Strategy Director

Landor; Cincinnati (OH); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 175,000; Full time

Job summary

Landor in Cincinnati is seeking a Strategy Director to lead brand strategy projects for our Consumer practice, focusing on our largest CPG relationships and shaping how the practice operates.

You’ll drive positioning, portfolio architecture and growth strategies, backed by semiotics, packaging and shelf analysis, and act as a trusted advisor to senior client leaders at Fortune 100 companies in a hybrid work model.

Qualifications

• Seasoned brand strategist with significant time working within CPG-focused environments at a design-led agency or branding consultancy.
• Strong command of qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, including semiotics and shopper research.
• Proven track record developing portfolio and range architectures across multiple markets.

Responsibilities

• Lead brand strategy projects for our Consumer practice and large CPG relationships.
• Define brand visions, growth strategies and breakthrough ideas that challenge category conventions.
• Partner with Creative Directors to guide strategy through the creative process and mentor teams.
• Lead new business pitches and expand the practice’s expertise in brand assets and packaging.

Skills

Brand strategy

CPG experience

Semiotics

Portfolio architecture

Team leadership

Job description

Landor is looking for a Strategy Director to join our Cincinnati studio. Could this be you?

We are Landor, part of WPP

World-leading brand experts,

underpinned by the most expansive strategic & creative capabilities in our category.

We make brands more valuable and less vulnerable.

We build brands differently. We work with our clients to define and solve their business problems through the lens of brand. We strategically join the dots between our design, experience, governance and measurement capabilities, and always connect our brand work to business outcomes.

Landor companies also include amp (sonic branding), bdg (workplace & architectural experts), Deep Local (creative technologists) and ManvsMachine (3D motion design).

About WPP

WPP is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands. We unite cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, world-class creativity, next-generation production, transformative enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel in a single company – powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform, WPP Open, to help our clients navigate change, capture opportunity and deliver transformational growth. For more information, visit WPP.com.

What you’ll do

You’ll lead brand strategy projects for our Consumer practice — heading the thinking on our largest CPG relationships and shaping how the practice works.

Our clients are established consumer packaged goods businesses in home care, dairy and nutrition, and food and beverage. The problems are the durable ones: a heritage brand losing relevance with a younger shopper, a portfolio that grew by acquisition and now confuses people, a category leader watching private label take the value tier, an innovation pipeline that keeps producing line extensions nobody asked for.

You’ll answer those questions with positioning, value propositions, and portfolio architecture, backed by semiotics, packaging and shelf analysis, distinctive asset work, and a genuine feel for where culture is moving. And you’ll be a trusted advisor to the senior client leaders who have to act on the answer.

You’ll lead strategic direction across multiple engagements, defining brand visions, growth strategies, and breakthrough ideas that challenge category conventions. Partner closely with Creative Directors to guide strategy through the creative process, inspire teams with consumer and category insights, and champion the work with clients. Serve as a trusted advisor to senior marketing leaders at Fortune 100 companies, identifying opportunities that drive long-term growth, leading new business pitches, and advancing the practice’s expertise in semiotics, packaging strategy, and distinctive brand assets.

What you’ll need

You’re a seasoned brand strategist with significant time working within CPG-focused environments at a design-led agency, branding consultancy, or similar setting. You bring deep expertise in CPG categories, retail and channel dynamics, innovation and renovation cycles, and the competitive impact of private label. You have strong command of both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, including semiotics, shopper research, and consumer insight, as well as a proven track record developing portfolio and range architectures across multiple markets. Success in this role requires the ability to build and grow senior client relationships, contribute to organic business growth, and work across both brand design and communications to create cohesive consumer experiences. You have experience leading and developing strategists is essential, along with a distinctive point of view on consumer brands and the confidence to challenge conventional thinking.

The salary for this position at the time of this posting may range from $150,000 to $175,000. Individual compensation varies based on job related factors, including location, business needs, level of responsibility, experience, and qualifications. We offer a competitive benefits package, click WPP Benefits for more details.

We believe the best work happens when we’re together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That's why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office around four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.

We build brands. We build futures. Landor, a WPP company, is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all applicants without discrimination or regard to particular characteristics, committed to a culture of respect where everyone belongs and can progress in their careers.