Senior Cultural Strategist (Semiotics Specialism)

ABOUT COMPANY

Formed in 2008, operating across 70+ markets, CROWD.DNA brings together trends specialists, researchers, strategists, data analysts, designers, writers and film-makers for the world's most exciting brands.

Our values are tangible and connect with every member of the Crowd DNA team, regardless of their role or how long they've been with us. We believe they reflect how we wish to work with each other and with our clients and contributors.

Simple Is Always Best : that's it, avoid the temptation to overcomplicate.

Better Blended : we're not lone wolves, we work fluidly between ideas, specialisms, methods - and agencies.

Make It Count : we show up for our work, for our clients, and, most importantly, for each other.

We believe fully in the power of our work to fuel our clients with the evidence, inspiration and recommendation they need to grow and prosper.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Senior Cultural Strategist supports the team by running projects, guiding junior members, and developing client relationships - with demonstrated expertise in applying semiotic analysis to unlock cultural meaning and commercial value. This role translates cultural data and semiotic insights into compelling narratives that drive business impact across brand, category and business goals, while coaching colleagues through methodology and pushing boundaries with fresh thinking. By owning projects end-to-end and building trust advisory partnerships, this role cements Crowd's reputation as a culturally grounded and semiotically sophisticated strategic partner that spots and delivers new commercial opportunities.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Knowledge & Craft

Apply semiotic frameworks strategically, selecting the most effective lens for each brief with SL support

Lead analysis, synthesises data into clear and compelling narratives

Shape debriefs, strengthening story arcs and client relevance

Generate strategic recommendations linking cultural insight to brand, category and business impact

Develop and champion new approaches, tools and methodologies that elevate team thinking

Coach colleagues across semiotic analysis, methodologies and storytelling craft with genuine expertise

Delivery

Oversee projects end-to-end with some support, embedding semiotic rigour throughout

Manage multiple simultaneous workstreams with clear prioritisation and calm communication

Anticipate risks early and leads proactive solutions independently

Contribute to proposal writing - designing approaches and owning lower-cost proposal delivery

Improve ways of working through refined templates, structures and processes

Influence & Growth

Act as a trusted client partner, leading conversations and presentations with confidence in semiotic value

Influence team direction through strong, informed proof of semiotic value

Mentor junior team members, provides constructive feedback and builds their confidence

Sets a positive, inclusive, collaborative and solutions-focused tone for team culture

Represent Crowd DNA confidently, across teams, S7, training and starts to shape thought leadership

Begin to identify commercial opportunities - follow-ups, cross-specialism work, etc.

SKILLS & ATTRIBUTES

Essential

Curious about culture, people and brands; genuine enthusiasm to explore exciting ways to fuse semiotics and unstructured data work

Solid experience conducting semiotics work in a commercial environment

Commercial mindset; understanding how research drives business value

Competent at taking a lead role on projects, end to end from understanding client challenges to producing compelling results

Organised and able to juggle multiple projects, meet deadlines and work under pressure, maintaining quality

Demonstrated ownership of workload management, prioritisation and responsibility for raising resource issues

Able to develop team capability through mentoring, and knowledge sharing on analysis, methodologies and strategic storytelling

Confidence in start building trusted client relationships

Ability to work autonomously, take initiative during workload peaks and support wider team development

Desirable

Experience developing innovative research approaches and introducing creativity to challenge conventional thinking

Experience of writing proposals and communicating the value of semiotics work to prospective clients

BENEFITS

The role comes with a competitive salary of up to £53,000 with training, growth opportunities and clear paths to promotion. Benefits include:

25 days holiday plus UK bank holidays (our office also shuts between Christmas and New Year)

2 volunteering paid days per year (under a formal program for a registered charity)

Flexible, hybrid working options - we expect you to be at the office 3 days a week

Paid sabbatical after four years

A contributory group personal pension scheme, to which we contribute 4% of Qualified Banded earnings to each team member's gross salary

Salary sacrifice and season ticket loans

A Westfield Health cash plan

Life assurance scheme at 4 x salary

Generous staff ents programme

Cycle to work scheme

RECRUITMENT

The cycle involves two interviews and one task.

Starting date - when possible

DISCLOSURE

STRAT7 is an Equal Opportunity Employer and our employees are people with different strengths, experiences and backgrounds, who share a passion for research. Our commitment to inclusivity is not just about race and gender identity, but also age, disability status, sexual orientation, religion and many other parts of one's identity. All of our employee's points of view are key to our success, and inclusion is everyone's responsibility.