📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Creative Strategy Manager
🔹 Company: Mastercard
🔹 Location: Besiktas, Istanbul, Turkey
🔹 Job Type: Full-Time
🔹 Category: Marketing & Advertising
🔹 Date Posted: May 12, 2025
🔹 Experience Level: 10+ years
🔹 Remote Status: On-site
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Developing brand, creative, and communication strategies for clients
- Managing multiple projects and collaborating with creative teams
- Guiding the execution of high-impact marketing campaigns
- Working in a fast-paced environment with senior-level stakeholders
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strategic mindset, strong communication skills, and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Develop brand, creative, and communication strategies for clients that align with brand objectives and data-informed insights
✅ Manage multiple projects and collaborate with creative teams to guide campaign execution
✅ Co-lead creative ideation sessions for larger client projects and support smaller projects as needed
✅ Manage budgets, timelines, and stakeholder communications for multiple projects
✅ Keep abreast of marketing and in-market trends, and continually update strategies as needed
ASSUMPTION: This role involves a high level of multitasking, stakeholder management, and adaptability to changing market trends.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree required; advanced qualifications such as a Master's degree in Marketing, Creative Communications, or MBA highly preferred.
Experience: Minimum of 8 years' strategic experience within leading advertising agencies, preferably within global network agencies, currently holding a role such as Strategy Director, Creative Strategy Director, or Group Strategy Director.
Required Skills:
- Proven expertise in developing comprehensive brand strategies, campaign planning, and managing full-funnel customer journeys
- Strong understanding of consumer behavior, market research, and competitive analysis
- Excellent communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills
- Strong conceptual thinking, problem-solving skills, and the ability to work under pressure
Preferred Skills:
- Fluency in additional languages beyond English
- Experience working with global brands or in a global agency environment
ASSUMPTION: Candidates with experience in leading integrated marketing campaigns and managing senior-level stakeholders will be most successful in this role.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: Salary information not provided. Estimated range for a Strategy Director role in Istanbul, Turkey is ₺150,000 - ₺250,000 per year (based on market research and industry standards).
Benefits:
- Competitive benefits package
- Opportunities for professional growth and development
- Global company with diverse and inclusive work environment
Working Hours: Full-time position with standard business hours, Monday to Friday. Occasional overtime may be required to meet project deadlines.
ASSUMPTION: The estimated salary range is based on market research and industry standards for similar roles in the Istanbul, Turkey area.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: Mastercard operates in the global financial services and digital payments industry, with a focus on secure, simple, smart, and accessible transactions.
Company Size: Mastercard is a large, publicly-traded company with over 10,000 employees worldwide. This size offers opportunities for career growth and exposure to diverse projects.
Founded: Mastercard was founded in 1966 and has since grown into a global leader in digital payments and technology solutions.
Company Description:
- Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in over 200 countries and territories worldwide
- Offers a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart, and accessible
- Provides innovative technology and solutions to help people, businesses, and governments realize their greatest potential
Company Specialties:
- Global digital payments and commerce
- Technology and innovative mobile payment solutions
- Processing and data-driven services
Company Website: http://www.mastercard.com
ASSUMPTION: Mastercard's large size and global presence offer unique opportunities for career growth and exposure to diverse projects and clients.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: This role is at the senior management level, requiring a high level of strategic thinking, experience, and leadership.
Reporting Structure: The Creative Strategy Manager reports directly to the Head of Creative Services and works closely with creative managers, project managers, and other stakeholders within the Data & Services team.
Work Arrangement: This is an on-site role based in Besiktas, Istanbul, Turkey. Occasional remote work may be considered for specific projects or team members.
Growth Opportunities:
- Potential to lead larger teams or take on more strategic roles within the organization
- Opportunities to work on global campaigns and collaborate with international teams
- Access to professional development and training programs
ASSUMPTION: This role offers strong potential for career growth and development within the organization, given Mastercard's size and global presence.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: Mastercard's Besiktas office is a modern, collaborative workspace with a mix of open-plan and private workspaces.
Office Location(s): Besiktas, Istanbul, Turkey
Geographic Context:
- Istanbul is a vibrant, multicultural city with a rich history and diverse cultural attractions
- The Besiktas district is a bustling commercial and residential area with easy access to public transportation and amenities
- Istanbul offers a high quality of life, with a mix of modern and traditional neighborhoods, and a diverse food and entertainment scene
Work Schedule: Standard business hours, Monday to Friday, with occasional overtime as needed to meet project deadlines.
