Creative Strategy Lead

📌 Core Information

🔹 Job Title: Creative Strategy Lead

🔹 Company: IGN Entertainment

🔹 Location: Los Angeles, California, United States

🔹 Job Type: Full-Time

🔹 Category: Online Media

🔹 Date Posted: July 7, 2025

🔹 Experience Level: 10+ years

🔹 Remote Status: Hybrid (3 days in-office)

🚀 Job Overview

Key aspects of this role include:

• Developing paid campaign strategies across IGN's portfolio
• Leading brainstorming sessions and collaborating with cross-functional teams
• Producing persuasive sales copy and client presentations
• Managing the RFP ideation and delivery process
• Providing strategic direction for custom content, integrations, and sponsorships

ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strong understanding of IGN's audience and content, as well as excellent communication and organizational skills.

📋 Key Responsibilities

✅ Own the RFP ideation and delivery process for anything requiring custom content, integrations, or sponsorships

✅ Lead inclusive, collaborative, cross-team brainstorms and make recommendations for client goals and audience resonance

✅ Produce sales copy that makes IGN’s proposals appealing and persuasive

✅ Collaborate with internal partners and production teams to ensure plans are specific and understood

✅ Ensure all concepts clearly demonstrate how they meet audience, client, and brand goals

✅ Help price and package custom ideas, working closely with internal team members

✅ Lead pitch presentations alongside Sales in client-facing meetings

✅ Fine-tune solutions based on client feedback

✅ Collaborate with the Client Services team to identify active pitches and pertinent product details

✅ Attend internal hand-off meetings to ensure all activations are approached accurately

✅ Advise on content direction and give constructive feedback on internal rounds of mocks, drafts, edits, etc.

ASSUMPTION: This role involves frequent collaboration with various teams and requires strong project management skills.

🎯 Required Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, or a related field

Experience: 10+ years in digital media, including 3+ years in branded content specifically

Required Skills:

• Proven success building branded content proposals and closing RFP-based deals
• Expertise in branded content, native ads, sponsorships, and sales collaboration
• Great organizational skills and the ability to manage high-performance teams
• Excellent communication and client-facing skills, especially writing persuasive copy
• Familiarity with IGN, its content, and a passion for its subject matter
• A great eye for detail

Preferred Skills:

• Experience working on large cross-department and cross-discipline projects
• Experience in the content creation and design process

ASSUMPTION: Candidates with a strong portfolio showcasing their creative strategy and sales copy skills will be highly competitive.

💰 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $120,000 - $135,000 per year, plus incentive compensation (for eligible roles only)

Benefits:

• Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance
• Short and long-term disability
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• 401(k) with company match
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan
• Pregnancy and Parental Leave
• Family Planning Support
• Flexible Time Off
• Volunteer Time Off
• Fitness Reimbursement
• Employee Resource Groups
• Company-Sponsored Events

Working Hours: 40 hours per week, Monday-Friday, with no expectation for weekend, holiday, or odd hour work

ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is an estimate based on industry standards for similar roles and experience levels. The actual pay may vary based on individual qualifications and company-specific factors.

📌 Applicant Insights

🔍 Company Context

Industry: Online Media, focusing on gaming and entertainment content

Company Size: 201-500 employees, with a global presence and multiple locations

Founded: 1996, with a rich history in gaming and entertainment media

Company Description:

• IGN Entertainment is one of the leading Internet media portfolios focused on video games and entertainment
• Part of Ziff Davis, Inc., and with brands dating back to 1996, IGN Entertainment is home to IGN, Eurogamer, Humble Bundle, Rock Paper Shotgun, MapGenie, and more
• IGN Entertainment reaches 490 million monthly users around the world and is followed by more than 73 million gaming and entertainment fans
• The company publishes daily content on more than 35 platforms, including YouTube, TikTok, X, Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat
• Headquartered in Los Angeles, IGN Entertainment's content is localized in 20 languages throughout 110 countries and hosted on websites and native applications across mobile and connected TV devices

Company Specialties:

• Internet
• Gaming
• Entertainment
• Video
• OTT
• Commerce
• Advertising
• Publishing
• Digital Media
• Social Media
• Branded Content
• and Written Content

Company Website: corp.ign.com

ASSUMPTION: IGN Entertainment offers a dynamic work environment with opportunities for growth and exposure to a wide range of gaming and entertainment content.

📊 Role Analysis

Career Level: Director-level role, reporting to the Global Head of Creative Solutions

Reporting Structure: This role will manage a team of creative strategists and collaborate with various teams, including sales, revenue operations, and production

Work Arrangement: Hybrid, with an expectation to work on-site at least 3 days per week

Growth Opportunities:

• Potential to lead and grow the creative solutions team
• Chance to work on high-profile campaigns and projects
• Opportunity to develop and refine creative strategies for various clients and platforms

ASSUMPTION: This role offers significant growth potential for the right candidate, with opportunities to make a substantial impact on the company's creative solutions and revenue growth.

