Associate Director, Client Strategy

Trend Companies•Houston, TX

About The Position

The Associate Director, Client Strategy is a senior strategic contributor at Trend Social, responsible for elevating strategy across select flagship clients and serving as a thought partner to Account Supervisors and broader account teams. Rather than owning accounts end-to-end, this role is designed for a seasoned influencer marketer and strategist who brings deep expertise across influencer, content, and social strategy and understands how those disciplines increasingly work together to drive growth in the creator economy. Alongside client work, this person will play a meaningful role in new business, partnering directly with the VP and assigned team members on pitches, proposals, and growth efforts that expand what Trend Social can win and retain. This person should be on the pulse of where the industry is headed, with a strong grasp of emerging platforms, creator-led innovation, social behaviors, and how influencers have evolved from a channel into a broader business driver. The ideal candidate brings strong agency experience, a modern understanding of the influencer and social ecosystem, and the confidence to shape senior-level strategy while helping raise the quality of thinking, innovation, and work across the team.

Requirements

8-10+ years of experience in social, influencer, or integrated marketing
Agency experience strongly preferred
Proven ability to develop and present strategic marketing programs at a senior level
Deep understanding of influencer marketing and the broader social and creator ecosystem
Confident, clear communicator with experience in senior client-facing roles
Ability to balance high-level strategic thinking with hands-on execution
Collaborative mindset with a genuine investment in elevating team performance
Demonstrated experience supporting new business strategy, pitch development, and competitive RFP responses
Track record of developing winning strategic narratives for competitive pitches

Responsibilities

Lead strategy development across select clients and campaigns.
Partner with Account Supervisors to strengthen briefs, programs, and recommendations.
Bring a cross-channel perspective that connects influencer, content, paid, and PR into cohesive, outcome-driven programs.
Partner directly with the VP and assigned team members to support new business pitches from brief intake through final presentation.
Contribute to the strategic narrative and program architecture for RFP responses and proactive proposals.
Bring forward-thinking program concepts and a sharp strategic POV that helps position Trend Social as a best-in-class partner.
Serve as a senior strategic voice on key client relationships, supporting annual planning, program development, and executive-level recommendations.
Lead high-stakes presentations and planning sessions with authority.
Build a deep understanding of each client's business, category, and competitive landscape to proactively surface opportunities.
Guide clients toward more integrated, modern approaches to influencer and social marketing.
Act as a trusted senior partner to both clients and Account Supervisors in navigating complex strategic decisions.
Translate client objectives into integrated influencer and social strategies with clear, measurable outcomes.
Identify whitespace opportunities for growth, expanded scope, or new service integration within existing client businesses.
Advise on how to evolve programs over time to maximize long-term impact.
Act as a thought partner to Account Supervisors and junior team members.
Provide strategic guidance and feedback without a direct management mandate.
Contribute to a culture of strong, consistent strategic thinking across the organization.
Contribute to Trend Social's POVs, frameworks, and thought leadership.
Help evolve how we approach influencer and social strategy as the agency scales.