate strategic recommendations to internal and external audiences with variable levels of understanding
• Product strategy and design thinking is a requirement, with a significant amount of this experience devoted to work in digital environments
• Understands how business, brands and customers interact, with deep knowledge of the role that technology plays in this relationship
• Experience in insight and idea generation, can judge ideas for their distinctiveness, relevance and effectiveness
• Ability to translate strategic recommendations into actionable experiences, products, and services
• Team player with leadership skills, able to manage people across multiple projects under pressure
• Organized, proactive, clear & concise communication style, simple language & high cultural awareness
• Track record of nurturing and mentoring junior team members

AKQA is an Equal Opportunities Employer, we believe that diversity is vital to AKQA’s ability to provide our clients with the best recommendations and are committed to fostering a varied and inclusive work environment. Your race, colour, ancestry, religion, gender, gender identity, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability or veteran status have no bearing on our hiring decisions. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know.