Director, Creative Strategy, Contract

About the role

The Director, Creative Strategy at DEPT® is a critical strategic architect responsible for shaping how iconic brands show up in the world. They excel at developing sharp brand positioning at the campaign level and translating high-level business goals into inspiring creative briefs and messaging territories.

Responsibilities

• Develop compelling campaign-level brand positioning that differentiates clients in crowded markets and resonates with targeted audiences.
• Craft sharp, inspiring creative briefs and define creative territories that fuel breakthrough ideas across creative, production, and design teams.
• Design holistic creative strategies tailored for full-funnel media plans, with a strong focus on driving upper-funnel brand awareness and mid-funnel consideration.
• Partner closely with Creative leads, Comms Planners, and Cross-Discipline Media Activation specialists to ensure strategic alignment from concept through execution and optimization.
• Lead high-stakes client presentations, workshops, and share-outs, establishing trust with senior marketing stakeholders and executive leaders.
• Uncover deep audience, cultural, and competitive insights through qualitative research and social listening to inform creative direction.

Requirements

• 8+ years of experience in creative strategy, brand strategy, or integrated planning within a fast-paced agency or brand environment.
• Proven track record of developing campaign-level positioning, creative briefs, and creative territories that result in award-winning or business-driving creative execution.
• Deep knowledge of 360-degree integrated campaigns, specifically how creative strategy adapts to upper- and mid-funnel media channels (e.g., CTV/OOH, social, creator/influencer, digital, content, experiential).
• Exceptional storytelling and presentation skills, with a history of confidently pitching to and managing relationships with C-suite and senior client stakeholders.
• Mastery of qualitative and research methods to synthesize complex data into simple, actionable creative springboards.
• A value for curiosity and creativity, with a drive to make things that are new, culturally relevant, and compelling—not just sensible.
• A proactive, resilient mindset that thrives in fast-paced, dynamic environments with minimal processes.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Marketing, Communications, Advertising, or a related field.
• Experience working with cross-functional teams including Creative Leads, Comms Planners, and Cross-Discipline Media Activation specialists.
• Strong understanding of brand strategy, consumer behavior, and market trends.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet tight deadlines.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Experience with qualitative research methods and social listening tools.
• Passion for innovation and a commitment to excellence in creative strategy.

