FUEL - Freelance Brand Strategist

Brand Strategist is needed in Greenville, United States.

Client: FUEL

Location: Greenville, SC

Contract: Freelance

Job Description

FUEL is seeking a Brand Strategist and gifted storyteller to help define, build, and evolve brands that inspire, connect, and drive measurable business impact. This role combines research, strategic thinking, writing, and creative collaboration to uncover what makes a brand distinctive and why it exists beyond generating a profit, positioning it for long-term success. You’ll work closely with account strategy, designers, writers, and clients to create powerful strategies that guide everything from brand architecture and messaging to marketing campaigns and customer experiences.

Key Responsibilities

Brand Discovery & Research

• Lead discovery sessions, stakeholder interviews, and archetype workshops to uncover business goals, customer insights, and competitive dynamics.
• Conduct brand audits, competitive audits, and qualitative and quantitative research to identify audience needs, industry trends, opportunities, and key insights.
• Translate insights into actionable strategies that guide creative development and execution.

Strategy Development

• Define brand archetype and personality.
• Outline brand differentiators and brand values.
• Write brand mission, vision, purpose, and positioning statements.
• Develop frameworks such as brand architecture and customer personas.
• Define voice and tone.
• Define brand codes.
• Write creative briefs for brand design.
• Provide strategic summaries for use in brand guidelines.

Collaboration & Leadership

• Collaborate closely with the account management team to gain a deep understanding of the client’s business, goals, and challenges before developing brand strategy recommendations.
• Partner with creative teams to ensure strategy informs and inspires design, content, and campaigns.
• Present strategic recommendations to clients and internal teams with clarity and conviction.
• Act as a trusted advisor, helping clients make brand decisions that support business growth.
• Take constructive criticism with ease and grace.
• Manage projects in the Basecamp project management platform to ensure assignments are delivered on time.
• Be flexible and available for internal and client presentations.

Brand Activation & Measurement

• Support the implementation of brand strategies across channels.
• Experience in establishing success metrics and recommending tools to measure brand awareness, perception, and engagement is a plus.

Requirements

• Possesses an in-depth understanding and passion for branding.
• A four-year degree.
• 10 years of agency or marketing experience.
• Agency awards are a plus.

FUEL Values

Excellence: You strive for excellence and constantly seek out ways to improve.

Empathy: You possess a desire to understand, be aware of, and be sensitive to the feelings, thoughts, and experiences of others.

Curiosity: You have the desire to investigate, continuously learn, and explore new paths to progress.

Proactivity: You take the initiative, anticipate, prepare, and respond to challenges.

Positivity: You have a can-do spirit — a positive mindset — and complain constructively.

Accountability: You are responsible for your words, your actions, and your results.