Strategy Associate Jobs in Portland, OR (NOW HIRING)

Reports to: Chief Operating Officer
Department: Strategy
Classification: Exempt

We are Thesis. Proudly headquartered in Portland, OR, while serving clients globally for over 20 years.

Thesis is a creative agency that drives business success through marketing across technology, strategy and operations.

The Head of Strategy is responsible for defining and leading the agency’s strategic discipline, sitting at the intersection of brand, creativity, technology, operations, and AI.

As the agency's senior-most strategic leader, you shape the vision for the discipline while serving as a trusted advisor to executive leadership, clients, and cross-functional teams. You'll lead a multidisciplinary team spanning brand, campaign, social, performance strategy, building the capabilities, frameworks, and talent that move both our agency and our clients forward.

This is a role for a builder. Someone who thrives in ambiguity, sees business challenges as opportunities, and instinctively connects strategy, creative, technology, and operations into integrated solutions. You'll lead our most important client relationships, shape winning pitches, mentor the next generation of strategists, and continually evolve how strategy creates value in an AI-enabled world.

The role is equal parts strategist, business leader, coach, storyteller, and agency builder, setting the standard for strategic excellence while helping define what's next for Thesis.

• Deep expertise in brand strategy, campaign architecture, content, and media planning.
• Strong grasp of digital ecosystems, consumer behavior, and performance metrics.
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills — written, verbal, and visual.
• Fluency in insight development, audience segmentation, messaging strategy, and creative brief writing.
• Ability to manage ambiguity, synthesize complexity, and bring alignment across teams.
• Executive presence and ability to lead high-level client relationships and conversations.
• Experience leading a department or organization.

• Define and champion the strategic vision for Thesis, continually evolving the discipline to meet the changing needs of clients, culture, technology, and an AI-enabled future.
• Shape the agency's strategic philosophy, methodologies, and planning frameworks across brand, campaign, content, social, and performance marketing.
• Champion the evolution of strategic capabilities, identifying new services, approaches, and opportunities that strengthen the agency's competitive advantage.
• Establish the standard for strategic excellence, ensuring every engagement is grounded in insight, clarity, and measurable business impact.

• Lead, mentor, and inspire a multidisciplinary team of strategists, fostering a culture of curiosity, collaboration, and continuous growth.
• Build the capabilities, expertise, and career pathways that elevate both the team and the discipline.
• Create an environment where strategists are empowered to do the best work of their careers.

• Serve as the senior strategic partner for the agency's most complex clients, helping solve complex business challenges and unlock new opportunities for growth.
• Lead the strategic direction for key pitches and business development opportunities, translating client needs into compelling agency solutions.
• Guide positioning, messaging, campaign architecture, and integrated marketing strategies that drive measurable business outcomes.
• Elevate briefs, presentations, and strategic narratives that inspire confidence, creativity, and action.

• Partner across Creative, Accounts, Operations, Technology, and Innovation to develop integrated solutions that deliver exceptional client outcomes.
• Ensure strategic thinking is embedded throughout the entire client lifecycle, from opportunity and briefing through execution, optimization, and measurement.
• Build scalable frameworks, playbooks, and ways of working that enable stronger collaboration and smarter decision-making across the agency.
• Bring a forward-looking perspective on emerging trends, technology, AI, and consumer behavior, helping evolve how Thesis delivers strategic value for clients.

• 12–15+ years of experience in brand, communications, marketing, or business strategy within an agency or integrated marketing environment.
• 5–7+ years leading and growing high-performing strategy teams, with a passion for coaching, mentoring, and developing talent.
• Proven experience leading integrated strategy across brand, campaign, social, content, CRM, digital, and performance marketing.
• Demonstrated success partnering with senior client stakeholders to solve complex business challenges and influence strategic direction.
• Experience leading the strategic development of new business pitches and contributing to agency growth.
• Strong ability to translate research, consumer insights, cultural trends, and business objectives into actionable strategies and compelling creative briefs.
• Experience collaborating closely with Creative, Account, Technology, and Operations teams to develop integrated solutions that deliver measurable results.
• A systems thinker who thrives in ambiguity, quickly synthesizes complexity, and brings clarity to evolving client and business challenges.
• Curiosity and enthusiasm for emerging technologies, AI, and evolving marketing capabilities, with an understanding of how they can strengthen strategy and agency ways of working.
• Exceptional communication, presentation, facilitation, and storytelling skills with the ability to inspire teams and confidently present strategic thinking to clients.
• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, Business, Psychology, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.

The following capabilities are required in order to perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations that do not create an undue burden on the agency are available to address the following requirements.

• Using standard office equipment, computers, and related technology.
• Certain activities are performed in an environmentally controlled office setting, subject to extended periods of sitting, keyboarding, and manipulating a computer mouse.
• Bending, reaching, lifting, pushing and pulling up to 25 pounds.

Thesis operates on a hybrid work model, with in-office collaboration Tuesday through Thursday and remote work on Mondays and Fridays. As a proud B-Corp, Thesis prioritizes candidates based in the Portland Metro area to allow for a hybrid working set-up in our beautiful office in NW Portland.

This role may require up to 15% travel.

• Reports to the Chief Operating Officer.
• Acts as a peer to department heads across Creative, Innovation & Tech, Operations and Accounts.
• Partners closely with strategy directors and leads to drive impact across client work and team development.
• Is client-facing and serves as a strategic lead on high-priority, high-impact client relationships.

We believe in thinking big, rolling up our sleeves, and getting the job done. And while we love a good plan, we believe in using process as an engine, not a brake.

We’re all here to learn, grow, and evolve together, which requires connecting, conflicting, and embracing. Honesty and ideas are welcome; ego is not.

We invite you to bring your whole self to work — your perspective, cultural background, lived experiences — while creating room for others’ strengths to complement your own. What makes you remarkable is welcome at Thesis.

We know that experience can show up in many ways, and we encourage you to apply even if you don't meet 100% of the qualifications. If you're passionate about strategy, eager to grow, and excited to contribute your perspective, we'd love to hear from you.

At Thesis, we believe the best ideas come from bringing together diverse voices, experiences, and ways of thinking. Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging are not checkboxes—they are essential to how we work, collaborate, and create.

We are committed to fostering an environment where all employees can thrive and where every individual is treated with respect and dignity.

Thesis is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. We provide reasonable accommodations throughout the hiring process for applicants with disabilities. If you require an accommodation, please contact Human Resources at HR@Thesis.Agency.

As part of our commitment to equitable hiring practices, we do not request or consider applicants' salary history when making hiring decisions.