Brand Strategist - 9 months - London (Hybrid) - £550-£575 per day Inside IR35

Brand Strategist - 9 months - London (Hybrid) - £550-£575 per day Inside IR35

A major government organisation is seeking an experienced Brand Strategist to join a newly formed brand team responsible for shaping, protecting and positioning one of the UK's most recognised public service brands. This is a unique opportunity to play a pivotal role in defining how government services are presented to millions of users, ensuring a consistent, accessible, trusted and coherent brand experience across multiple channels, products and services. Working within a multidisciplinary environment alongside designers, strategists, policy professionals and product teams, you will be responsible for developing and implementing brand strategy, brand architecture and governance frameworks that support long-term organisational objectives. You will provide strategic direction, protect brand integrity and influence senior stakeholders across government to ensure brand principles are Embedded across all decisions and delivery activities. The successful candidate will bring substantial experience delivering brand strategy programmes for large organisations, with particular strength in brand architecture, positioning, governance and stakeholder engagement. You will be comfortable navigating complex organisations, facilitating workshops, leading research initiatives and influencing senior leaders in ambiguous and fast-moving environments. Please note, active SC Clearance or lapsed SC Clearance that remains in scope for transfer is highly desirable. Candidates may be able to start on BPSS while clearance transfer is completed.

Key Responsibilities:

• Define and implement brand strategy, positioning and narrative across a large-scale, multi-channel organisation
• Develop and maintain brand architecture, hierarchy and governance frameworks to ensure consistency across products, services and communications
• Lead brand protection activities, supporting the management of brand misuse, trademark considerations and brand integrity
• Build strong relationships with senior stakeholders, including Directors, Heads of Profession and Executive leadership teams
• Facilitate workshops with designers, strategists, policy advisors and product teams to align brand objectives and delivery
• Translate complex research and insights into clear, actionable brand recommendations
• Create practical brand guidance, training materials and self-service resources for internal teams
• Collaborate with creative and design teams to ensure outputs align with strategic brand objectives
• Embed brand thinking across policy, product, communications and delivery workstreams
• Drive consistency, recognition, credibility and trust across all brand touchpoints
• Support organisational understanding of accessible, inclusive and user-centred branding principles
• Promote continuous improvement of brand governance, brand operations and stakeholder engagement practices

Ideal Candidate:

• Proven experience delivering brand strategy and brand architecture programmes within large organisations or complex environments
• Strong track record creating and implementing brand governance frameworks and operating models
• Experience leading research-driven brand strategy initiatives and translating insight into action
• Demonstrable experience developing positioning, brand equity, proposition, narrative and storytelling frameworks
• Experience managing multi-channel brands across digital, product, communications and customer touchpoints
• Strong understanding of brand trust, reputation, consistency and brand credibility
• Excellent stakeholder management skills with experience influencing Directors, Executive teams and C-suite stakeholders
• Experience facilitating workshops and aligning diverse stakeholder groups around strategic outcomes
• Comfortable working alongside creative teams, designers and communications specialists
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to operate effectively in ambiguous environments
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to present complex concepts clearly
• Experience within technology, platform, consumer-facing or public sector organisations would be highly desirable

Desirable Experience:

• Government, Civil Service, Public Sector or Arm's Length Body experience
• Experience working with GOV.UK, GDS, DSIT or wider government transformation programmes
• Knowledge of brand protection, trademark monitoring and intellectual property management
• Experience using Microsoft 365, Jira and/or Trello within Agile delivery environments
• Experience delivering accessible, inclusive and culturally aware brand programmes
• Active SC Clearance or transferable lapsed SC Clearance

Additional Requirements:

• Minimum 5 years' experience operating at Brand Strategist, Head of Brand, Brand Director or equivalent level
• Strong evidence of implementing brand strategy and brand architecture within large organisations
• Proven experience working with senior stakeholders and leadership teams
• Hybrid working with flexibility around onsite attendance at the London office
• Ability to work effectively across multiple teams and disciplines within a large-scale organisation
• Available to start within agreed government onboarding timelines

TL;DR
Job Title: Brand Strategist
Contract Length: 9 months
Location: London (Hybrid)
Rate: £550-£575 per day
IR35 Status: Inside IR35
Start Date: ASAP
Sector: Central Government