Strategist

John McNeil Studio•Berkeley, CA

7h•Onsite

About The Position

We’re John McNeil Studio. We’re an independent studio where strategy, design, and production live under one roof to build brands and solve real business problems. Strategy is the engine of our work—helping clients innovate, communicate, and transform in a landscape of constant change. We believe that everything is a chance to build a brand, and we approach our work with insight-driven clarity and creative ambition. Role: We’re looking for a mid-level Strategist who can jump into a variety of projects and own the narrative from start to finish. You have a few years under your belt and are ready to take the lead on workstreams—from defining a brand’s POV to figuring out how it should show up in the world. Because we’re a studio, you won't be parked on a single account. Your day-to-day will shift based on the challenge. One week you might be deep in social listening and persona building for a tech giant; the next, you’re crafting the go-to-market strategy for a high-growth startup. You’ll report to a senior-level strategist, but have the autonomy to run with your work, partner directly with creative and media teams, and keep our clients inspired.

Requirements

4+ years of agency experience, with the ability to own project workstreams and lead client conversations with confidence
Exceptional storytelling and writing skills, with the ability to build and present persuasive, visually sharp decks
A talent for turning research and social listening into simple, human insights and creative briefs that inspire winning work
A deep curiosity for culture, trends, and social movements, and the ability to translate them into business opportunities
A self-starting, organized approach to work, comfortable pivoting between different types of projects as studio needs shift
Self-starter with strong worth ethic: willing to work hard, collaborate with colleagues and look for ways to solve challenges
A Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent track record

Responsibilities

Become the expert: You’ll develop a deep, "under-the-hood" understanding of our clients’ businesses, their products, and the humans they’re trying to reach. You’ll use listening tools and market research to build personas that feel like real people, not data points.
Fuel the creative: You’ll be a primary partner to our creative teams. You’ll translate complex business problems into clear, concise, and inspiring creative briefs that give our designers and writers a clear place to play.
Own the strategy: From brand positioning to go-to-market channel planning, you’ll build the blueprints for brand expression.
Command the room: You’ll drive the development of client-facing decks. We need someone who can tell a story, sell an idea, and earn client trust.
Collaborate across the studio: You’ll be in the trenches with film, digital, design, and production, providing strategic guardrails and creative input at every stage of the project to make sure the final output hits the mark.