Senior Brand Strategist, Contract

Brains

About The Position

We are seeking a contract Brand Strategist to define, shape, and launch brands with clarity and intention. This role focuses on building strong strategic foundations, including articulating positioning, sharpening audiences, and creating systems for brand coherence and differentiation from day one. You will engage in various projects, from early-stage brand creation to campaign strategy, ensuring all brand expressions are grounded in a clear point of view and aligned with business objectives. This position is ideal for someone who thrives in early-stage environments and can transform an undefined brand into an undeniable one.

Requirements

Real experience taking brands from zero to one—not just optimizing what already exists
Comfortable working in ambiguity and helping define the path forward
Ability to bring structure to complexity, distilling inputs into clear, compelling frameworks and directions
Strong pulse on the consumer landscape, especially within retail, DTC, and consumables
Understanding of how brands can earn attention and relevance
Comfortable designing and conducting research—from IDIs to in-market immersion—and know how to turn findings into action
Ability to articulate positioning, narratives, and messaging in a way that’s both strategic and creatively inspiring
Ability to work seamlessly with creatives, founders, and cross-functional teams, influencing without ego
Clear, confident, and persuasive communication—both in writing and in the room
Comfortable working on a contract basis and navigating fast-moving, early-stage environments
6–10+ years in brand strategy, planning, or consulting roles, ideally with exposure to early-stage or high-growth brands

Responsibilities

Lead and support brand strategy engagements, from insight through positioning, architecture, and messaging
Build brands from the ground up—defining what they stand for, how they show up, and why they matter
Develop clear, actionable brand frameworks, narratives, and guidelines that can scale
Shape early-stage brand opportunities, including positioning territories, naming, and foundational storytelling
Design and conduct research to inform strategy, including IDIs, founder interviews, store visits, and competitive audits
Synthesize market, cultural, and consumer insights into sharp, usable strategic direction
Quickly validate ideas and directions through scrappy but effective methodologies
Partner closely with creative, design, and account teams to bring brand strategy to life
Ensure strategic integrity across all touchpoints, from identity to campaigns
Contribute to ideation, helping teams find the most distinctive and ownable ways a brand can show up
Present strategic thinking clearly and persuasively to clients and founders
Build strong working relationships, particularly with early-stage teams
Support new business efforts with insight-driven thinking and perspective