Brand Strategist

Role Context Rare Ideas is a boutique brand strategy studio working closely with founder-led hospitality and consumer brands. Our work often begins at moments where foundational decisions need to be made. What the brand stands for, how it should be named, how it should speak, and why it should matter to people. This role sits at the core of our strategy practice. You will work closely with the Founder and Creative Director, contributing to research, thinking, articulation, and translation of strategy into direction that other teams can execute with confidence. This is not a junior role and not an execution-only role. It requires independent thinking, strong writing, and a genuine curiosity about people, culture, and behaviour. Key Responsibilities Strategy & Brand Thinking Develop brand strategy across hospitality and consumer brands, from early framing to final articulation Define brand positioning, differentiation, and narrative territories Lead and contribute to brand naming exercises, including strategic rationale, shortlisting, and articulation of meaning Apply structured thinking while remaining sensitive to nuance, culture, and context Support strategic decisions around brand architecture and long-term brand direction Research & Insight Development Plan and conduct primary research such as stakeholder conversations, founder interviews, and informal consumer interactions Conduct secondary research including category analysis, cultural trends, and competitive mapping in India and globally Synthesise research into clear insights that explain why consumers behave the way they do Identify emotional, psychological, and contextual drivers behind purchase and brand choice Translate observations into strategic implications rather than surface-level findings Writing & Articulation Write and shape core strategy documents, including brand frameworks, positioning narratives, and strategic rationales Develop brand voice and messaging systems with clarity and restraint Write creative briefs that clearly translate strategy into direction for designers, marketers, PR teams, and content creators Ensure all writing reflects intent, judgment, and differentiation rather than generic language Translation & Collaboration Translate strategy into actionable direction for design, marketing, PR, content, and social teams Work closely with creative teams to ensure strategic integrity through execution Participate in client discussions, workshops, and presentations Defend strategic choices with logic, insight, and clarity Quality & Craft Maintain high standards of thinking, writing, and presentation across all strategic outputs Review work critically, refine it, and simplify without losing meaning Ensure that all brand work aligns with Rare Ideas’ philosophy and quality benchmarks Required Experience & Capabilities 5-8 years of experience in brand strategy, preferably within boutique studios, consulting environments, or founder-led teams Hands-on experience with brand naming, positioning, and narrative development Strong experience conducting and synthesising primary and secondary research Clear, confident writing and presentation skills A genuine interest in human psychology, consumer behaviour, and decision-making Comfort working with ambiguity and forming an independent point of view Ability to balance rigor with intuition and taste Experience working on consumer and or hospitality brands preferred This role is not suitable for freshers or profiles focused primarily on execution, social media, or design output. How We Work Small, focused teams One to two active projects at any given time High involvement from senior leadership Emphasis on depth, clarity, and restraint Strategy-led approach to branding What Success Looks Like in This Role You independently own large parts of a strategy engagement Your thinking helps teams and clients see problems differently Your writing is clear, confident, and relied upon Creative and execution teams can work effectively from your briefs Clients trust your judgment and strategic perspective