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Sr. Director of Experience Strategy – Remote

Embark on the next step in your career journey with Direct Travel!

The Senior Director of Experience Strategy is a pivotal role in our Integrated Marketing department, responsible for leading the development of creative concepts and strategic engagement for new and existing client opportunities. This position requires a visionary thinker who can develop and translate high-level strategies into actionable plans, ensuring that all products and services work seamlessly together to create a compelling and cohesive experience. The Experience Strategist will work closely with cross-disciplinary teams to determine the best brand-forward solutions and tell a compelling visual story that answers the client’s needs.

Expedition Expectations

• Lead and/or support concept development and engagement planning sessions with cross-disciplinary teams for new and existing client opportunities in the events and incentives space.
• Articulate the proposed direction for a client opportunity.
• Create the proposed sequence and structure for the “story” and win strategy, alignment with their key internal stakeholder – the Account Executive
• Orchestrate seamless communication between internal and external resources
• Tell a compelling story led by answering the client’s “why.”
• Orchestrate all SME designers to create one seamless experience. Translate high-level opportunity strategy to product SMEs for interpretation and activation.
• Recommend investment priorities of time, money and energy relative to the strategic needs of the opportunity and within the client's resource Facilitate customer discovery calls and design workshops with client.
• Develop concise briefs with insights and background for optimized creative direction, based on various client metrics including but not limited to budget and business goals.
• Shape insights based on primary and secondary research to analyze behavior, values, and needs.
• Define the strategic framework to solve client challenges – including forward-thinking and integrated marketing/communication strategies and overarching marketing/brand plans.
• Ensure brand guidelines are current and consistent in use.
• Present work and recommendations to clients, along with iteration based on client feedback.
• Author comprehensive attendee journey design blueprints.
• Concept social media engagement points and measurement metrics.
• Analyze reporting and present program results, including recommendations for future projects.
• Lead agile discovery team and their daily standup calls
• Develop white papers and presentations to amplify our industry reach.
• Lead brand trends and consumer insights training for internal team.
• Convey client feedback and trends to product teams.
• Design new methodology to measure and evaluate the efficacy of existing brand strategy.
• Assist in sponsorship strategy development, KPIs and engagement plan.
• Agency, partnership, and supplier relationship management on specific projects.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Passport to Success

• Bachelor's degree or a combination of education and ten year’s minimum experience is required
• Strong background in experiential marketing, events, content strategy and/or brand management
• Data driven, strategic thinker with strong business case development skills
• Foster strong working relationships with internal and external teams
• High business acumen and client relationship skills
• Proficient to advanced Excel background
• Experience working both for and with agencies (branding, advertising/DM, DM, digital content)
• Strong presentational skills

Going the Extra Mile

• Must reflect organization’s Vision and Core Beliefs.
• Excellent interpersonal and presentational skills and client service orientation to work effectively with internal and external sources, facilitate customer discovery calls, design workshops with clients, and ensure outstanding service to our clients.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills to articulate direction for a client opportunity, orchestrate seamless communication between internal and external sources, help to create “the story,” and develop white papers and presentations to amplify our industry reach
• Strong client requirement-gathering skills to identify and meet the clients’ objectives and challenges.
• Strategic, forward-thinking and with critical thinking skills to define the strategic framework that would solve the client’s challenges, translate high level opportunity strategy to product SMEs, and analyze success and failure rate and course correct.
• Self-generated learner with orientation toward continuous process improvement.
• Strong project management skills and ability to manage multiple clients/projects simultaneously.
• Good listening skills to understand and be able to meet client’s objectives for the program.
• Positive, solution-based approach with a bias towards action.
• Flexible and open to change.
• Ability to work independently, while thriving in a team environment

Benefits Onboard

In addition to Medical, Dental, and Vision benefits Direct Travel offers an employee rewards and recognitions program, Total Rewards Package which includes Wellness, Sustainability, DE&I initiatives, and Mental Health Support.

Our Brand Voyage:

About Creative Group and Direct Travel

A subsidiary of Direct Travel, Creative Group designs global programs and experiences that reward excellence and inspire people to reach their full potential – we call it Thrivability. Creative Group is a full-service performance improvement company specializing in meetings and events, group incentive travel, employee engagement and recognition, sales incentives and channel loyalty programs. Creative Group serves a client roster of Fortune 500 companies in a broad range of industries.

Direct Travel is a leading provider of corporate travel management services. The company has been providing travel management for over 40 years, working with clients to develop highly customized travel programs. By leveraging both the expertise of its people and innovative solutions, Direct Travel enables clients to derive the greatest value from their travel program in terms of superior service, progressive technologies and significant cost savings. Direct Travel has offices in over 70 locations across North America and the UK and is currently ranked 13th on Travel Weekly’s Power List. For more information, visit www.dt.com.

Direct Travel is an EOE/AA/Veteran/People with Disabilities employer

If you're ready to chart a new course and advance your career with the valuable moments and travel experiences that await, we welcome you to submit your resume for consideration at Direct Travel.