Strategy Director

Overview

FWD People is a full-service strategic marketing agency delivering meaningful and measurable results in the health and non-profit sectors. We take pride in being our clients’ trusted strategic partner—staying ahead of the curve, and leveraging our expertise and foresight to help them navigate change and seize opportunities. We approach every challenge with a commitment to innovation, excellence, and empathy, and we seek the same qualities in our leaders. As a fast-growing, senior team, we’re excited to welcome more forward-thinking individuals who will help us drive growth, foster positive change within our clients’ industries, and have fun along the way.

As a Strategy Director , you’ll bring clarity to complexity—translating data, insights, and science into ideas that move people and brands. You’ll lead the strategic development for key healthcare and biotech clients, shaping positioning, creative platforms, and campaigns that connect meaningfully with audiences.

The right person is equal parts thinker and doer : confident crafting brand narratives and frameworks, and just as comfortable rolling up their sleeves to co-create briefs, lead workshops, and collaborate closely with creative and account teams.

At FWD, we care deeply about our work and the people we work with — we take our no-jerk policy seriously. You’ll thrive here if you bring ownership without ego, a sense of humor, and a love of building teams and brands that matter.

What You’ll Do

Shape brands and businesses : define positioning, purpose, and value propositions that help clients stand apart in complex categories.

Clarify the complicated : distill clinical, behavioral, and competitive data into sharp, simple strategic stories that guide creative work.

Bridge disciplines : partner with account, creative, and medical strategy to connect brand thinking to activation, channel, and experience.

Inspire creativity : translate insights into powerful briefs and frameworks that fuel great ideas—and elevate them through thoughtful feedback.

Facilitate and guide : lead workshops, co-creation sessions, and client conversations that build belief and alignment.

Champion excellence : uphold strategic and creative rigor across every deliverable, from foundational brand frameworks to launch campaigns.

Be a trusted partner : build strong, collaborative relationships with clients, able to challenge thinking constructively and inspire confidence.

What You’ll Bring

10+ years of experience in brand, communications, or engagement strategy within an agency or consultancy.

Proven ability to define and articulate brand narratives, frameworks, and creative strategies that drive impact.

Strong storytelling and presentation skills; able to translate complex insights into compelling, actionable ideas.

Experience leading workshops and client work sessions that foster alignment and shared ownership.

Fluency in frameworks and tools (e.g., Brand Diamond, 4Cs, OGSM, journey maps) and comfort applying them across categories.

Experience bridging strategy and creative execution, partnering cross-functionally to bring ideas to life.

Background in healthcare, biotech, or life sciences; oncology or rare disease experience a plus.

Familiarity with regulatory environments and experience working within MLR processes a bonus.

Collaborative, curious, and pragmatic with a balance of big‑picture vision and hands‑on execution.

Ownership without ego. You’re energized by bringing clarity to complex challenges and inspiring others to do their best work.

Interviewing at FWD People

We believe in transparency and respect for your time. Our hiring process is designed to be open, fair, and as straightforward as possible, giving you a clear picture of what to expect while also giving us a chance to get to know you. Here’s how it works :

Initial Conversation : A friendly chat to learn about your background, goals, and what excites you about this opportunity (and in general).

In-Depth Interview : A deeper discussion about your skills, experiences, and how you envision contributing to our team.

Scenario Conversation : A collaborative discussion where we’ll walk through a few real-world scenarios together. This is an opportunity to show us how you think through challenges, make decisions, and approach problem-solving.

Final Interview : An onsite conversation with some additional folks on our team and leadership to explore how your unique talents align with our mission and values.

We know that interviewing can sometimes feel overwhelming, which is why we’re committed to keeping the process clear and communicative every step of the way. We’re excited to learn more about you and appreciate you taking the time to get to know us!

Working at FWD People

We are a senior team that champions integrity, adaptability, excellence, and growth. Here, you’ll collaborate with solution-focused colleagues to advance both our clients and our teams. Our office is located in Brooklyn Heights, and we offer a flexible hybrid work schedule.

We value in‑person collaboration and connection but also understand the importance of offering the flexibility to work from home.

We are dedicated to creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and respected. As an equal‑opportunity employer, we welcome differences in race, gender, age, sexual orientation, disability, and more. We believe that diversity drives innovation and success, and we are committed to ensuring equal opportunities and fostering a culture of respect and collaboration.

Benefits & Comp

At FWD, we believe in supporting our team both personally and professionally. We offer excellent benefits, including 25 days off per year + 16 paid holidays, matching 401(k), medical, dental & vision, paid maternity & paternity leave, home office setup, yearly team retreats, and a comprehensive professional development program including executive coaching and a yearly professional development stipend. As we continue to grow, we enhance our benefits package to meet the needs of our team.

The salary range for this role is $150,000–$180,000. This role is ideally based in NYC (Brooklyn) with a flexible hybrid work schedule, but we are open to remote folks.

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