Lead Strategist

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Position Summary:

The Lead Strategist will drive client engagements focused on growth strategy, customer insights, market opportunity assessment, segmentation, positioning, innovation, and go-to-market strategy. This role combines the intellectual rigor of a management consultant with the customer-centric thinking of an agency Account Planner.

• Leading executive workshops 
• Building segmentation frameworks 
• Conducting market opportunity assessments 
• Developing value propositions 
• Designing innovation and new product strategies 
• Synthesizing qualitative and quantitative research 
• Translating insights into actionable growth recommendations 

Position Responsibilities:

• Lead strategic consulting engagements across growth strategy, market opportunity assessment, customer segmentation, brand positioning, value proposition development, customer experience, innovation, go-to-market planning, marketing effectiveness, and competitive strategy.
• Translate qualitative and quantitative research into clear business implications, strategic recommendations, and executive-level narratives that connect customer needs, market dynamics, and business objectives.
• Lead analytical problem solving through deep dives on market sizing, demand forecasting, growth modeling, customer lifetime value analysis, competitive benchmarking, portfolio optimization, and pricing.
• Develop and facilitate value proposition, positioning, messaging, differentiation, product positioning, and portfolio strategy workstreams that align customer needs with business capabilities.
• Lead front-end innovation and new product development efforts, including opportunity identification, concept generation and testing, and launch strategy development.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with analytics, creative and executive leadership teams to ensure strategic work drives measurable business outcomes.
• Contribute to firm growth and thought leadership through industry research, new business support, proposal development, and continued evolution of the firm’s strategic consulting capabilities.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Role Qualifications

• Must be a strong conceptual thinker with experience translating consumer insights into brand and growth strategy
• Must have the ability to connect customer insights, market dynamics, and business objectives into a cohesive growth strategy
• Must have the ability to structure ambiguous business problems and develop fact-based recommendations
• Must have exceptional ability to synthesize complex information into compelling executive narratives
• Must have a strong understanding of Marketing, Revenue Growth, Innovation, Brand Building, Customer Acquisition and Retention
• Must have the ability to influence senior stakeholders and facilitate decision-making among leadership teams
• Demonstrates effectiveness in managing multiple clients and creative teams at a high level that drives organic growth
• Consistently demonstrates the invaluable leadership characteristics, such as sound judgment, the ability to positively influence team members/clients, and the innate sense of purpose and drive to enhance West Cary Group holistically

Essential Skills and Experience:

• 8–15 years of relevant experience in management consulting, marketing strategy consulting, strategic insights, brand consulting, agency account planning, or corporate strategy.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience required; MBA or advanced degree preferred.
• Demonstrated experience leading projects in customer segmentation, market opportunity assessment, value proposition      development, brand strategy, innovation strategy, customer experience strategy, and go-to-market planning.
• Strong presentation, communication, relationship-building, and client management skills, with the ability to influence senior      stakeholders and support executive decision-making.
• Ability to manage multiple projects across teams, track work at different stages of completion, and operate effectively in a fast-paced environment with aggressive deadlines.
• Experience partnering with senior management to support and maintain the agency’s strategic vision.
• Ability to evaluate timelines, proposed budgets, staffing needs,and project plans while providing clear, actionable feedback.
• Strong expertise in brand, identity management, marketing communications, advertising, media and public relations, print and digital design, strategy development, and project management.

Reporting to this position:

No direct reports