Creative Strategy Director

📌 Core Information

🔹 Job Title: Creative Strategy Director

🔹 Company: Mastercard

🔹 Location: Lisbon, Portugal

🔹 Job Type: Full-Time

🔹 Category: Marketing & Advertising

🔹 Date Posted: July 3, 2025

🔹 Experience Level: 10+ years

🔹 Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Job Overview

Key aspects of this role include:

• Developing and articulating creative strategies that align with client objectives and market trends
• Collaborating with creative teams to turn strategic ideas into compelling creative outputs
• Serving as a strategic advisor to clients, translating their business challenges into innovative and effective creative solutions
• Leading, inspiring, and mentoring a team of strategists and creatives
• Staying ahead of industry trends, competitor activity, and consumer behavior to inform strategic thinking and drive creative differentiation

ASSUMPTION: This role requires a high level of strategic thinking, creativity, and client management skills. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in strategic or creative leadership roles and a proven track record of developing and launching successful integrated campaigns.

📋 Key Responsibilities

✅ Strategic Leadership: Develop and articulate creative strategies that align with client objectives, market trends, and cultural insights. Lead brand positioning, campaign platforms, and go-to-market narratives.

✅ Creative Direction: Collaborate with creative teams (art directors, copywriters, designers) to turn strategic ideas into compelling creative outputs. Ensure creative excellence and consistency across all touchpoints.

✅ Client Partnership: Serve as a strategic advisor to clients, translating their business challenges into innovative and effective creative solutions. Present and defend creative strategies with confidence and clarity.

✅ Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with ARC/MS Product teams to create integrated campaigns that deliver measurable results.

✅ Team Development & Mentorship: Lead, inspire, and mentor a team of strategists and creatives. Foster a culture of innovation, experimentation, and continuous learning.

✅ Market Intelligence: Stay ahead of industry trends, competitor activity, and consumer behavior to inform strategic thinking and drive creative differentiation.

ASSUMPTION: The responsibilities listed above are essential for the role and require a strong understanding of branding, digital platforms, content strategy, and consumer insights.

🎯 Required Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Marketing, Communications, Advertising, or related field (or equivalent experience)

Experience: 10+ years of experience in strategic or creative leadership roles, preferably within an agency or brand environment

Required Skills:

• Proven track record of developing and launching successful integrated campaigns
• Strong storytelling, presentation, and communication skills
• Deep understanding of branding, digital platforms, content strategy, and consumer insights
• Ability to lead through influence, with high emotional intelligence and collaborative spirit

Preferred Skills:

• Experience working with global brands
• Fluency in multiple languages

ASSUMPTION: The required qualifications listed above are essential for success in this role. However, candidates with additional skills and experiences may be at an advantage.

💰 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: €80,000 - €120,000 per year (AI-estimated, based on market research and role requirements)

Benefits:

• Health insurance
• Retirement savings plan
• Employee stock purchase plan
• Paid time off (vacation, sick, and holidays)
• Employee discounts on Mastercard products and services

Working Hours: Full-time (40 hours per week), with flexibility for remote work as needed

ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is an estimate based on market research and role requirements. The actual salary may vary depending on factors such as experience, skills, and performance.

📌 Applicant Insights

🔍 Company Context

Industry: Mastercard operates in the global digital payments and commerce industry, with a focus on providing secure, simple, smart, and accessible transactions for people, businesses, and governments worldwide.

Company Size: Mastercard is a large, publicly traded company with over 10,000 employees globally. This means that there are ample opportunities for career growth and development within the organization.

Founded: Mastercard was founded in 1966 and has since grown to become one of the leading global payments technology companies.

Company Description:

• Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide
• Supports a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart, and accessible
• Combines technology and innovation, partnerships, and networks to deliver unique products and services

Company Specialties:

• Global digital payments/commerce
• Technology
• Innovative mobile payment solutions
• Processing

Company Website: http://www.mastercard.com

ASSUMPTION: Mastercard is a well-established and respected company in the global payments industry, with a strong focus on innovation and technology. The company offers numerous opportunities for career growth and development.

📊 Role Analysis

Career Level: This role is a senior leadership position, requiring a high level of strategic thinking, creativity, and client management skills.

Reporting Structure: The Creative Strategy Director will report directly to the Chief Marketing Officer and will oversee a team of strategists and creatives.

Work Arrangement: This role is primarily on-site, with flexibility for remote work as needed. The successful candidate will be expected to work closely with the team in the Lisbon office.

Growth Opportunities:

• Potential to advance to a VP or Director-level role within the marketing department
• Opportunities to work on global campaigns and collaborate with teams across the organization
• Access to professional development and training programs

ASSUMPTION: This role offers significant growth opportunities for the right candidate, with the potential to advance within the marketing department and gain experience working on global campaigns.

🌍 Location & Work Environment

Office Type: Mastercard's Lisbon office is a modern, collaborative workspace designed to foster creativity and innovation.

