Strategy Director

About Thesis

Thesis is an independent agency working at the intersection of creativity, strategy, and technology. We partner with ambitious brands to solve complex business and marketing challenges and create ideas, experiences, and systems built to scale. We're evolving how we work to bring thinking and making closer together, build more accountable teams, and use technology and AI to expand what's creatively possible.

Role Overview

As a Strategy Director at Thesis, you are a master craftsperson, visionary leader, and systems thinker who actively shapes and delivers high-impact work across accounts. This role goes beyond setting direction—it requires being deeply embedded in the work, partnering cross-functionally to develop, refine, and execute strategic thinking that drives measurable business results. You will own the strategic vision for high-value programs, translating brand identity, cultural insights, retail mechanics, and data into clear, actionable plans while contributing directly to the output.

You’ll play a critical role in integrating strategy with creative, media, and client teams, rolling up your sleeves to push ideas further, solve complex problems, and elevate the quality of deliverables. In parallel, you will mentor and develop other strategists, build scalable frameworks, and ensure that innovative thinking is not only conceived, but successfully brought to life to deliver real impact.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Vision

• Serve as the strategic lead on key accounts, multidisciplinary initiatives, and high-value programs.

• Lead strategic thinking across clients and internal teams to translate brand identity, audience insights, and data into clear, actionable plans.

• Develop brand platforms, campaign strategies, messaging frameworks, and content ecosystems that drive measurable business impact.

• Apply deep retail strategy experience to inform, elevate, and strengthen brand and campaign work.

Integration & Cross-Functional Alignment

• Align creative, performance, media, and client leadership teams around shared strategic goals and clear direction.

• Translate complex research, qualitative insights, and data into compelling briefs and messaging strategies.

• Partner with cross-functional leads to ensure strategic cohesion, execution rigor, and continuous alignment from planning through reporting cycles.

• Ensure insights and measurement are integrated across planning, execution, and reporting cycles.

Craft, Systems & Frameworks

• Build scalable frameworks and systems that support strategy collaboration and cross-disciplinary alignment.

• Identify gaps and proactive opportunities to improve agency strategy processes, frameworks, and deliverables.

• Balance strategic ambition with scope, timing, resources, and client realities.

People Leadership & Mentorship

• Mentor, manage, and develop strategists and emerging strategic leaders across accounts and projects.

• Set a high strategic standard while staying close enough to the work to meaningfully shape and elevate output.

• Empower and build strategy teams that can increasingly operate with ownership and autonomy.

Client Leadership & Growth

• Lead strategic storytelling and presentation for client meetings, quarterly planning, and senior leadership engagements.

• Serve as a trusted, client-facing strategic lead on high-priority, high-impact client relationships.

• Lead strategic storytelling and framing for new business efforts, pitches, and growth opportunities.

Who You Are

• A seasoned strategic leader with 10+ years of experience in brand, content, communications, or retail strategy, and 3–5+ years managing or mentoring strategic talent.

• Proven track record of delivering strategy across brand architecture, positioning, campaign mechanics, content ecosystems, and digital performance.

• A thinker and a maker who can synthesize complex quantitative data and qualitative insights into a clear, compelling strategic direction.

• An expert communicator, writer, and presenter who instills client confidence and builds belief in strategic ideas.

• Capable of leading multiple workstreams and guiding multidisciplinary teams through ambiguity with clarity and accountability.

• Collaborative, low-ego, and passionate about mentoring the next generation of strategic talent.

• Bachelor's degree in marketing, communications, psychology, or related field (or equivalent practical experience).

Relationships

• Reports to: Chief Strategy Officer

• Direct Reports & Teams: Mentors, manages, and develops strategists and emerging strategic talent across accounts and projects.

• Internal Cross-Functional Partners: Peers with Creative, Technology, and Account Directors across the organization; partners closely with cross-functional leads to align strategy with execution.

• External Partners: Client-facing lead serving as a strategic partner on high-priority, high-impact client relationships.

Work Environment and Physical Demands

The following capabilities are required in order to perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations that do not create an undue burden on the agency are available to address the following requirements:

• Using standard office equipment, computers, and related technology.

• Certain activities are performed in an environmentally controlled office setting subject to extended periods of sitting, keyboarding, and manipulating a computer mouse.

• Bending, reaching, lifting, pushing, and pulling up to 25 pounds.

• Thesis operates on a hybrid work model, with in-office collaboration Tuesday through Thursday and remote work on Mondays and Fridays.

• As a proud B-Corp, Thesis prioritizes candidates based in the Portland Metro area to allow for a hybrid working set-up in our beautiful office in NW Portland.

• Travel up to 25% of the time is expected for this position

Inclusion and Encouragement

We know that experience can show up in many ways, and we encourage you to apply even if you don't meet 100% of the qualifications. If you're passionate about strategy, eager to grow, and excited to contribute your perspective, we'd love to hear from you.

At Thesis, we believe the best ideas come from bringing together diverse voices, experiences, and ways of thinking. Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging are not checkboxes—they are essential to how we work, collaborate, and create.

We are committed to fostering an environment where all employees can thrive and where every individual is treated with respect and dignity.

Thesis is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. We provide reasonable accommodations throughout the hiring process for applicants with disabilities. If you require an accommodation, please contact Human Resources at HR@Thesis.Agency.

As part of our commitment to equitable hiring practices, we do not request or consider applicants' salary history when making hiring decisions.