About us:

HomeAway, based in Austin, Texas, is the world leader in vacation rentals with more than 2 million unique places to stay in 190 countries, and is a part of the Expedia, Inc. family of brands.

HomeAway offers an extensive selection of vacation rental homes that provide travelers with memorable experiences and benefits, especially more room to relax, for less than the cost of traditional hotel accommodations. The company also makes it easy for vacation rental owners and property managers to advertise their properties and manage bookings online. 

The opportunity:

We are looking for a Brand Strategist to work on the Global Brand Strategy team. A driving force with shown experience who can unlock the human and cultural story behind every data point, challenge assumptions, inspire creatives and develop impactful marketing strategies in service of real human needs. HomeAway looks for individuals who have a passion for data and insights, an ability to move fast, iterate and always be adding value.

You will be: tenacious, open, imaginative, precise, analytically inclined, and curious. With a validated ability to use data to identify insights to build compelling stories, ask and answer different and difficult questions, inspire and support marketing and creative teams with data, evaluate work, learn and adapt quickly. This role is based on HomeAway’s Austin HQ and requires physical presence in Austin with limited travel to HomeAway’s London office.

Responsibilities:

• Become an expert of HomeAway's products and audiences
• Analyze existing data and research (qualitative, quantitative, ethnographic) and commission new research, collaborating with internal research teams as well as working with external specialists
• Inform strategic and creative development through analysis of cultural, technological and market trends
• Collect and bring to life powerful human insights
• Develop sharply focused creative briefs and deliver inspiring creative briefings
• Collaborate and support creative teams before and after the briefing
• Deliver clear and compelling presentation of strategies and ideas to senior stakeholders grounded in data
• Identify and understand trends within the creative ecosystem (video, social, etc.)
• Strong focus on being able to analyze data and use it to effectively grow the business

Success Factors:

• 6+ years experience as a brand planner or strategist at a creative agency, research company or relevant brand based team
• Proven ability collaborating with dynamic and matrixed organizations
• Analytical/Data driven – you want to infuse data into everything you do
• Passion for travel, vacation rentals and HomeAway
• Able to effectively balance creative and business concerns
• Inveterate relationship builder with a love of teamwork
• High-performance orientation with an appreciation for working smarter not harder
• Maintain a positive energy and optimism that encourages those around you
• Fluency in general business, marketing and creative concepts and workflows with a talent for communicating these to a wide variety of stakeholders
• International background with demonstrated cultural sensitivity and knowledge of multiple markets, languages and regions

Benefits:

• Competitive health and insurance benefits.
• Competitive salary.
• Annual target bonus or commission.
• Paid vacation and sick time.
• Vacation rental on a yearly basis (taxable benefit).
• Employee Stock Purchase Program.
• Free snacks and beverages.
• Frequent company update talks with our leadership team.
• Free listing on HomeAway.com
• Electronic, adjustable stand-up desk.
• Discounted Metro & Rail pass.

“We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.”