About the Agency
Manifest is an award-winning global creative agency on a mission to build brands that change the world. With studios across London, Manchester, New York, Los Angeles, Stockholm and Melbourne, they work with ambitious organisations to create ideas with cultural velocity and measurable growth.
Their approach blends strategy, design, creativity and conscience — delivering brand transformation that moves culture forward, not just market share. Proudly independent and proudly global, they partner with organisations committed to making a positive impact.
The Global Brand Studio (CBS) sits at the heart of the agency: the central hub for brand creation, visual identity, motion and campaign design. Recently named Campaign Global Branding Agency of the Year, the team is expanding quickly.
Manifest operates a hybrid working model, with teams spending Tuesday to Thursday in their local studio (London or Manchester in the UK, New York or Los Angeles in the US), creating a collaborative environment where people can bring their full selves to the work.
The Role
Manifest is hiring a Brand Strategy Director to join their Central Brand Studio — a senior strategic leader with deep experience in brand strategy and brand consultancy.
You’ll report into the Director of CBS, with a dotted line into the Acting Chief of Strategy, and collaborate closely with the Chief Design Officer. You’ll work within a multidisciplinary global team spanning strategy, insights, design, motion and communications.
Your purpose: to lead the strategic development of brands — from positioning and architecture to identity and narrative — and to help shape the next phase of growth for Manifest’s fastest-growing division.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Leading brand strategy for creation, refresh and transformation projects
- Defining brand positioning, architecture and articulation
- Developing and evolving CBS’s strategic frameworks, methodologies and IP
- Translating insight into impactful brand platforms with the Insights Director
- Writing sharp, inspiring creative briefs for design and motion teams
- Shaping tone of voice, narrative and messaging
- Acting as a senior strategic advisor to clients at key business inflection points
- Supporting growth through new business, proposals and pitches
- Mentoring and developing the strategy and insights team as the division scales
- Partnering with local studios to ensure seamless transitions into creative and campaigning strategy
- Using and championing agentic AI tools to enhance strategic thinking and workflow
What They’re Looking For
- Senior experience as a Brand Strategist or Brand Strategy Director
- Proven experience within branding or brand consultancy agencies
- Strong grounding in positioning, architecture and identity systems
- Ability to turn insight into distinctive, actionable strategic thinking
- Culturally attuned, commercially sharp and strategically confident
- Excellent storytelling and board-level presentation skills
- Experience leading client relationships at a business challenge level
- Strong pastoral and team-mentoring skills
- Comfortable collaborating across multiple markets and time zones
- Curious, collaborative and confident experimenting with AI
What You’ll Get
- £65,000–£80,000 salary (UK) / $100,000–$120,000 (US)
- Unlimited holiday and wellness benefits
- Vitality private healthcare (or US equivalent)
- Competitive parental leave
- Annual profit share
- Monthly wellness budget via Juno
- New business bonuses
- Personal training budget + individual development plan
- Hybrid working structure
- Ticket to the annual Manifestival (Barcelona, Madrid, Budapest, Brighton, Athens)
- Global team culture built on inclusivity, creativity and collaboration
- A strong commitment to DEI through hiring, progression and everyday practice
