Senior Brand Planner
$90k - $100k USD
What We Believe
Carmichael Lynch is an integrated creative agency built on the belief that the strongest brands are brave enough to define their true purpose. Since 1962, we’ve helped clients uncover their singular brand truth and turn it into work that can’t be ignored. It’s the hard work of simple—ideas strengthened through integration, where disciplines converge and diverge seamlessly around one compelling truth to cut through clutter and drive real business impact.
Our Hiring Philosophy
Carmichael Lynch is committed to creating a diverse, safe and welcoming workplace with opportunity for all. We strive for inclusion, equity and diversity in both our words and actions. BIPOC, women, marginalized communities, LGBTQIA+, veterans and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. To learn more, please visit: https://www.carmichaellynch.com/about/
What’s In It for You*
- Professional Development (performance reviews 2x annually, training opportunities related to your field of development, one-on-ones with managers, etc.)
- We offer competitive, equitable salaries (reviewed annually to ensure equity and competitiveness)
- A strong, vibrant, continually-evolving Diversity, Equity and Inclusion belief (in thought and action), encompassing our agency and our Employee Resource Groups (ERGs). Recognizing the voices that need to be heard.
- Competitive, company and employee sponsored benefits, including: Medical, Dental, Vision, 401k, PTO (vacation/sick time) allowance, maternity leave, parental leave, paid company holidays, Family Building Benefit (adoption, surrogacy benefit), and much more.
*Please note that these benefits only apply to full time roles
Role:
The senior brand planner is responsible for partnering closely with the planning director and internal teams to guide the strategy on client accounts. This person will need to fully and deeply understand the client’s business context, managethe development of research projects, trend reports, creative briefs and consumer-driven strategies to inspire effective creative campaigns.
Areas of Focus:
Lead and Guide Strategy Development
- Creates and communicates brand strategies using tools such as brand architecture, consumer segmentation, etc. Ability to identify which tools are needed at different points in the strategy development process.
- Develops inspiring creative briefs based on a deep knowledge of the client’s business, competitive landscape, cultural environment and target consumer.
- Inspires integrated teams with kickoff presentations that bring the brand, the consumer and the strategy into sharp relief, crystallizing what we are doing and why.
- Collaborates with integrated internal teams including creative, account management, media, PR, social and analytics, to ensure cohesive cross-channel strategy from start to finish.
- Provides ongoing inspiration to integrated teams throughout the creative development process.
- Leads discussions of relevant cultural trends with the internal team and clients, with key implications for the client’s brand and business.
- Develops expertise in client(s)’ businesses, proactively identifying opportunities for improvement and bringing informed POVs that carry our client’s business forward.
- Leads cross-functional idea generation workshops for internal and client teams.
- Is a skilled storyteller who can develop and lead client presentations and working sessions that make strategy comprehensible for a variety of collaborators (agency, client, vendor, etc.).
Research
- Overseesdevelopment and execution of all primary and secondary research projects. Including setting research objectives, developing questions that need to be answered, identifying and negotiating with research providers and presenting the final client deliverables.
- Guides team in target audience creation and insight development using targeting tools such as Simmons/MRI, segmentation studies and other primary and secondary research reports.
- Keeps up-to-date on the best research methodologies to use for various needs.
Leadership:
- Develops solid relationships with assigned clients serving as the primary point of contact for all strategy-related needs.
- Reframes client requests and digs deeper on the problems the clients are looking to solve.
- Mentors junior planners on projects, helping them grow and develop in their careers.
Qualifications/Traits:
Education:
- A bachelor’s degree with an emphasis on psychology, sociology, anthropology, advertising, or related field or relevant experience.
Preferred Skills and Experience
- A minimum of 4+ years of strategy and/or brand planning at an advertising agency or on the client side.
- Demonstrated ability to work with creative teams.
- Demonstrated ability to plan and execute quantitative and qualitative research projects.
- Expert at working with Simmons/MRI and syndicated research partners.
- Experience leading and coaching junior planners on projects.
- Ability to develop a positive, collaborative and influential relationship with clients, at times serving as the primary contact for clients within planning team.
- Ability to proactively drive work forward while collaborating with key partners throughout.
- Excellent writing, reasoning and presenting skills.
Competencies:
- Curiosity and desire to understand culture and what drives human behavior.
- Passion for the creative process and developing break-through work.
- Proactive, accountable, resourceful, and results oriented.
- Motivated to seek new opportunities and to take initiative.
The salary range for this position is listed below. Where an employee or prospective employee is paid within this range will depend on a variety of factors, including but not limited to budget, relevant experience, qualifications, and tenure in similar roles. Consideration may also be given to internal salary data for current or former employees in the same or similar positions.
Salary Range: $90,000 -100,000 annually