Join the Tolleson Strategy Team

Brand Strategist

Tolleson is an independent brand studio that partners closely with purpose-driven organizations to help them find and tell their story — integrating strategy, design, photography, and writing to build enduring brand systems and experiences that support every stage of an organization’s lifecycle. For the past 35+ years, we’ve built strong relationships with organizations across every industry, sector, and size — from global enterprises to local colleges, from lifestyle to clean and emerging technology — with a people-first commitment to our studio, clients, and greater community. 

Tolleson’s strategy department works closely with the rest of Tolleson’s creative disciplines, developing foundational frameworks that guide every deliverable, from brand identity to go-to-market. We’re currently looking for a thoughtful, experienced, and community-driven “end-to-end” strategist to drive brand and creative strategy from kick-off to case study development (reporting to the Director of Strategy)— and who is excited to join our close-knit, 30-person family. 

In this role, you will:

  • Uncover insights, articulate ideas, build systems, own briefs, and develop content for every form of brand strategy, including but not limited to: research & audit (client, product, market, user), brand architecture, positioning, naming, messaging, verbal identity, go-to-market, digital, campaign, content, sales & marketing, etc. 
  • Transform complex (and technical) client, market, product, and user insights into clear and compelling strategic and creative concepts — leveraging qualitative, quantitative, primary, and secondary research to create alignment and resonance across all client brand and business imperatives
  • Be an active part of a nimble and highly cross-functional Strategy & Writing team, collaborating with Tolleson’s writers, designers, creative directors, and account leads, as well as an extended network of agency partners and freelancers, to deliver high-quality work
  • Brief, generate, review, and revise every type of writing, from positioning statements to taglines to long-form editorial — working closely with Tolleson’s writers
  • Contribute to Tolleson’s internal sales, marketing, and business development initiatives
  • Manage personal workflows and projects for multiple client partners at any given time 

If you’re applying, you:

  • Bring your own humanity and deep social and cultural awareness to everything you do —  led by curiosity and a commitment to doing right by yourself, your team, your clients, and your community
  • Thrive at the intersection of creative, analytical, and design thinking with a dedication to both form and function at every level of fidelity
  • Are a thoughtful and perceptive listener, learner, and communicator with proven skills across multiple verbal, visual, and written mediums
  • Work hard and smart with a passion for high-quality, high-impact work and the ability to navigate complexity and ambiguity with and without direction
  • Are an actively-engaged team player for whom no task is too big or too small, who welcomes opportunities to share vulnerably, embrace feedback, and challenge your own conventions
  • Have 3-5+ years of experience in applied brand, creative, and/or product strategy
  • Have 3-5+ years of professional writing experience
  • Have a multi-disciplinary background, with the proven ability to distill vast, varied, and technically complex  research into clear, simple, and actionable insights
  • Have a strong community of creative and industry professionals who can vouch for your work and would be excited to work with you again

When you work at Tolleson, you’ll join a team of people who love what they do and who they work with. We take our work seriously, but always keep the mood light. In addition to nurturing a spirited and supportive environment, we offer a great benefits package and competitive pay:

  • $115-130k+
  • Healthcare, dental, vision
  • 401k and profit-sharing
  • California-Based (must be a resident)— hybrid and remote-first, with some required in-person events
  • Access to all local Bay Area studio spaces

To apply, please send: 

  • Your resume
  • A cover letter
  • 3 work samples, ideally showcasing both strategic and writing capabilities. (Digital portfolios are welcome, though not required.)

APPLY NOW