COMPANY DESCRIPTION
WowU Influence, part of Pencil Group, is an integrated communications agency focused on creating meaningful connections between brands, people and culture.
We work across strategy, creative, social, PR, influence and production to develop integrated solutions that help brands grow and create real impact.
At WowU, strategic thinking and creative excellence go hand in hand. We value people who are curious, collaborative, commercially aware and willing to challenge conventional thinking to create better work.
ROLE DESCRIPTION
The Strategic Planner is a full-time, on-site role based in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
This role is responsible for turning business and communication challenges into clear, relevant and inspiring strategic directions.
You will work closely with Account, Creative, Social, PR, Production and other specialist teams across the full planning process — from research and insight development to strategy, presentation, execution and post-campaign learning.
The Strategic Planner is expected to think independently, understand both brands and consumers, and translate complex information into strategic thinking that can inspire creative work and drive business impact.
WE ARE LOOKING FOR A STRATEGIC PLANNER WHO
- Has a strong foundation in Marketing, Brand Strategy and Communication Strategy
- Understands Digital, Social and contemporary consumer behavior
- Is curious about people, culture, categories, brands and changing market dynamics
- Can turn research and information into meaningful insights and clear strategic directions
- Has strong creative strategy thinking and knows how to inspire rather than restrict creative development
- Can connect business objectives, consumer needs and communication opportunities
- Is comfortable working across integrated campaigns and multiple communication disciplines
- Can develop strategic thinking independently with limited senior supervision
- Is strong at presentation and storytelling, with the ability to make complex thinking simple and convincing
- Demonstrates strong ownership, responsibility and ambition throughout both pitching and deployment
- Is collaborative and comfortable challenging ideas constructively
- Cares about effectiveness and the real impact of the work, not just the strategy deck
WHAT YOU'LL DO
- Lead or contribute to the end-to-end strategic planning process, from briefing to presentation, execution and reporting
- Analyze client briefs and identify the core business, brand and communication challenges
- Conduct research across consumers, competitors, categories, culture and market trends
- Develop consumer insights, strategic propositions and communication directions
- Build Brand, Communication, Digital and Social strategies depending on project requirements
- Translate strategic thinking into clear and inspiring briefs for Creative and specialist teams
- Work closely with Account and Creative teams throughout campaign development and execution
- Ensure that campaign ideas and executions remain aligned with the agreed strategic direction
- Develop audience frameworks, customer journeys, communication ecosystems and channel roles where relevant
- Contribute to pitch projects and new business opportunities
- Participate in client presentations and confidently defend strategic recommendations
- Monitor campaign performance and translate results into meaningful learnings and recommendations
- Identify opportunities to improve client businesses, communication strategies and account growth
- Keep up with changing consumer behaviors, cultural shifts, platforms and communication trends
- Support and provide guidance to Junior Planners / Strategy Trainees when required
- Contribute to case studies, effectiveness papers and award submissions when relevant
REQUIRED SKILLS
- Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business, Communications or related fields
- Minimum 2–3 years of experience in Strategy / Planning, preferably within an advertising, creative, digital or integrated agency
- Proven experience in Brand Strategy, Communication Strategy and/or Digital & Social Planning
- Strong research, analytical and strategic thinking skills
- Ability to identify insights and translate them into actionable strategic recommendations
- Strong understanding of consumer behavior, digital platforms and communication trends
- Strong presentation, storytelling and communication skills
- Ability to work effectively with Account, Creative and specialist teams
- Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects and tight deadlines
- Proactive, curious and solution-oriented mindset
- Experience with integrated campaigns, innovative projects or award-winning work is a plus
- Good command of English is a plus
WowU Influence