🌍 Location & Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid, with a requirement to work on-site at least 3 days per week

Office Location(s): Los Angeles, California, United States

Geographic Context:

• Los Angeles is a major hub for the entertainment industry, with numerous gaming and tech companies based in the area
• The city offers a diverse range of cultural experiences, dining options, and outdoor activities
• Los Angeles has a Mediterranean climate, with mild winters and warm summers

Work Schedule: 40 hours per week, Monday-Friday, with occasional travel required for sales meetings out of town

ASSUMPTION: The hybrid work arrangement offers flexibility while still providing opportunities for in-person collaboration and networking.

💼 Interview & Application Insights

Typical Process:

• Online application submission
• Phone or video screen with the hiring manager
• In-person or virtual interview with the global head of creative solutions and other team members
• Final round interview with the chief revenue officer
• Background check and offer extension

Key Assessment Areas:

• Creativity and strategic thinking
• Communication and presentation skills
• Understanding of IGN's content and audience
• Collaboration and team management skills
• Problem-solving and project management abilities

Application Tips:

• Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills for this role
• Showcase your portfolio or examples of your creative strategy and sales copy skills
• Prepare for behavioral and situational interview questions that focus on your problem-solving, collaboration, and communication skills
• Research IGN Entertainment and its content to demonstrate your familiarity with the company and its audience

ATS Keywords: Creative Strategy, Branded Content, Native Ads, Sponsorships, Sales Collaboration, RFP, Custom Content, Client Engagement, Pitch Presentations, Team Management, Project Management, Communication Skills, Organizational Skills, Detail Orientation

ASSUMPTION: The interview process will focus on assessing your strategic thinking, communication skills, and cultural fit with IGN Entertainment.

🛠️ Tools & Technologies

• Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides)
• Project management tools (e.g., Asana, Trello, JIRA)
• Design tools (e.g., Adobe Creative Suite, Sketch, Figma)
• Presentation software (e.g., Keynote, Prezi)
• Video conferencing tools (e.g., Zoom, Google Meet)

ASSUMPTION: Proficiency in relevant software tools and platforms is essential for this role, as it involves creating and presenting persuasive sales copy and managing projects.

👔 Cultural Fit Considerations

Company Values:

• Passion for gaming and entertainment content
• Creativity and innovation
• Collaboration and teamwork
• Accountability and results-driven approach
• Diversity, equity, and inclusion

Work Style:

• Fast-paced and dynamic, with a focus on meeting tight deadlines
• Collaborative and team-oriented, with a focus on cross-functional teamwork
• Data-driven and analytical, with a focus on using data to inform creative strategies
• Adaptable and flexible, with a willingness to pivot and adjust based on client feedback and market trends

Self-Assessment Questions:

• How do you stay up-to-date with gaming and entertainment trends and content?
• Can you provide an example of a successful branded content campaign you've developed or contributed to, and what was the outcome?
• How do you approach working with cross-functional teams, and how have you handled conflicts or differing opinions in the past?

ASSUMPTION: IGN Entertainment values candidates who are passionate about gaming and entertainment content, creative and strategic thinkers, and strong collaborators.

⚠️ Potential Challenges

• Managing multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously
• Balancing client expectations with IGN's brand guidelines and audience interests
• Adapting to changes in client requirements or market trends
• Working with a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders
• Ensuring consistent and high-quality output across multiple platforms and formats

ASSUMPTION: This role may present challenges in managing multiple projects and balancing client expectations with IGN's brand and audience interests.

📈 Similar Roles Comparison

• Unlike traditional advertising agencies, IGN Entertainment focuses on creating custom content and experiences for its clients
• This role requires a deep understanding of IGN's content and audience, as well as the ability to translate client goals into engaging and relevant campaigns
• Compared to in-house creative teams, this role involves working with a wide range of external clients and managing their unique needs and expectations

ASSUMPTION: This role offers a unique blend of creative strategy, client management, and project management skills, with a focus on custom content and experiences.

📝 Sample Projects

• Developing a custom content campaign for a gaming hardware manufacturer, showcasing their products through engaging and informative articles, videos, and social media posts
• Creating a branded event for a movie studio, celebrating the release of a highly anticipated film and engaging fans through exclusive content, giveaways, and interactive experiences
• Designing a native advertising campaign for a streaming service, highlighting their unique features and content offerings through tailored articles, quizzes, and polls

ASSUMPTION: These sample projects demonstrate the variety of creative strategies and tactics required for this role, as well as the need to understand and adapt to the unique goals and requirements of each client.

❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview

• Can you describe the company's approach to branded content and how it differs from traditional advertising?
• How does the creative solutions team collaborate with other departments, such as sales and revenue operations?
• What are the most successful branded content campaigns the company has produced, and what made them successful?
• How does the company measure the success of its branded content campaigns, and what metrics are most important?
• What opportunities are there for growth and advancement within the creative solutions team?

ASSUMPTION: Asking these questions will help you better understand the role, the team, and the company's approach to branded content and client engagement.

📌 Next Steps for Applicants

To apply for this position:

• Submit your application through the IGN Entertainment job portal
• Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills for this role
• Prepare a portfolio or examples of your creative strategy and sales copy skills
• Research IGN Entertainment and its content to demonstrate your familiarity with the company and its audience
• Prepare for behavioral and situational interview questions that focus on your problem-solving, collaboration, and communication skills
• Follow up with the hiring manager one week after your interview to express your continued interest in the position

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