Strategy Lead

About the role

As a Strategy Lead at forpeople, you’ll play a central role in shaping the thinking behind our work – helping define how brands, products and experiences come together for our clients.

Working closely with Associate Directors and multidisciplinary teams across design, research and experience, you’ll guide projects from early strategic exploration through to creative outcomes. That might mean defining brand frameworks, shaping narratives, leading workshops, or helping teams translate insight into compelling ideas.

A week at forpeople might mean thinking about the future of mobility, redefining a global brand’s purpose, or exploring how emerging technologies impact everyday experiences. We’re looking for someone who enjoys connecting insight, creativity and business thinking – and turning those connections into powerful ideas.

Who we'd like to find

Since 2004, we’ve grown from only four to over a hundred by finding the right people – people that don’t only slot right in to our studio culture, but bring something incredible to it.

This role calls for someone who brings:

Innovative thinking — An ability to hunt for meaningful insights, detect weak signals, and translate research, culture and behaviour into clear opportunities for brands.

Brand strategy expertise — Experience delivering bold, actionable brand strategies, turning complexity into direction that teams and clients can align around.

Narrative craft — The ability to synthesise strategy into compelling stories, from frameworks and positioning to manifestos with soul.

Confident communication — An articulate, engaging and emotional connector that's able to lead workshops, present thinking and guide conversations.

Team mentorship — Active in mentoring and developing more junior strategists and creatives across the studio, demystifying brand strategy, and contributing to a positive, ambitious culture.

Specifically, you’ll be:

• Leading the strategic development of projects across brand, experience and communication design

• Synthesising research and insight to define clear strategic directions for clients

• Developing outputs such as brand frameworks, positioning, narratives, manifestos and experience strategies

• Leading internal and client-facing workshops and strategic conversations

• Acting as a client-facing lead on projects when required

• Guiding teams to ensure creative outcomes remain aligned with the strategy

• Mentoring and supporting junior strategists and designers

• Supporting new business activity and pitch development where needed

What we offer

People mean the world to us. That includes looking after our own, with things like:

• Global clients and world-class work

• A competitive salary

• A strong bonus and benefits package, reflecting both company and personal performance

• Training, support and personal career development

• A generous company pension

• A unique, inspiring working environment filled with incredible, like minded people

• Hybrid working, with a minimum of three days a week in our London studio