Senior Strategist
11 days ago
Austin
Job Description Bakery is seeking a Senior Strategist who can bridge culture, behavior, and creative storytelling. This is a rare opportunity to help define what some of the world’s most ambitious brands stand for and guide them in showing up boldly and meaningfully in culture. We’re looking for a strategic storyteller with tactical curiosity, a nose for human motivation, and the confidence to influence both clients and internal teams. You’ll operate alongside a tight-knit team that thrives on taking smart risks, transforming good ideas into great work, and always executing at a high level. About Us: Bakery is an independent creative and culture agency designed to ignite people's obsession in great products. From our headquarters in Austin, TX, we work with highly ambitious brands like Johnnie Walker, Nike, Shiner Beer and Tree Hut to infuse cultural value and drive desire at every interaction point, increasing their fandom and helping them make things people want. Bakery is a 2022, 2024 and 2025 AdAge Small Agency of the Year. Responsibilities: • Lead Strategic Thinking — Define brand positioning, messaging frameworks, and campaign platforms that provide clear direction for creative teams., • Develop Insight-Driven Briefs — Write strategic briefs that clearly outline the problem, audience insights, and creative opportunity, inspiring teams to explore bold ideas., • Research & Analysis — Conduct qualitative and quantitative research, cultural audits, trend mapping, and social listening to uncover human truths and opportunities for brand connection., • Cultural & Behavioral Intelligence — Track cultural shifts, subcultures, and online conversations; translate findings into actionable strategies for campaigns, content, partnerships, and product innovation., • Collaborate Across Teams — Work with Creative, Account, Project Management, Design, and external researchers to ensure insights inform every stage of a project., • Lead Research Projects — Manage end-to-end research, including study design, data collection, and synthesis into clear insights that guide creative decisions., • Mentor & Influence — Coach junior strategists, guide cross-functional teams, and present work confidently to clients, ensuring strategic thinking drives both creative excellence and business outcomes., • 5+ years in brand, cultural, or behavioral strategy within an agency environment., • Proven experience turning audience insights, research, and cultural trends into strategy that directly informs campaigns, content, and brand positioning., • Exceptional storytelling, writing, and presentation skills; able to craft strategy decks and briefs that resonate with both clients and creative teams., • Deep understanding of human behavior, decision-making, and cultural trends, with the ability to apply findings across campaigns, digital content, and brand initiatives., • Experience with both qualitative and quantitative research techniques, including social listening, trend analysis, and consumer interviews., • Strong collaboration skills and ability to guide multiple workstreams while balancing strategy, insight, and creative direction., • Confident in presenting strategic recommendations and influencing both internal teams and clients., • Curious, proactive, and culturally tuned-in; able to identify opportunities in emerging trends and behaviors that others might overlook., • Comfortable working in a fast-paced, dynamic environment where experimentation and smart risk-taking are encouraged., • Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance, • Unlimited Vacation Time, • 2 weeks Work From Anywhere (WFA), • 401(k) matching, • Pet-Friendly Office, • Yearly Creative Stipend, • Snacks, Meals and Drinks, • No Time Tracking!