The Director, Brand Strategy owns the strategic foundations of the Grant Thornton Advisors group brand across 20+ markets. The role defines enterprise positioning, proposition and narrative, then translates them into proposition and messaging architectures for campaigns, solutions and services.
It leads brand architecture and M&A brand decisions, sets governance standards, designs the global operating model and owns brand research and testing. It defines how the firm shows up externally and directs brand investment across regions, keeping execution practical, consistent and commercially effective across every channel.
This is a strategy role, not an activation role. It sets direction and briefs the teams that own execution. The right person has led a brand repositioning at enterprise level, brings strong editorial judgement and is a commercial storyteller who turns strategy into clear narratives that work across markets and cultures.
Responsibilities
Positioning, propositions and messaging
Define and evolve enterprise positioning, proposition and narrative across all markets
Build proposition and messaging architectures that link audience, client problem, value, proof and claims
Turn strategy into clear briefs for Creative, Content, Communications, Brand Activation and markets, holding intent through development
Brand architecture
Design and maintain the global brand architecture: portfolio logic, naming, descriptors, endorsement and sub-brand rules
Define how enterprise, market, acquisition, solution, service and product brands relate
Lead acquisition brand decisions, weighing market equity, commercial and legal priorities and timeline
Own the architecture roadmap and decision record, and advise leaders on material choices
Governance and compliance
Set global brand standards across markets, services, solutions and key client touchpoints
Define what markets must adopt, what they may adapt and when central approval applies
Approve material adaptations, naming and changes to the enterprise narrative or descriptor
Monitor compliance, close gaps with market leaders and work with Legal on regulatory or entity language
Operating model, tools and enablement
Design the global operating model: roles, decision rights, workflows and hand-offs across Corporate Marketing, functions and markets
Build tools, playbooks and guidance so markets apply the strategy with confidence
Lead training and enablement, and provide a clear route for support or escalation
Insight, testing and measurement
Own the brand research agenda: tracking, audience insight, proposition testing and message testing
Define measures for understanding, awareness, consideration, distinctiveness and adoption, and turn findings into decisions
Leadership and influence
Advise the CMO and leadership on positioning, architecture and material brand decisions
Lead cross-functional strategy programs and manage external strategy, research and naming partners
Represent the firm in global brand forums and align markets on a common direction
Build brand strategy capability, challenging unclear propositions, unsupported claims and weak briefs
Skills and experience
Bachelors degree in Marketing or other relevant field; equivalent experience acceptable
12+ years in senior brand strategy at enterprise and global scale
Proven record defining enterprise positioning and building proposition and messaging architectures
Deep experience in brand architecture, portfolio strategy, naming and descriptors
Experience leading M&A brand decisions: retained-brand, endorsement, transition and sunset
Exceptional writer, able to make complex services clear, credible and distinctive, with a strong portfolio of published brand and messaging work to point to
Strong command of qualitative and quantitative research, tracking and testing
Experience designing operating models, governance, decision rights and approval processes
Excellent strategic judgement and writing, making complex services clear, credible and distinctive
Commercial grasp of complex B2B or professional services markets
Experience across multiple markets and a complex matrix, balancing global consistency with local needs
Strong executive influence and the confidence to defend clear recommendations
The base salary range for this position is between $184,000 and $276,000. Placement within the pay range is at Grant Thornton’s discretion, and it is based on multiple factors, including but not limited to, job -related knowledge/skills, experience, business needs, progression within the role, geographic location, and internal equity. At Grant Thornton, compensation decisions are dependent upon the facts and circumstances of each position and candidate.
At Grant Thornton, we believe in making business more personal and building trust into every result – for our clients and you. Here, we go beyond your expectations of a career in professional services by offering a career path with more: more opportunity, more flexibility, and more support. It’s what makes us different, and we think being different makes us better.
In the U.S., Grant Thornton delivers professional services through two specialized entities: Grant Thornton LLP, a licensed, certified public accounting (CPA) firm that provides audit and assurance services ― and Grant Thornton Advisors LLC (not a licensed CPA firm), which exclusively provides non-attest offerings, including tax and advisory services.
In 2025, Grant Thornton formed a multinational, multidisciplinary platform with Grant Thornton Ireland. The platform offers a premier Trans-Atlantic advisory and tax practice, as well as independent American and Irish audit practices. With $2.7 billion in revenues and more than 50 offices spanning the U.S., Ireland and other territories, the platform delivers a singular client experience that includes enhanced solutions and capabilities, backed by powerful technologies and a roster of 12,000 quality-driven professionals enjoying exceptional career-growth opportunities and a distinctive cross-border culture.
Grant Thornton is part of the Grant Thornton International Limited network, which provides access to its member firms in more than 150 global markets.
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Grant Thornton is the brand name for Grant Thornton LLP and Grant Thornton Advisors LLC the U.S. member firms of Grant Thornton International Ltd, one of the world’s leading independent audit & assurance, tax and advisory firms. That means our network has more than 73,000 professionals in more than 146 countries who are ready to help public and private organizations of all sizes take on today’s challenges. But what sets us apart isn’t just what we do – it’s how we do it. Here, we believe in making business more personal and building trust into every result. We’re collaborators – obsessed with quality and ready for anything – who understand the value of strong relationships. It’s how we challenge the expectations of business and empower our people and clients to do it, too.
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