ASSUMPTION: The Besiktas office offers a modern, collaborative work environment, and Istanbul provides a vibrant and culturally rich location for employees.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Online application and resume screening
- Phone or video screening with the hiring manager
- In-person or virtual interview with the hiring manager and other stakeholders
- Final interview with the Head of Creative Services
Key Assessment Areas:
- Strategic thinking and problem-solving skills
- Communication and presentation skills
- Stakeholder management and collaboration skills
- Cultural fit and alignment with Mastercard's values
Application Tips:
- Highlight relevant experience and achievements in your resume, focusing on integrated marketing campaigns and stakeholder management
- Prepare a portfolio or case studies demonstrating your strategic thinking and creative problem-solving skills
- Research Mastercard's brand and values, and be prepared to discuss how your skills and experience align with the company's mission
ATS Keywords: Marketing strategy, brand strategy, campaign planning, consumer behavior, market research, creative ideation, stakeholder management, project management, integrated marketing, data-driven insights
ASSUMPTION: Mastercard's interview process is designed to assess candidates' strategic thinking, communication, and cultural fit, with a focus on relevant experience and achievements.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel)
- Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign)
- Project management tools (e.g., Asana, Trello, JIRA)
- Data analysis and visualization tools (e.g., Google Analytics, Tableau)
ASSUMPTION: This role requires proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and Adobe Creative Cloud, as well as familiarity with project management and data analysis tools.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Doing the right thing
- Staying true
- Inventing the way
Work Style:
- Collaborative and team-oriented
- Adaptable and resilient
- Data-driven and innovative
Self-Assessment Questions:
- Do you embody Mastercard's core values, and how have you demonstrated them in your previous roles?
- How do you approach working with diverse teams and stakeholders, and how have you navigated cultural differences in previous roles?
- Can you provide an example of a time when you had to adapt to a significant change or challenge, and how did you approach it?
ASSUMPTION: Mastercard values candidates who embody their core values, are adaptable and resilient, and can thrive in a collaborative, data-driven work environment.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Managing multiple projects and stakeholders simultaneously, requiring strong organizational skills and prioritization
- Working in a fast-paced, dynamic environment with tight deadlines and changing priorities
- Adapting to a global company with diverse teams and cultural nuances
- Navigating a large organization with complex structures and processes
ASSUMPTION: These challenges require strong organizational skills, adaptability, and the ability to thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- Compared to other strategy roles, this position places a stronger emphasis on creative ideation and collaboration with creative teams
- Mastercard's global presence and diverse client base offer unique opportunities for career growth and exposure to international projects
- This role requires a higher level of experience and leadership than entry-level or mid-level strategy positions
ASSUMPTION: This role offers unique opportunities for career growth and exposure to diverse projects and clients, given Mastercard's size and global presence.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing a comprehensive brand strategy for a global financial services client, including market research, competitive analysis, and data-driven insights
- Managing a cross-functional team to execute a high-impact integrated marketing campaign for a major retail client, including ATL, BTL, digital, and direct marketing channels
- Collaborating with creative teams to ideate and develop innovative campaign concepts for a global technology client, aligned with brand objectives and data-driven insights
ASSUMPTION: These sample projects demonstrate the strategic thinking, collaboration, and leadership skills required for success in this role.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- Can you describe the typical timeline and process for developing and executing a marketing campaign for a global client?
- How does the Creative Strategy Manager role collaborate with other teams and stakeholders within the Data & Services team, and across the broader organization?
- What opportunities exist for professional growth and development within the Creative Services team and the broader organization?
- How does Mastercard support work-life balance for employees in this role?
- Can you provide an example of a recent marketing campaign that Mastercard has executed, and how the Creative Strategy Manager contributed to its success?
ASSUMPTION: These questions demonstrate a strong understanding of the role, the organization, and the industry, and show a proactive approach to career growth and development.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through this link
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight relevant experience and achievements in integrated marketing campaigns and stakeholder management
- Prepare a portfolio or case studies demonstrating your strategic thinking and creative problem-solving skills
- Research Mastercard's brand and values, and be prepared to discuss how your skills and experience align with the company's mission
- Follow up with the hiring manager one week after submitting your application to express your continued interest in the role
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
