Job description
About the role:
Strategic thinking is front and centre of Bicycle’s offering. We integrate creative, media and brand planning into our work and partner with many of our clients at a founder / c-suite level as business consultants. However at Bicycle strategy is a practical discipline, not one intended to be restricted to the theoretical or keynote. We advise our clients on their business problems and help them understand how comms (in the very broadest sense) and help address these. Our strategic thinking is a huge part of our IP, we create new and innovative approaches for all of our clients - so we don’t spend time representing clients Binet & Field slides they’ve seen a billion times. We’re always seeking to add incremental and transformational thinking to our clients.
As the agency grows, we are bringing more and more ‘strategy only’ projects into the building. These invariably look like brand strategy projects (positioning, platforms, direction etc) but eventually need to be translated into comms planning and through to execution. To help drive and manage this side of the business, we are looking for a ‘full stack’ strategist to work into the CSO and CEO. You’ll also need to get your hands dirty on day-to-day client work, too. This is a senior role, and has the opportunity to grow into a Head of Strategy quickly as the team/department grows, but it’s certainly not a detached or aloof one.
Whilst this is a hybrid role we have found that overall, we work better as a team when we get together regularly. To that end, we’d ask that this individual is in the office 3-4 days per week. However, not living in London shouldn’t be a barrier - we have members of our team in rural Kent, Yorkshire and even Dubai. We’re definitely not a 9-6 culture and we believe work should work for you.
Responsible for:
Day-to-day strategic direction of key agency accounts
Leading and winning new business
Driving a strategic and creative culture in the agency (being a proper voice for ideas)
Ensuring our work is as effective as possible (and winning awards for it)
Leading standalone brand strategy projects from start to finish
Working with the CSO and management team to grow the strategy department (and its revenue in the business)
Essential skills & experience:
At least eight years of experience working within the agency environment - ideally in at least two of the following types of agency (creative, media, branding)
You’ll have a track record of pitching and winning new business
You’ll be a big brand thinker, with a proper understanding of the science of branding and marketing
You’ll have a genuine understand of how media works for a brand, and an ability to ‘get in the weeds’ of a plan where required
A proper ‘student of strategy’: well read and opinionated
Proven ability to identify and manage external (freelance) resources where required
Analytical, numerate and commercially-minded
An excellent multi-tasker, exceptionally well-organised, outstanding attention to detail
A fast-thinking problem-solver, undeterred by unexpected change
Absolutely incredible written and verbal communication skills
A resolute commitment to excellent visual design in presentations
Always proactive, inquisitive and positive
A passion for the world of media, communications and creativity
The Package
£80,000, dependent on experience
Future potential for equity share (EMI scheme)
Full and extensive benefits: 28 days holiday, pension, healthcare, ‘borrow a Brompton bike’, free Audible, annual foreign trip (subject to agency performance), death-in-service etc.
The Agency
About Bicycle:
Founded by four people in June 2021 who believed that a better type of media agency wasn’t just possible, but needed, from a standing start we are now 26 strong and one of the fastest-growing media/comms agencies in the world.
We already count Livescore, Carwow, Virgin, Tate & Lyle, Kroo, Duolingo, Branston Pickle, Movember, Moju, La Vie, ANNA Money and Estrid among our clients. We also won The Drum’s Global Startup of the Year Award in 2022 and are currently shortlisted for Campaign’s Startup of the Year Award. In the last 12 months, we’ve won 90% of the pitches we’ve gone for.
We are the Media Experience (MX) agency. We believe experience is the most important factor to lean into when considering communication for clients. Our unique 3X approach brings together MX, CX and UX to powerful effect in a way that other agencies simply can’t deliver. We're built on the power of 'and': brand and performance, art and science, data and creativity, man and machine.
Our headquarters are in Clerkenwell, London, and we have full global capabilities in-house. We’re home to intelligent people who want to create incredible work on exciting brands. We are proudly 100% independent.
Our mission:
To leave the industry better than we found it.
To create famous and impactful work that you want to tell your mum about.
To make a living and have fun doing it.
Our values:
Balance - We…
Know there is more to life than work
Embrace diversity, equality and mental wellbeing
Play to our individual and collective strengths
Momentum - We…
Always move forwards as people, as teams and as an organisation
Have a positive, inquisitive and can-do attitude
Are powered by passion and enjoyment in what we do
Freedom - We…
Create the space to make and respect the right decisions for our clients always.
Are honest and open, and have the confidence to say it how it is
Are each the master of their own destiny
Bring our whole selves to work