INNOCEAN USA, a full-service advertising agency located in Huntington Beach, CA, is searching for a seasoned Associate Director, Strategy and Business Development to join one of our growing team!

We are seeking a multi-faceted team member with a strong strategic planning and research background. The ideal candidate will have excellent market research skills both quantitative and qualitative. The candidate should be experienced in primary research design, fielding and analysis. In addition, the candidate should be adept at quickly generating reports from secondary and desktop research sources.

The ideal candidate will be familiar with research tools like Survey Monkey, Mail Chimp to quickly implement agency surveys. This person should also be able to explore through our syndicated resources like Mintel, WARC and IPSOS to pull out key trends, insights and observations.

Additionally, the ideal candidate will be a good networker with a solid base of business connections.

Strategic Planning – General Accounts (UMass Global, Pacific Life, Wienerschnitzel, Hankook, Signature Kitchen Suite and occasional projects for other accounts)

• Support the development of strategic and tactical solutions for General Accounts
• Provide consumer insights to support account management and creative directors in developing briefs, defining target audiences and other strategic documents
• Work with Account Management to provide ongoing monitoring and analysis of brand tracking initiatives.
• Write research objectives, RFPs for outside research firms and take the lead on all research projects for General Accounts
• Work with CSO and Managing Director to manage and implement an agency-exclusive research tool.
• Provide strategic and consumer intelligence to support media and social media teams as needed.

Business Development – General Prospecting/RFP Process Management

• Support Managing Director, Business Development Director and PR Director in developing and executing annual new business plans for maintaining our thought leadership initiatives (webinars, blogs, white papers)
• Lead research initiatives that support the brief development for new business pitches.
• Support Managing Director and Business Development Director in the development pitch decks.
• Develop prospect category intelligence for key business targets – with ongoing update briefings to the team,
• Develop strategies to approach prospects with key insights and consumer trends that impact their specific business.
• Develop strategic briefs to make sure all pitch team members are informed with prospects business situation and opportunities.
• Organize structural responses to RFP’s.
• Develop new case studies, capabilities, general credentials that will help to promote the agency.

• Develop and nurture new business prospect list with senior management.
• Identify and secure resources and deliverables needed to complete the RFP submission.

SKILLS

• Highly advanced PowerPoint/Keynote design capabilities
• Custom research: Quantitative/Qualitative research experience
• Desktop research: Ability to search and synthesize information from internet or subscription services

REQUIREMENTS

• 6+ years of strategic planning and/or market research in an agency or research firm.
• Has participated in pitches for new business either behind the scenes or in the pitch itself.
• Focus group moderation and/or screener, discussion guide and report writing is preferred.
• Ability to work on-premises a minimum of 2 - 3 days per week.
• Occasion travel may be required.

BENEFITS

• 3 PPO Medical Plans through Anthem to choose from at low cost
• Free Dental and Vision
• 401k - up to 6% match at .70 cents on the dollar
• Wellness reimbursement program
• Company paid short- and long-term disability, and basic life
• Generous PTO
• On-site Barista
• Beautiful campus across from the Pacific Ocean

Salary range: $130,000 to $145,000 annually

Pay is dependent upon several factors including but not limited to: experience, transferable skills and training.