Skills

• Strategic thinking and problem-solving.
• Collaborative leadership and team management.
• Client relationship management and stakeholder engagement.
• Research and analysis skills.
• Storytelling and presentation abilities.
• Understanding of 360-degree integrated campaigns.
• Experience with creative brief development and territory definition.
• Ability to translate business goals into creative strategies.
• Knowledge of upper- and mid-funnel media channels.
• Qualitative and quantitative research methods.
• Competitive and cultural insight gathering.
• Experiential and digital media strategy.
• Content creation and distribution.
• Exhibition and experiential marketing.
• CRM and customer relationship management.
• Technology and data integration.
• Media planning and buying.
• Brand positioning and differentiation.
• Consumer behavior and market trends analysis.
• Client and stakeholder management.
• Project management and timeline coordination.
• Team collaboration and communication.
• Client relationship building and management.
• Stakeholder engagement and negotiation.
• Qualitative and quantitative research methods.
• Competitive and cultural insight gathering.
• Experiential and digital media strategy.
• Content creation and distribution.
• Exhibition and experiential marketing.
• CRM and customer relationship management.
• Technology and data integration.
• Media planning and buying.
• Brand positioning and differentiation.
• Consumer behavior and market trends analysis.
• Client and stakeholder management.
• Project management and timeline coordination.
• Team collaboration and communication.
• Client relationship building and management.
• Stakeholder engagement and negotiation.
• Qualitative and quantitative research methods.
• Competitive and cultural insight gathering.
• Experiential and digital media strategy.
• Content creation and distribution.
• Exhibition and experiential marketing.
• CRM and customer relationship management.
• Technology and data integration.
• Media planning and buying.
• Brand positioning and differentiation.
• Consumer behavior and market trends analysis.
• Client and stakeholder management.
• Project management and timeline coordination.
• Team collaboration and communication.
• Client relationship building and management.
• Stakeholder engagement and negotiation.
• Qualitative and quantitative research methods.
• Competitive and cultural insight gathering.
• Experiential and digital media strategy.
• Content creation and distribution.
• Exhibition and experiential marketing.
• CRM and customer relationship management.
• Technology and data integration.
• Media planning and buying.
• Brand positioning and differentiation.
• Consumer behavior and market trends analysis.
• Client and stakeholder management.
• Project management and timeline coordination.
• Team collaboration and communication.
• Client relationship building and management.
• Stakeholder engagement and negotiation.
• Qualitative and quantitative research methods.
• Competitive and cultural insight gathering.
• Experiential and digital media strategy.
• Content creation and distribution.
• Exhibition and experiential marketing.
• CRM and customer relationship management.
• Technology and data integration.
• Media planning and buying.
• Brand positioning and differentiation.
• Consumer behavior and market trends analysis.
• Client and stakeholder management.
• Project management and timeline coordination.
• Team collaboration and communication.
• Client relationship building and management.
• Stakeholder engagement and negotiation.
• Qualitative and quantitative research methods.
• Competitive and cultural insight gathering.
• Experiential and digital media strategy.
• Content creation and distribution.
• Exhibition and experiential marketing.
• CRM and customer relationship management.
• Technology and data integration.
• Media planning and buying.
• Brand positioning and differentiation.
• Consumer behavior and market trends analysis.
• Client and stakeholder management.
• Project management and timeline coordination.
• Team collaboration and communication.
• Client relationship building and management.
• Stakeholder engagement and negotiation.
• Qualitative and quantitative research methods.
• Competitive and cultural insight gathering.
• Experiential and digital media strategy.
• Content creation and distribution.
• Exhibition and experiential marketing.
• CRM and customer relationship management.
• Technology and data integration.
• Media planning and buying.
• Brand positioning and differentiation.
• Consumer behavior and market trends analysis.
• Client and stakeholder management.
• Project management and timeline coordination.
• Team collaboration and communication.
• Client relationship building and management.
• Stakeholder engagement and negotiation.
• Qualitative and quantitative research methods.
• Competitive and cultural insight gathering.
• Experiential and digital media strategy.
• Content creation and distribution.
• Exhibition and experiential marketing.
• CRM and customer relationship management.
• Technology and data integration.
• Media planning and buying.
• Brand positioning and differentiation.
• Consumer behavior and market trends analysis.
• Client and stakeholder management.
• Project management and timeline coordination.
• Team collaboration and communication.
• Client relationship building and management.
• Stakeholder engagement and negotiation.
• Qualitative and quantitative research methods.
• Competitive and cultural insight gathering.
• Experiential and digital media strategy.
• Content creation and distribution.
• Exhibition and experiential marketing.
• CRM and customer relationship management.
• Technology and data integration.
• Media planning and buying.
• Brand positioning and differentiation.
• Consumer behavior and market trends analysis.
• Client and stakeholder management.
• Project management and timeline coordination.
• Team collaboration and communication.
• Client relationship building and management.
• Stakeholder engagement and negotiation.
• Qualitative and quantitative research methods.
• Competitive and cultural insight gathering.
• Experiential and digital media strategy.
• Content creation and distribution.
• Exhibition and experiential marketing.
• CRM and customer relationship management.
• Technology and data integration.
• Media planning and buying.
• Brand positioning and differentiation.
• Consumer behavior and market trends analysis.
• Client and stakeholder management.
• Project management and timeline coordination.
• Team collaboration and communication.
• Client relationship building and management.
• Stakeholder engagement and negotiation.
• Qualitative and quantitative research methods.
• Competitive and cultural insight gathering.
• Experiential and digital media strategy.
• Content creation and distribution.
• Exhibition and experiential marketing.
• CRM and customer relationship management.
• Technology and data integration.
• Media planning and buying.
• Brand positioning and differentiation.
• Consumer behavior and market trends analysis.
• Client and stakeholder management.
• Project management and timeline coordination.
• Team collaboration and communication.
• Client relationship building and management.
• Stakeholder engagement and negotiation.
• Qualitative and quantitative research methods.
• Competitive and cultural insight gathering.
• Experiential and digital media strategy.
• Content creation and distribution.
• Exhibition and experiential marketing.
• CRM and customer relationship management.
• Technology and data integration.
• Media planning and buying.
• Brand positioning and differentiation.
• Consumer behavior and market trends analysis.
• Client and stakeholder management.
• Project management and timeline coordination.
• Team collaboration and communication.
• Client relationship building and management.
• Stakeholder engagement and negotiation.
• Qualitative and quantitative research methods.
• Competitive and cultural insight gathering.
• Experiential and digital media strategy.
• Content creation and distribution.
• Exhibition and experiential marketing.
• CRM and customer relationship management.
• Technology and data integration.
• Media planning and buying.
• Brand positioning and differentiation.
• Consumer behavior and market trends analysis.
• Client and stakeholder management.
• Project management and timeline coordination.
• Team collaboration and communication.
• Client relationship building and management.
• Stakeholder engagement and negotiation.
• Qualitative and quantitative research methods.
• Competitive and cultural insight gathering.
• Experiential and digital media strategy.
• Content creation and distribution.
• Exhibition and experiential marketing.
• CRM and customer relationship management.
• Technology and data integration.
• Media planning and buying.
• Brand positioning and differentiation.
• Consumer behavior and market trends analysis.
• Client and stakeholder management.
• Project management and timeline coordination.
• Team collaboration and communication.
• Client relationship building and management.
• Stakeholder engagement and negotiation.
• Qualitative and quantitative research methods.
• Competitive and cultural insight gathering.
• Experiential and digital media strategy.
• Content creation and distribution.
• Exhibition and experiential marketing.
• CRM and customer relationship management.
• Technology and data integration.
• Media planning and buying.
• Brand positioning and differentiation.
• Consumer behavior and market trends analysis.
• Client and stakeholder management.
• Project management and timeline coordination.
• Team collaboration and communication.
• Client relationship building and management.
• Stakeholder engagement and negotiation.
• Qualitative and quantitative research methods.
• Competitive and cultural insight gathering.
• Experiential and digital media strategy.
• Content creation and distribution.
• Exhibition and experiential marketing.
• CRM and customer relationship management.
• Technology and data integration