Strategist

THE DETAILS: Job Title: Midweight Strategist Department: Strategy Reports to: Senior Strategist Responsible for: No direct reports Hours : Full time, permanent Location: Manchester, Northern Quarter. We operate a Hybrid working policy of ideally minimum 3 days in Manchester HQ per week. THE ROLE: As a Strategist you will be responsible for leading on research and developing strategies for our clients that meet their marketing and branding objectives, placing Fan Intelligence at the heart of their business. Using your skills and experience, you’ll be able to connect the dots between sport, gaming, and culture to find the common ground between a brand and its biggest fans. You will be adept at both qualitative and quantitative research, using moderation and analytical skills to unlock game-changing insights. As an innovative problem solver, you’ll be constantly seeking new ways to connect with audiences through new and existing platforms. OUR IDEAL CANDIDATE PROFILE: You're someone who genuinely loves strategy and is ready to go deeper. You're curious about why people behave the way they do, what drives fan passion, how culture shapes behaviour and why some things connect and others don't. You don't just consume sports, gaming and entertainment; you think about it, dissect it and find meaning in it. You're developing your strategic confidence. You're comfortable backing your thinking but you also know when to ask questions and when to lean on more experienced colleagues. You're not afraid to bring a point of view; you just know you're still building the experience to fully own it. You're intellectually restless. You read widely, you follow cultural trends and you connect dots that others might miss. What drives you is a genuine curiosity about people and culture that shapes how you approach your work. You're collaborative and eager to learn. You work well with creatives, commercial teams and researchers and you're building the skill of translating strategy in ways that inspire rather than constrain. You understand that strategy requires making choices and you're developing the confidence to make them. You're ambitious about your craft. You want to grow into a senior strategist and eventually a strategic leader. You're looking for a platform where you can develop your skills, build a body of work you're proud of and grow in an environment where culture, sports, gaming, entertainment and brand strategy intersect. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: As a Strategist you will be responsible for: Conducting research and analyse data to develop effective creative strategies for our clients Collaborating with strategy and creative teams to create compelling campaign ideas and executions Working closely with account managers to ensure that projects meet client objectives and expectations Using qualitative and quantitative research tools to gather data and insight Communicating research findings to stakeholders and make recommendations for future direction Monitoring and reporting on campaign performance and make recommendations for improvements Writing reports and trend pieces, for clients and for agency thought leadership Staying up to date with industry trends and best practices Strategic input into any new business, and or attendance at pitches. Creative platform development, in line with strategy Preparing campaign strategy, specifically campaign messaging, content strategy & ensuring this runs from strategy through to execution of all campaign assets. KEY REQUIREMENTS: Our ideal successful candidate will bring: Agency experience is essential At least 3-5 years of experience in research, strategy or a related field Experience managing medium to large scale research projects Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret qualitative and quantitative data to uncover insights Proficient in using research software and tools (e.g. GWI, Kantar, social listening tools etc) Experience of planning multi-channel social, influencer and content marketing campaigns Experience briefing and working collaboratively with multi-disciplinary teams Excellent communication and presentation skills An ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines An arbiter of quality; someone who can review and advise on the quality of research and insight provided Experience working in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment Strong understanding of multi-channel strategies and delivery Experience in betting markets and sponsorship delivery is highly desirable Experience working in the middle east is a huge plus A passion for music, sports, gaming, and entertainment THE AGENCY Ear to the Ground is a global sport, gaming, and entertainment creative agency with a unique model that sets us apart. We are driven by Fan Intelligence®, our global network of 12,000 influential tastemakers and fans. Our real time insight into what fans truly want, enables us to create compelling work that consistently pushes the boundaries of culture. We pride ourselves on being the agency that listens better than anyone to solve our clients' challenges, maximise their sport, gaming and entertainment partnerships, and ultimately build brands that lead culture. We’ve helped clients including Nike, PlayStation, JD, NBA, Coca-Cola and 2K turn fans into consumers by delivering culturally relevant, fan-first campaigns that inspire emotional connection and measurable business impact. You can learn more about the agency with our 2025 agency show reel here . OUR CULTURE We are dedicated to making Ear to the Ground an amazing place to work where people grow, develop and thrive. We pride ourselves on our dynamic and exciting culture, excellent support of staff and fantastic benefits package. We have made it our mission to lead the way in being an inspiring, future-thinking, creative agency and are invested in our people because they are the ones that will make that happen. Some of our benefits include: 🕒 Flexible & hybrid working 🎉 Birthday off 👶 Workplace nursery benefit 👩👧👦 Enhanced maternity, paternity and shared parental leave 🏥 Private medical insurance and health cash plan 🤒 Enhanced sick leave 🚴♂️ Cycle to Work scheme 🐶 Dog friendly office 🚗 EV salary sacrifice scheme 📈 Personal development coaching + more