Strategist

Please send your resume and cover letter quoting the position title within your cover letter to careers@humanbranding.com. Applications will be reviewed and only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

Job Summary

About HumanBranding

HumanBranding is a marketing consultancy and global leader in humanistic insights. We help organizations understand why people behave the way they do and transform those insights into business, brand, and communication strategies.

Our work is grounded in Applied Anthropology Thinking (AAT)™, HumanBranding's proprietary methodology. By combining anthropology, behavioural science, strategy, and marketing communications, we uncover the hidden cultural, emotional, and subconscious drivers that shape decision-making and behaviour. We don't stop at understanding people. We help our clients change behaviour and create meaningful business impact.

For more than 20 years, we've helped leading global organizations uncover deeper human truths by going beyond surface-level answers and traditional research approaches.

The Opportunity

We are seeking Strategists to join our growing team.

These roles are ideal for intellectually curious individuals who are fascinated by human behaviour, culture, decision-making, and the forces that shape how people think and act. Successful candidates are analytical, entrepreneurial, collaborative, and comfortable working in a fast-paced environment where learning never stops.

Unlike many traditional research roles, these positions focus on understanding the deeper drivers of behaviour and translating those insights into strategic recommendations for clients. Team members support qualitative and integrated research projects from project set-up through final deliverables, contributing to discussion guides and research materials, interviews and observations, qualitative analysis, and the identification of emerging themes, patterns, and strategic implications. They also help develop client-ready reports, presentations, and recommendations; participate in brainstorming and insight-development workshops; contribute to proposals and business development initiatives; support day-to-day project execution and coordination; and build expertise in HumanBranding's Applied Anthropology Thinking (AAT)™ methodology.

What We're Looking For

We're interested in candidates who are naturally curious about people and culture and who enjoy asking "why" as much as "what."

Ideal backgrounds include:

  • Social Sciences degrees including Anthropology, Sociology, Psychology

  • Marketing and Agency experience

  • Behavioural Science

  • Communications

  • Consumer Insights

  • Healthcare and pharmaceutical client-side or agency-side work experience

Qualifications

Strategist

  • 5–10 years of experience in qualitative and/or quantitative market research, strategic insights, marketing, behavioural science, or a related field.

  • Demonstrated experience leading qualitative research projects from project set-up through final client deliverables.

  • Strong discussion guide development, moderation, analysis, strategic storytelling, and presentation skills.

  • Proven ability to manage client relationships, lead project teams, and translate complex findings into clear strategic recommendations.

  • Post-secondary or graduate degree in social sciences, business, marketing, or a related field.

  • Experience client-side in healthcare and/or pharmaceuticals

What You’ll Do

Continuous Learning & Methodology

  • Build expertise in HumanBranding's proprietary Applied Anthropology Thinking (AAT)™ methodology and humanistic insights approach.

  • Develop a strong understanding of cultural, social, psychological, linguistic, and behavioural drivers that influence decision-making.

  • Participate in internal knowledge-sharing, cultural trend analysis, and ongoing professional development activities.

Project Leadership & Client Management

  • Lead qualitative research projects from project set-up through project close, ensuring timelines, quality standards, and client expectations are met.

  • Serve as the day-to-day primary point of contact for clients and lead internal and client project kick-off meetings.

  • Proactively manage client needs, identify and resolve project challenges, and build relationships that instill confidence and trust.

  • Lead and support project teams, providing clear direction, coaching, and encouragement to more junior team members.

Research Design, Moderation & Project Execution

  • Translate client business needs into focused research objectives, knowledge areas, and client-ready discussion guides.

  • Integrate appropriate projective and qualitative techniques and clearly articulate the rationale for the research approach.

  • Moderate across a range of qualitative methodologies and respondent types, adapting in the moment and probing strategically to uncover deeper insights.

  • Support qualitative and/or quantitative and integrated research projects from project set-up through final deliverables.

Analysis, Strategy & Deliverables

  • Lead analysis and debrief development, including brainstorm sessions, synthesis, storytelling, and preparation of client-ready presentations.

  • Identify culturally informed and deeply rooted human behavioural insights and translate them into practical business, brand, and communication strategies.

  • Develop clear, compelling strategic narratives and visualize concepts and insights in impactful ways.

  • Deliver prepared client presentations, communicate ideas with clarity and confidence, and respond effectively to questions.

Business Development

  • Lead or make significant contributions to proposals, including approach development, content creation, costing, and capability or credentials presentations.

  • Speak confidently with clients about HumanBranding’s approaches and Applied Anthropology Thinking (AAT)™ methodology.

  • Identify organic business opportunities and support the growth of existing client relationships.

What Makes HumanBranding Different

  • Unlike traditional market research roles focused primarily on data collection and reporting, our strategists are trained to decode the deeper drivers of human behaviour. Using anthropology, behavioural science, and strategic thinking, we help clients understand not only what people do, but why they do it and how behaviour can be influenced through brand, communications, and business strategy.

Required Skills

  • Proficiency in MS365 standard suite, including Word, Outlook, Excel/spreadsheet budgeting templates; and PowerPoint/Canva or equivalent presentation software.

  • Experience with CRM programs (ie Monday.com) is an asset.

  • Familiarity with and comfortable using new technology, including AI models.

Preferred Skills

  • Excellent written and spoken English.

  • French skills are an asset; proficiency in other languages is also an asset.

Pay range and compensation package

$85,000 – 120,000 CAD annual salary, commensurate with experience.

Location: Hybrid in-office (Toronto-GTA based) and remote. Occasional travel required; must hold valid passport without restriction for travel in North America.

Equal Opportunity Statement

We are committed to diversity and inclusivity in our hiring practices and encourage applications from all qualified individuals.

Requirements added by the job poster

• Authorized to work in Canada