Strategist, Contract

Key Responsibilities

Engagements vary by client and phase, but core responsibilities include: 

·       Translate research (visitor segments, perception studies, market analyses) into audience insight, actionable brand and marketing strategy

·       Lead brand workshop facilitation, in-person and virtual, to surface destination identity, stakeholder consensus and creative direction

·       Collaborate with DCI's creative and research leads to align brand positioning with visual identity development

·       Develop destination brand frameworks: value proposition, brand promise, personality and tone, messaging pillars and audience-specific key messages

·       Build phased multi-year marketing strategies inclusive of media mix recommendations, earned/owned/paid tactics, co-op opportunities, and KPI frameworks

·       Guide clients through the relationship between marketing strategy and broader destination outcomes, including visitation, stakeholder value, economic impact and market share.

  •  •         Contribute to annual planning, budget discussions, market prioritization and long-term strategic thinking for assigned accounts.

Qualifications

•         15+ years of brand strategy experience, with meaningful work in destination marketing, tourism, or place branding

•         Proven ability to think strategically while also maintaining a practical understanding of execution and performance.

•         Strong understanding of destination marketing strategy, traveler behavior and the role advertising plays in influencing visitation.

•         Ability to interpret tourism research, audience insights and campaign performance data and turn findings into brand frameworks.

•         Skilled workshop facilitator who can lead diverse stakeholder groups and generate alignment without losing strategic edge.

•         Strong writer who can produce strategy documents that are clear, concise, and built to be used, not just read

•         Strong client leadership skills and the ability to manage multiple brands, priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced agency environment.

•         Comfortable operating autonomously on active accounts while collaborating closely with creative and account teams  

Preferred Experience

• Experience working on domestic or international destination accounts targeting U.S. and Canadian travelers.

Compensation

• $ 100 - $150/hourly depending on experience