thinkBeyond is seeking a Senior Communications Strategist

SENIOR STRATEGIST - COMMUNICATIONS
thinkBeyond  

Location: London (with international travel)

Start date: Immediately

Contract: Full-time

Reporting to: Director of Strategy

SUMMARY OF THE ROLE

thinkBeyond is a fast-growing agency that provides consultancy and strategy delivery to brands, sports teams, leagues, rights holders, federations, talent, media and governments who want to exceed their business goals and ignite positive social change. Spun off from the global movement, Beyond Sport, thinkBeyond has grown significantly since its inception in 2013, tripling its staff and steeply climbing in profits and clients in the last three years.

We are seeking a high-quality strategist, with significant experience in communications, who can provide both creative input, as well as having the ability to deliver on strategies they have created. This role, whilst with a communications specialism, will also take on wider strategy briefs from clients.

There are three main elements of the role:

1. Strategy
2. Project Delivery
3. Business Development & Client Acquisition

MAIN ACTIVITIES & RESPONSIBILITIES 

1. Strategy 

• Lead on thinkBeyond’s Position & Communicate service, enhancing the existing service proposition in line with market opportunity and needs
• Develop strategies for clients, leading on creative and communications elements through both the design and delivery of workshops (internal and with clients), and subsequent development of ideas and approaches as dictated by the brief
• Earn and maintain excellent relationships with clients
• Provide a broader strategy service to clients, as dictated by the needs of the business

 2. Delivery

• Produce high quality narratives and communications plans for clients – across various channels and mediums – and execute the plans as dictated by the contract
• Deliver on positioning briefs from clients, using your existing relationships across media and public affairs, whilst consistently developing new relationships in this space
• Produce thought leadership pieces for clients, placing them in the market where appropriate

3. Business Development & Client Acquisition

• Drive business development within the Position & Communicate service line, as well as across other services within the business, identifying a global pipeline
• Educate all those with business development responsibilities on the enhancements made within the Position & Communicate service line, with clear direction as to how best to demonstrate its value through the client acquisition process
• Contribute to the development of pitches and proposals
• Play a leading role in client acquisition to include presenting and pitching

KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE & SKILLS 

• At least 5 years’ experience at a senior level in a communications role
• Experience in creating communications strategies
• A proven history of delivering communications strategies, using traditional and digital
• The ability to create strategies that are not communications based
• Excellent client and/or partner management skills, and evidence of having delivered to clients and/or partners
• Existing relationships within public affairs and media
• Experience of designing and delivering campaigns
• Track record of creating products or services, identifying business development opportunities and securing new business
• An understanding of social change and the impact that effective communications can have
• An interest in the role of sport contributing to social change
• An understanding of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
• Exceptional writing skills
• Excellent verbal communications skills and the ability to create and deliver workshops
• Ability to work efficiently, quickly and to deadline – there is an immediacy to our office that runs through everything we do
• Action orientated and goal focused
• Ability to work independently and without micro-management as well as collaboratively

TO APPLY 

Please submit your CV and a cover letter detailing how you meet the specifics of the role, your current salary, and your salary expectations to [email protected]. Applications that do not include the requested salary information will not be considered.

Applications will be accepted until midnight, Friday 13 September

Interviews will take place between 18-20 September

ABOUT US

thinkBeyond provides strategic consultancy to brands, sports teams, leagues, sports federations, talent and governments who want to do good business and create positive social change.

thinkBeyond’s sister company, Beyond Sport, is the global force for sustainable social change through sport, instilling energy, insight and impact in communities around the world. We deliver events and build networks educating the world on sport’s role in society; we promote and advocate for key social issues; and we celebrate and fund projects using sport to achieve positive outcomes around the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Together, Beyond Sport and thinkBeyond have delivered events and activated client partnerships around the world. Our global footprint, comprising over 2,600 organizations, in 154 countries, working with 56 sports, gives us the insight, experience, credibility and network to deliver impactful strategies, robust project management and compelling events.

thinkBeyond is part of Benchmark, a holdings company that invests in and creates purpose-driven businesses.

The growth of the group has been driven by the importance that we attach to innovative thinking and our continuous investment in turning our ideas into tangible assets. Original idea creation ensures that we carve out niches in exciting and growing market sectors. As an entrepreneurial company, Benchmark has developed a reputation for building prestigious sports brands from the ground up and is now responsible for some of the biggest flagship events in sport, business, entertainment and philanthropy.

Learn more about the other brands part of Benchmark’s group here: http://www.benchmarksport.com/our-brands/

WHAT IT'S LIKE TO WORK WITH US? 

We’re constantly growing, innovating, creating and delivering. And while we have offices on two continents (NYC and London) and do projects in cities all over the world, we are a team that is close-knit, caring and dedicated – both to our work and to supporting each other. We travel to amazing places together and deliver groundbreaking events for exciting clients or together with forward-thinking partners.

We witness first-hand how sport can change lives, but we are also ingratiated in the commercial and business side of sport and social responsibility, making our position unique. Since our inception in 2009, we’ve never had a year like the one previous. Every year is different – new cities, projects, partners. That said, every year, there is more and more to do – and yet we still deliver to our highest standard. 

We want people to work with us who find this environment exciting and meaningful. Who see opportunities everywhere. Who always think we can do better. And who have fresh and new perspectives on how the world should be doing things.