Associate Director, Creative Strategy

About this Role

The Associate Director of Creative Strategy leads high priority client proposals in addition to managing Creative Strategists. This role is responsible for developing and guiding original marketing strategies, brand narratives, and strategic thought leadership platforms, codified into thoughtful proposals for partners across industries and markets, focusing initially on New York, DC, Africa, and Gulf regions. In this role, you will be expected to master clients’ priorities and challenges, and authoritatively operationalize cross-functional processes to develop best-in-class presentations and proposal deliverables. This is a highly demanding role which requires balanced expertise across creative and consultative marketing strategy, surgical resource management, and cross-functional collaboration – with a deep understanding of how media and events businesses operate. 

Your Responsibilities

Industry-Leading Proposal Creation

• Develop original marketing strategies, brand narratives, and strategic thought leadership platforms tailored to client needs.
• Create the Semafor benchmark for proposals and presentations with compelling narratives, clear media strategies, and innovative ideas.
• Utilize research and data to craft thoughtful, strategic, and engaging proposals that map to advertiser objectives and KPIs, including Semafor’s first party data tools
• Show clear connections between client brand challenges and proposed partnership solutions.
• Drive brainstorms and creative ideation processes with internal teams, sales leads, and clients to craft winning proposals.

Client Collaboration and Cross-Functional Coordination

• Partner closely with Sales teams to align on client objectives, gather critical intel, and ensure seamless briefing to proposal development transitions.
• Partner closely with Revenue Operations to deliver smart packaging and pricing strategies aligned to client opportunities.
• Coordinate with internal and external teams, fostering collaboration across departments to deliver integrated solutions.
• Build and nurture trusted partnerships with Sales leadership and other Semafor functions.
• Engage with genuine curiosity to deeply understand client challenges, priorities, and goals.
• Partner with Revenue leadership on pitches and presentations, including high-profile C-Suite opportunities.

Leadership and Team Management

• Help hire, manage, and mentor a growing creative strategy team.
• Strategic and thoughtful resource assigning to ensure the team is appropriately staffed and delivering against all opportunities.
• Oversee and provide feedback on creative strategy deliverables, ensuring the highest quality of work.
• Establish and continually refine the pre-sale process and go-to-market execution strategies.
• Serve as the deputy to Semafor’s Global Head of Brand & Marketing across all pre-sale activities, jumping into key opportunities and operational initiatives.

Brand and Market Expertise

• Be a subject matter expert on Semafor’s brand, products, and overarching priorities, ensuring consistent messaging and prioritization in proposals and pitches.
• Leverage knowledge of the evolving media landscape, including emerging platforms and opportunities, to elevate partnership solutions.
• Provide strategic recommendations and advisory around commercial opportunities to solve clients' problems.

What makes you qualified

• Bachelor's degree plus a minimum of 6 years of experience in creative strategy / partner marketing within a publisher, media company, or agency
• A minimum of 3 years of proven management experience, and a proven track record of leading highly successful, high-performing, high-velocity teams
• Experience developing innovative brand, creative, and marketing strategies, and a bonus for focus on B2B and global clients across the US, Gulf, and beyond
• Demonstrated ability to generate revenue through marketing strategies
• Extremely strong project management and organizational skills, and the ability to manage many different workstreams at once, and use judgement to prioritize resources quickly and effectively
• Very strong design skills and sensibility
• Approaches revenue opportunities with curiosity, ingenuity, and originality
• Feels deep ownership of their work
• This is an in-person role, with 4 days a week expected in our New York or Washington D.C. office. There may be some travel on an as-needed basis. 
• Must have intermediate to advanced skills with Google Workspace and Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Google Slides/Powerpoint
• Experience working with global brands or in creative roles at media organizations.
• Strong understanding of audience insights and data-driven storytelling to inform creative strategies
• Passion for innovation and a keen eye for emerging trends in media, marketing, and design

Additional Job Details

This position is based in New York, NY or Washington D.C. at Semafor Headquarters.

Candidates must be willing to work flexible hours and travel domestically and internationally on an as-needed basis.

Comprehensive employee benefits: unlimited PTO, medical, dental, vision, short & long-term disability, flexible spending, health savings accounts, life insurance, 401(k), pre-Tax commuter benefits. 

Salary Range: $140,000 - $150,000 is based on several factors including but not limited to education, work experience, certifications, etc.