Office Location(s): Lisbon, Portugal

Geographic Context:

• Lisbon is the capital and largest city of Portugal, with a population of over 500,000 people
• The city is known for its historic sites, vibrant nightlife, and beautiful beaches
• Lisbon has a Mediterranean climate, with mild winters and warm, dry summers

Work Schedule: The work schedule for this role is Monday through Friday, with occasional evening or weekend work as needed to meet project deadlines.

ASSUMPTION: The Lisbon office provides a collaborative and innovative work environment, with ample opportunities for professional growth and development.

💼 Interview & Application Insights

Typical Process:

• Phone or video screen with the hiring manager
• In-person or virtual interview with the marketing team
• Final interview with the Chief Marketing Officer

Key Assessment Areas:

• Strategic thinking and problem-solving skills
• Creativity and innovation
• Client management and communication skills
• Leadership and team management skills

Application Tips:

• Highlight your experience with integrated campaigns and strategic thinking in your resume
• Prepare examples of your creative work and be ready to discuss your thought process and approach
• Research Mastercard's brand and values, and be prepared to discuss how your skills and experience align with the company's mission

ATS Keywords: Integrated campaigns, strategic thinking, client management, creative direction, market intelligence, team development, mentorship

ASSUMPTION: The interview process for this role will focus on assessing the candidate's strategic thinking, creativity, and client management skills, as well as their ability to lead and mentor a team.

🛠️ Tools & Technologies

• Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel)
• Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign)
• Project management tools (e.g., Asana, Trello, Jira)
• Marketing automation tools (e.g., Marketo, HubSpot)

ASSUMPTION: The tools and technologies listed above are commonly used in marketing and advertising roles. The successful candidate will be expected to have experience with these tools and be able to learn new ones as needed.

👔 Cultural Fit Considerations

Company Values:

• Doing the right thing
• Staying curious
• Making a difference

Work Style:

• Collaborative and team-oriented
• Innovative and creative
• Results-driven and accountable

Self-Assessment Questions:

• Do you align with Mastercard's values of doing the right thing, staying curious, and making a difference?
• Are you comfortable working in a collaborative and innovative work environment?
• Do you hold yourself accountable for results and take ownership of your work?

ASSUMPTION: Mastercard values a diverse and inclusive work environment, where employees are encouraged to bring their unique perspectives and experiences to the table. The ideal candidate will be a strong cultural fit with the company's values and work style.

⚠️ Potential Challenges

• Managing multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously
• Working with diverse teams and stakeholders, both internally and externally
• Adapting to a fast-paced and dynamic work environment
• Navigating a large, global organization with a complex structure

ASSUMPTION: The potential challenges listed above are common to senior leadership roles in large, global organizations. The successful candidate will be able to manage multiple priorities, work effectively with diverse teams, and adapt to a dynamic work environment.

📈 Similar Roles Comparison

• Compared to other creative strategy roles, this position offers a higher level of responsibility and autonomy, with the opportunity to lead a team and drive creative direction for global campaigns
• Mastercard's global presence and focus on innovation provide unique opportunities for career growth and development
• This role requires a higher level of experience and expertise than entry-level or mid-level creative strategy positions

ASSUMPTION: This role offers unique opportunities for career growth and development, with a higher level of responsibility and autonomy than similar roles in other organizations.

📝 Sample Projects

• Developing a comprehensive creative strategy for a global brand launch, including brand positioning, campaign platforms, and go-to-market narratives
• Collaborating with cross-functional teams to create integrated campaigns that deliver measurable results
• Conducting market research and consumer insights analysis to inform strategic thinking and drive creative differentiation

ASSUMPTION: The sample projects listed above are representative of the types of projects the successful candidate will be expected to work on in this role.

❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview

• Can you describe the team structure and dynamics, and how this role fits into the broader marketing organization?
• What are the key priorities for this role in the first 30, 60, and 90 days?
• How does Mastercard support the professional development and growth of its employees?
• What are the key challenges facing the marketing department, and how can this role help address them?
• What is the company's approach to work-life balance and flexibility?

ASSUMPTION: The key questions listed above are designed to help the candidate better understand the role, the team, and the company culture, as well as to assess the company's commitment to employee development and work-life balance.

📌 Next Steps for Applicants

To apply for this position:

• Submit your application through the following link: https://mastercard.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/CorporateCareers/job/Lisbon-Portugal/Creative-Strategy-Director_R-252909-1
• Customize your resume to highlight your experience with integrated campaigns, strategic thinking, and client management
• Prepare a cover letter that demonstrates your understanding of Mastercard's brand and values, and explains how your skills and experience align with the company's mission
• Prepare examples of your creative work and be ready to discuss your thought process and approach
• Follow up with the hiring manager one week after submitting your application to confirm receipt and inquire about next steps

⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.