Associate Strategist Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

At Real Chemistry, making the world a healthier place isn’t just an aspiration—it’s our everyday reality. Our drive to transform healthcare is informed by our blend of deep scientific expertise, human-centred creativity, and AI-driven insights, fostering a unique environment where innovation thrives and our people are impact-obsessed. As a global agency, we provide a full suite of services across healthcare communications and marketing to our clients, including top players in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. Our #LifeatRealChem culture is rooted in our people—we believe we are best together and are committed to excellence for both our clients and colleagues. Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting your career, if you share our passion for healthcare and connection, we invite you to explore our opportunities. Discover your purpose. Embrace innovation. Experience #LifeatRealChem.

Real Chemistry is looking for an Associate Strategy Director to join our growing team! 21GRAMS, part of Real Chemistry, takes an innovative approach to advertising, and focusing on making healthcare more human. Not just in our work, but in the way we conduct business, approach client relationships, and treat each other. It’s a place where people subscribe to the adage, “Be good to each other, but hard on the work.” A place where people are not just in it for the paycheck, but to make a dent in the universe. Sound like you? This is a hybrid role, based in any of our US offices—including New York City, Boston, Chicago, Carmel, or San Francisco—or remotely within the US, depending on team and business needs.

As the Associate Strategy Director, you will be a key leader responsible for shaping and executing our brand strategy to drive growth and enhance brand equity. You will work closely with executive leadership, cross functional teams, and external partners to develop and implement comprehensive brand strategies that align with our business objectives and resonate with our target audience.

• Lead the development of brand positioning, messaging, and creative briefs that effectively communicate brand story
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams including Account Management, Creative, and Project Management teams to develop integrated omnichannel campaigns that deliver measurable results
• Stay abreast of industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices in omnichannel marketing, and incorporate relevant insights into strategy development
• Develop and implementing comprehensive strategies that effectively reach target audiences, drive brand awareness, and ultimately, contribute to the success of our clients' campaigns
• Design and facilitate workshops
• Lead Tactical and Brand planning
• Conduct market research, consumer insights, and competitive analysis to identify trends, opportunities, and challenges in the marketplace
• Drive innovation in brand strategy and marketing approaches to stay ahead of industry trends and maintain a competitive edge
• Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics to measure the effectiveness of brand initiatives and campaigns, and use insights to inform future strategies
• Provide strategic guidance and mentorship to team members, fostering a culture of collaboration, creativity, and continuous learning

• Our Company values – Best Together, Impact-Obsessed, Excellence Expected, Evolve Always and Accountability with an “I” – really speak to you.
• You are adaptable, resilient, and OK with adjusting your scope, responsibilities, and focus as we grow. When things change, so do we. We’re always evolving.
• You are proactive, driven, and resourceful with strong prioritization skills and a desire to dive into the data.
• You are a highly organized self-starter, able to work independently and under tight deadlines.

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Marketing, or related field
• Experience in Brand Strategy or related roles within an advertising agency, with a proven track record of developing and implementing successful brand strategies
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to inspire and motivate cross-functional teams
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities, with a data-driven approach to decision-making
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills, with the ability to articulate complex ideas and strategies in a clear and compelling manner
• Demonstrated ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment, managing multiple projects and priorities simultaneously

Pay Range: $115,000.00-$135,000.00 This is the pay range the Company believes it will pay for this position at the time of this posting. Consistent with applicable law, compensation will be determined based on job-related, non-discriminatory factors including but not limited to work experience, skills, certifications, and geographical location. The Company reserves the right to modify this pay range at any time.

Real Chemistry offers a comprehensive benefit program and perks, tailored to your region. We believe we can do our best when feeling our best, which is why we’ve put together a benefits program designed to give you the support you and your family need at every stage of life.

• free snacks to keep you running all day long
• generous holiday and paid time off
• options for private medical, dental, and vision plans
• support in saving for the future
• mental wellness coaching and support
• access to more than 13,000 online classes with LinkedIn Learning

Real Chemistry is a hybrid and regional approach designed to foster collaboration, learning, innovation, and meaningful relationships while providing flexibility where appropriate. Because our workforce spans multiple countries, regions, and client needs, work arrangements may vary by role and location. Some positions offer hybrid or remote flexibility, while others require regular in-office presence. For example, certain teams and regions, including some of our UK operations, have office-based requirements. Your recruiter will discuss the specific expectations for the role you're pursuing during the interview process and keep you informed throughout the hiring journey.

For employees located within a one-hour commute of a Real Chemistry office, we require in‑person attendance two days per week, either from a Real Chemistry office or when working onsite with clients. Employees in regions without a nearby office may work remotely and come together throughout the year for collaboration, culture-building, learning, and team connection opportunities.

While these guidelines reflect our current workplace model, we understand that everyone’s circumstances are unique. If you require additional flexibility, we welcome an open conversation with your recruiter and our HR team to discuss your needs and determine what may be possible.

Real Chemistry is an Equal Opportunity employer. We continually strive to build and sustain an inclusive and equitable work environment where our employees feel empowered to leverage all they bring from their personal lived experience and professional expertise, to make our team the best in the industry. We encourage motivated and qualified applicants to apply without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, ethnic or national origin, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, marital information, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local employment discrimination laws where Real Chemistry operates.

Should you require accommodations throughout the interview process please let your recruiter know.