Brand Strategist

Leidos•Reston, VA

10d•Onsite

About The Position

The Marketing and Communications team is seeking a creative and analytical Brand Strategist to join the corporate Marketing and Communications team at Leidos—an innovation company addressing the world’s most complex challenges in national security and health. In this role, you will shape, evolve, and scale the Leidos brand, ensuring consistent messaging and differentiation in a highly competitive marketplace. You will work across all five Leidos sectors serving defense, intelligence, health, and other highly regulated industries. Location: Preferred candidates will reside in the Washington, D.C. metro area and work regularly from Leidos Global Headquarters in Reston, VA.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Business, Communications, Brand Management, or related field and 8+ years of relevant experience. Additional years of experience will be considered in lieu of degree requirements.
Proven success developing and executing brand strategies that drive business outcomes.
Strong understanding of brand architecture, visual identity systems, and messaging frameworks.
Experience with market research tools, analytics platforms, and design software.
Demonstrated proficiency using Adobe Creative Suite to create brand assets across multiple media.
Exceptional communication and presentation skills.
Highly organized with strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple priorities.
Strategic and creative thinker able to distill complex ideas into compelling narratives.
Collaborative team player comfortable working with senior leaders and cross-functional teams.

Nice To Haves

Demonstrated design skills for briefs; familiarity with systems approach, design thinking, and human-centric design is a plus.
Experience working within complex internal brand management systems.
Prior consulting or agency experience.
Experience in highly regulated industries such as defense, aerospace, government contracting, healthcare, technology, or media.

Responsibilities

Communicate the company’s brand vision, mission, and positioning in alignment with corporate goals.
Develop and execute strategies to establish and maintain a strong brand identity, including positioning, messaging, and differentiation.
Conduct market, competitive, and audience research to inform brand decisions.
Enhance and protect brand reputation and visibility in alignment with organizational values.
Collaborate with senior leaders to develop brand strategies that resonate with customers and key stakeholders.
Ensure strong brand hygiene, governance, and adherence to Leidos Brand Guidelines across internal and external audiences.
Define or refine brand positioning for offerings across diverse Leidos markets while maintaining masterbrand integrity.
Develop and execute brand strategies for new or repositioned offerings.
Conduct market, competitive, and audience research to support brand decisions.
Partner with senior leaders to ensure brand strategies align with business and customer needs.
Maintain and evolve brand architecture across multiple business units.
Design and implement brand architecture standards for a diversified portfolio of offerings.
Develop, enforce, and socialize brand guidelines, style guides, and toolkits.
Lead enterprise-wide internal brand audits and initiatives to maintain high standards.
Partner with Product, Marketing, Communications, and Media Relations teams to embed brand strategy into campaigns, product positioning, and thought leadership.
Collaborate with internal design teams and external agencies to ensure creative alignment with brand standards.
Provide brand-driven insights for executive presentations, investor relations, and high-profile internal and industry events.
Monitor market trends, competitor brand activity, and emerging marketing and communications innovations.
Apply knowledge of digital marketing, content strategy, and social media trends.
Use data-driven insights to adapt brand strategy to evolving market conditions.
Define KPIs and success metrics for brand initiatives.
Track, analyze, and report on brand performance.
Identify opportunities to improve brand perception, share of voice, and market positioning.
Ensure all branding and marketing materials comply with federal regulations and corporate policies.
Partner with legal and compliance teams to protect brand integrity, especially in classified or sensitive environments.