Director, Strategy

Cronin•Glastonbury, CT

15h

About The Position

As a Strategy Director at Cronin, you connect the dots between research, data, trends, and business intelligence to deliver what we call "strategy in action"—insights that spark creativity and solve real business problems. You set the standard for strategic excellence at the agency and earn deep respect from clients and creatives alike by championing bold, effective work. You manage multiple projects and clients with precision and care. Most importantly, you're an inclusive leader and teammate with strong cultural and emotional intelligence -- someone who brings out the best in people across different working styles and perspectives.

Requirements

6+ years of brand, communications, or data strategy experience in a creative agency setting, with demonstrated experience as a strategic partner, leading pieces of business and pitches
Proven ability to translate complex business challenges into clear, actionable strategic frameworks
Strong presentation skills with the ability to confidently sell ideas to clients and internal teams
Experience working across multiple clients and industries simultaneously
Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with creative, account, media, and production teams

Nice To Haves

Demonstrated mastery and proven track record of delivering creatively inspiring, business-driving thinking
Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, Business, or related field (or equivalent training and experience)
Deep understanding of the roles of brands, communications, and communication channels within business plans
Experience with both brand-building and performance marketing strategies (full-funnel thinking)
Proficiency with research tools, data analytics platforms, and AI-powered insights tools
Track record of developing strategies that have driven measurable business results
Experience in one or more of Cronin's core verticals: Financial Services, Healthcare, Consumer, or B2B
New business experience—contributing to pitches, RFP responses, and client presentations
Strong cultural intelligence and ability to work effectively across diverse teams and perspectives
Experience leading strategic workstreams
Understanding of emerging trends in media, technology, culture, and consumer behavior
Portfolio of work demonstrating strategic thinking that led to award-winning creative or measurable business impact
You're as comfortable in a spreadsheet as you are in a brainstorm
You can switch between big-picture brand thinking and tactical execution without missing a beat
You're energized by ambiguity and building solutions from scratch
You have a point of view and the confidence to defend it—but the humility to evolve it
You're genuinely curious about people, culture, and what makes things work

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Client Immersion
Lead client discovery and immersion: Conduct stakeholder interviews and site visits to build deep, qualitative understanding of brand, culture, and business challenges
Initiate and proactively lead discovery
Bring strategy to life: Translate insights into actionable frameworks that inspire teams and drive exceptional creative work
Champion strategy in action: Embed strategic thinking throughout the creative process, not just in decks and presentations
Lead Development & Execution
Oversee and own all strategic deliverables for assigned accounts, working in close partnership with creative, account, media, production, and other disciplines
Develop comprehensive brand strategies, positioning frameworks, audience insights, and creative briefs that inspire breakthrough work
Translate business objectives into clear strategic direction that guides creative development and campaign execution
Ensure strategic consistency and brand integrity across all touchpoints and campaigns
Present and defend strategic recommendations to clients with confidence and clarity
Develop & Steward Strategic Frameworks
Create and steward strategic outputs ranging from overarching brand strategies to tactical creative execution briefs
Build and evolve strategic frameworks across multiple campaigns and activities, maintaining pace with account needs and business objectives
Clearly identify and isolate the real business problems that brand and communications can solve
Articulate the roles of brand, communications, and channels within broader business plans—thinking strategically for both today and tomorrow
Demonstrate deep understanding of client business models, competitive landscapes, and industry dynamics
Champion Creative Excellence Through Strategy
Champion the brand purpose and creative vision, ensuring it comes to life consistently across all relevant touchpoints and communications
Develop creatively inspiring briefs that give teams a clear problem to solve and the freedom to solve it brilliantly
Partner with creative teams to push work further while staying grounded in strategy
Drive Insight & Measurement
Leverage research, syndicated tools, and AI-powered platforms to uncover insights and build a unique, original point of view
Find creatively interesting and unexpected ways of approaching problems
Establish measurable goals upfront in the strategic and creative process
Track campaign performance post-launch and translate learnings into actionable recommendations
Connect strategic decisions to business outcomes with data and evidence