Group Director, Communications Strategy (TEMP)

At GSD&M, we’re on a mission to build First & Only brands, meaning the first to do it and the only ones who can. We’re able to do this because we set a high bar for ourselves and our work. We care about what we put out in the world. We’re humans who like other humans. Our ideas make a difference. Shift culture. Create a smile. Inspire change. Initiate belly laughs. Deepen our understanding of the world and ourselves. We grow. We learn. We get better. We do it all over again. Because that’s what it takes to build and be First & Only.

Temp/Freelance Role with potential for full-time

• Job Title: Group Director, Communications Strategy (TEMP)
• Department: Media  
• Reports to (Position):  VP, Media Strategy
• Supervisory Responsibilities (Y/N): Yes 
• FLSA Status (Exempt vs. Non-Exempt): Exempt 
• Location: Austin or Remote

Position Function: 

Communications Strategy at GSD&M is a human centric, culture obsessed discipline that unearths unique audience insights, media trends, cultural shifts and tech innovations and orchestrates how we bring these to life through our brand, creative and media work. 

The Group Director, Communications Strategy (TEMP) role sits at the center of our tightly integrated agency model.  The right candidate will be fluent across strategy, media and creative; and able to navigate seamlessly across those disciplines.  This person will establish the story and credentials for our Communications Strategy practice and drive consistent understanding of the contributions and output from the Communications Strategy practice both internally and externally. Additionally, this person will spend hours each day immersing themselves in culture using social channels and real-world observation to keep our teams and our clients one step ahead of cultural trends with a particular emphasis on Sports, Music and Gaming.

How you’ll spend your time:

• Craft the story and credentials of our Communications Strategy discipline. This includes approaches and outputs that drive consistency within the discipline and align the organization, and our clients, with what best in class Communications Strategy can deliver.
• Bring the consumer's world to life for Strategy, Creative and Media teams through an understanding of how they live; their behaviors with respect to content, connections, and media; influences; life-stage insights; attitudes and motivations.
• Understand consumer’s receptivity to marketing communications, using qualitative and cultural mining, plus the insightful synthesis of quantitative research.
• Learn the client’s business and develop communications strategies to unlock full business potential, while providing thought leadership and perspective on how new technologies and cultural shifts can impact the client's business.
• Leverage the creative idea and translate it into brand stories that are native to the media channels and the audiences we are connecting with in those channels.
• Craft briefs that inspire new media moments that give our clients an edge against fleeting attention spans.  Push the definition of media moment to include non-conventional forms of media, inclusive of paid, earned and owned channels.
• Present and defend strategies to clients, showing them how the approach we’re taking will get results and make the most of the creative work.
• Contribute to new business development and crafting the pitch narrative so that the brand strategy pulls through into the creative and media work.
• Cultivate a strong strategic culture within the department, encouraging collaboration and knowledge sharing.

What you’ll bring to the team:

• Strong partnership & collaboration skills - serving as the bridge between strategy, creative and media.
• Daily connectivity to culture, from frequent use of social media to a culturally observant mindset as you are out and about in the world.
• Knowledge of platforms and media channel advances, and how they can be used to bring creative stories to life.
• Proven ability to drive / inspire unexpected uses of traditional touch points.
• Strong experience and knowledge of the Sports, Music and Gaming landscape.
• A disposition driven by curiosity and what makes people tick. 
• Min 10 years of agency experience, with a strong background in Digital and Social.

At GSD&M, inclusion is our superpower.  An inclusive environment where diverse perspectives are encouraged and empowered makes the work better, makes our agency better and ultimately makes the industry better. That’s why we’re proud to be recognized by the Advertising Federation’s Mosaic Awards year after year for our efforts in diversity, equity and inclusion.

We consider ourselves lucky. Every day we wake up and get to build First & Only brands in an inclusive environment where everyone matters, all while enjoying generous benefits, plenty of time off, and opportunities for growth whether you’re just starting out or have been in the biz for a while.

GSD&M is an equal opportunities employer and will never favor or discriminate against anyone based on their age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy or maternity, religion or belief, marriage or civil partnership, gender identity, expression, or realignment.  If you require a medical or religious accommodation during the job application process, please reach out to keisha.townsend@gsdm.com for support. 

This role requires regular in-office presence with a minimum of three days per week, to engage and collaborate in in-person team interactions and meetings as required.