Associate Business Director - Strategy & Insights

Saatchi & Saatchi ME; Dubai; On-site; AED 450,000 - 600,000; Full time

Job summary

Saatchi & Saatchi ME is seeking an Associate Business Director – Strategy & Insights to lead insight-driven strategic solutions across key brands. You will uncover meaningful consumer insights, shape compelling briefs, and drive proactive strategic thinking, working with client leadership and cross-functional teams in a dynamic agency environment.

You will mentor the team, oversee research, and contribute to award submissions while ensuring strategic quality and client impact.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Marketing.
• 9+ years of experience in strategy, planning or insights in advertising or creative agency.
• Strong experience in brand strategy, consumer insights, research and competitive analysis.
• Proven ability to turn complex information into clear and inspiring strategic stories.
• Excellent presentation, workshop facilitation and stakeholder-management skills.
• Experience leading and developing strategy talent.
• Native-level Arabic fluency and strong professional English communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of insight-led brand and communications strategies.
• Translate research and cultural trends into strategic narratives and opportunities.
• Develop briefs based on genuine insights rather than facts or observations.
• Proactively identify market and business opportunities for clients.
• Collaborate with creative and cross-functional teams throughout the strategic process.
• Lead and mentor team members and support succession planning.
• Oversee client workshops and ensure strategic quality of delivery.

Skills

Strategic storytelling

Presentation skills

Workshop facilitation

Stakeholder management

Leadership and mentoring

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Marketing

Job description

We are growing our team at Saatchi & Saatchi. We are on the lookout for a Associate Business Director – Strategy & Insights who will lead the development of insight-led strategic solutions across key client brands. The role is responsible for uncovering meaningful consumer and cultural insights, shaping inspiring creative briefs, and driving proactive strategic thinking.

Working closely with client leadership, creative, communications, innovation and social teams, the Senior Manager will serve as a trusted strategic partner while helping build a progressive and collaborative strategy culture.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development of insight-led brand and communications strategies.
• Translate complex research, cultural trends and business challenges into clear strategic narratives and creative opportunities.
• Develop inspiring briefs based on genuine insights rather than facts or observations.
• Proactively identify market and business opportunities for clients.
• Collaborate with creative and cross-functional teams throughout the strategic process.
• Actively use and advocate for Publicis Groupe’s FUEL platform.
• Contribute strategic thinking to Groupe and agency OPEN briefs.
• Lead effectiveness award submissions and support creative award entries.

Client & Business Leadership

• Develop a strong understanding of each client’s business, category and commercial priorities.
• Build trusted relationships with senior clients and agency stakeholders.
• Oversee the strategic quality and delivery of client assignments and pitches.
• Develop persuasive presentations with clear and distinctive narratives.
• Lead category, competitor and market assessments.
• Plan and facilitate effective client workshops.
• Keep teams aligned with the brand’s wider strategic goals.

Research & Insights

• Design and oversee primary and secondary research that delivers actionable insights.
• Monitor consumer, cultural, social and technological trends and their impact on brands.
• Lead competitive analysis to identify threats and opportunities.
• Ensure reports, presentations and stakeholder updates are accurate and of a consistently high standard.
• Lead, mentor and develop team members while supporting succession planning.
• Provide clear, constructive and timely feedback.
• Foster an inclusive and collaborative environment where different perspectives are encouraged.
• Motivate the team to deliver ambitious, high-quality work.
• Promote continuous learning and help strengthen the team’s strategic capabilities.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Marketing
• 9+ years of experience in strategy, planning or insights, preferably within an advertising or creative agency.
• Strong experience in brand strategy, consumer insights, research and competitive analysis.
• Proven ability to turn complex information into clear and inspiring strategic stories.
• Excellent presentation, workshop facilitation and stakeholder-management skills.
• Experience leading and developing strategy talent.
• Native-level Arabic fluency and strong professional English communication skills are required.