Integrated Strategist

ninety9cents; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 650,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

ninety9cents is seeking a hands-on strategic leader to move from business challenges to opportunities, turning data into insights and into an integrated plan that inspires teams and delivers measurable brand outcomes.

You will drive strategic thinking across ATL, digital, social, CRM and channel ecosystems, mentoring talent and building trusted client relationships while collaborating with senior stakeholders and multiple disciplines.

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent in marketing, advertising or related discipline.
• 5+ years in brand strategy, communications planning or integrated strategy within an agency.
• Proven ability to lead substantial integrated and omnichannel strategies.
• Strong ATL, digital, social and channel planning experience is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of integrated communication and channel strategies across ATL, digital, social, CRM and media touchpoints.
• Translate objectives into strategic frameworks, audience priorities and channel roles.
• Conduct brand, category and competitor reviews to find opportunities and competitive advantage.
• Develop omnichannel strategies including CRM and nurture programmes, content and thought leadership.
• Define strategic approach and channel mix for briefs with cross-functional teams.
• Synthesize data and insights into a coherent strategic narrative.
• Convert performance data into practical optimisation recommendations for future activity.
• Provide strategic direction to post‑campaign analyses and findings.
• Create compelling strategy decks and present to senior stakeholders.
• Mentor and develop mid‑level and junior strategists to raise output quality.
• Strengthen the strategy function’s profile and commercial contribution with clients.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Brand strategy

Integrated strategy

Digital strategy

Presentation skills

Mentoring

Education

Marketing/Advertising degree

Job description

This is a hands‑on strategic leadership role for someone who can move confidently from business challenge to strategic opportunity, from data to insight, and from insight to an integrated plan that inspires creative teams and delivers measurable brand and business outcomes. You will lead strategic thinking across ATL, digital, social, CRM and channel ecosystems, while mentoring emerging talent and building trusted client relationships.

What you’ll do:

• Lead the development of comprehensive integrated communication and channel strategies across ATL, digital, social, CRM and relevant media touchpoints.
• Translate business, brand and marketing objectives into clear strategic frameworks, communication platforms, audience priorities, channel roles and experience principles.
• Conduct and lead brand, category and competitor reviews to identify opportunities, gaps, audience needs and sources of competitive advantage.
• Develop omnichannel strategies spanning digital footprint, share of voice, channel ecosystems, website positioning, lead generation, CRM and nurture programmes, content and thought‑leadership activity.
• Define the strategic approach, scope, channel mix and customer experience for briefs in collaboration with the head of strategy, client service, creative, digital, media, SEO and paid‑search specialists.
• Synthesise data, research, cultural signals, consumer insight and channel intelligence into a single, coherent strategic narrative.
• Convert performance data and post‑campaign learning into practical optimisation recommendations, including clear “keep, add and amend” actions for future activity.
• Provide strategic direction to post‑campaign analyses produced by the research and reporting team.
• Create and deliver compelling, well‑argued presentations that build confidence, alignment and momentum with senior internal and client stakeholders.
• Lead, mentor and develop mid‑level and junior strategists, providing constructive feedback and raising the quality of strategic output.
• Strengthen the profile, credibility and commercial contribution of the strategy function across the agency and with clients.
• Build and maintain strong, trusted client relationships through thoughtful counsel, clear communication and consistently high‑quality delivery.

What you’ll bring:

• A degree, diploma or equivalent qualification in marketing, advertising, communications, business or a related discipline.
• At least 5 years’ experience in brand strategy, communications planning, integrated strategy, digital strategy or a related discipline within a client‑focused agency environment.
• Proven experience leading the development of substantial integrated and omnichannel communication strategies.
• Strong experience across ATL, digital, social and channel planning; experience with large or complex brands would be advantageous.
• A sophisticated understanding of brand, consumer, communication and channel strategy, including customer journeys, digital ecosystems, CRM and performance optimisation.
• Demonstrated ability to turn diverse inputs—data, research, specialist expertise, market context and cultural trends—into a clear and differentiated strategic recommendation.
• Strong analytical capability and confidence interpreting complex data, performance reporting and audience insight.
• Excellent writing, presentation and visual‑storytelling skills, including the ability to develop exceptional strategy decks.
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft 365 and relevant strategic, research and analytics tools.
• Experience mentoring or managing junior team members is highly desirable.

Who you are:

• A strategic leader who is comfortable setting direction while remaining close to the work.
• Commercially minded, intellectually curious and motivated by solving meaningful brand and business challenges.
• Able to make complex issues feel clear, compelling and actionable.
• An inspiring storyteller who can bring strategies to life in ways that engage clients and energise creative teams.
• Confident working with senior stakeholders and managing multiple priorities in a fast‑paced agency setting.
• Collaborative, generous with knowledge and committed to developing people and raising standards.