Planning & Strategy Manager

Job Title: Planning and Strategy Manager

Job Description:

We are looking for a strategic and insight-driven Planning & Strategy Manager to lead brand strategy, research, and business problem-solving across diverse client portfolios. This role requires a strong understanding of consumer behavior, market dynamics, and cultural trends, along with the ability to transform insights into compelling strategic narratives and actionable recommendations.

The ideal candidate will be a collaborative thinker who can confidently guide teams, challenge assumptions, uncover growth opportunities, and drive impactful strategic outcomes for clients.

Key Responsibilities:

● Build strong relationships with clients and internal cross-functional teams to drive strategic alignment and collaboration.

● Lead qualitative and quantitative research initiatives, developing robust research methodologies and extracting actionable insights.

● Analyze consumer behavior, category trends, cultural shifts, and competitive landscapes to identify growth opportunities.

● Translate complex business challenges into clear strategic frameworks and recommendations.

● Develop inspiring creative briefs, communication narratives, presentations, and strategic documents.

● Present strategic recommendations confidently while constructively challenging client assumptions and perspectives.

● Partner closely with creative, account management, media, and production teams to strengthen campaign effectiveness.

● Identify future opportunities, emerging trends, and potential business challenges for clients and brands.

● Guide teams through ambiguity by providing strategic direction and helping unlock creative solutions.

● Own projects end-to-end, ensuring timely delivery, quality output, and stakeholder alignment.

● Mentor junior strategists and contribute to the growth of strategic thinking across teams.

● Drive innovation through continuous learning, research, and industry awareness.

Preferred Skills:

● 5–7 years of experience in Brand Planning, Strategic Planning, Consumer Insights, Communications Planning, or Account Planning.

● Prior experience in advertising agencies, digital agencies, consulting firms, or brand strategy roles.

● Strong expertise in qualitative research, consumer behavior analysis, and insight generation.

● Excellent presentation, storytelling, and communication skills.

● Ability to write compelling strategic narratives, creative briefs, and pitch presentations.

● Strong business acumen with the ability to identify opportunities for brand and business growth.

● Proven ability to influence stakeholders and facilitate strategic discussions.

● Strong analytical thinking and problem-solving capabilities.

● Experience working across multiple categories and managing diverse client portfolios.