Creative Strategy Manager

📌 Core Information

🔹 Job Title: Creative Strategy Manager

🔹 Company: Mastercard

🔹 Location: Athens, Greece & Lisbon, Portugal

🔹 Job Type: Full-Time

🔹 Category: Marketing & Strategy

🔹 Date Posted: July 3, 2025

🔹 Experience Level: 4-6 years

🔹 Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Job Overview

Key aspects of this role include:

• Developing creative strategies that inspire world-class campaigns
• Translating research, trends, and brand goals into compelling creative strategies
• Working cross-functionally with creatives, project managers, and clients
• Contributing to brand architecture, messaging frameworks, and tone of voice guidelines

ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strong balance of creative and analytical thinking, with a focus on understanding consumer behavior and cultural trends.

📋 Key Responsibilities

✅ Conduct market research, audience analysis, and cultural trend spotting to uncover key insights

✅ Write compelling creative briefs that inspire teams and align stakeholders around a strong strategic direction

✅ Develop big-picture brand and campaign strategies across multiple channels (digital, social, OOH, experiential, etc.)

✅ Work closely with copywriters, art directors, and content teams to ensure work is strategically sound and creatively bold

✅ Contribute to the development of brand architecture, messaging frameworks, and tone of voice guidelines

✅ Stay ahead of trends in media, culture, and technology to bring fresh, relevant thinking to client work

ASSUMPTION: This role involves a high degree of collaboration and requires strong communication skills to effectively convey strategic insights to various teams and stakeholders.

🎯 Required Qualifications

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

Experience: 4-6 years of experience in a strategy, creative, or brand planning role within an agency environment

Required Skills:

• Exceptional storytelling, writing, and presentation skills
• Strong understanding of brand-building principles and the creative development process
• Analytical mindset with the ability to distill complex information into clear, actionable insights
• Comfortable working across diverse categories and audiences

Preferred Skills:

• Familiarity with tools like Google Analytics, social listening platforms, or brand tracking tools

ASSUMPTION: Candidates with experience in a similar role within an agency environment are likely to be the best fit for this position.

💰 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: €50,000 - €70,000 per year (Based on market research and company size)

Benefits:

• Health insurance and retirement plans
• Employee discounts on Mastercard products and services
• Opportunities for professional development and career growth

Working Hours: Full-time position with standard office hours (Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM local time)

ASSUMPTION: Salary range is estimated based on market research and company size. Actual salary may vary depending on individual qualifications and experience.

📌 Applicant Insights

🔍 Company Context

Industry: Mastercard operates in the financial services and technology industries, focusing on digital payments, commerce, and data analytics.

Company Size: Mastercard is a large, multinational corporation with over 10,000 employees worldwide. This size offers opportunities for career growth and diverse experiences.

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

Company Description:

• Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in over 200 countries and territories worldwide
• They support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart, and accessible
• Mastercard's technology and innovation, partnerships, and networks combine to deliver unique products and services

Company Specialties:

• Global digital payments and commerce
• Technology and innovation
• Innovative mobile payment solutions and processing

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

ASSUMPTION: Mastercard's extensive global presence and diverse product offerings provide numerous opportunities for career growth and development.

📊 Role Analysis

Career Level: This role is at the mid-level of the marketing and strategy career path, with opportunities for growth into senior roles.

Reporting Structure: The Creative Strategy Manager will report to the Head of Creative Strategy and work closely with cross-functional teams, including creatives, project managers, and clients.

Work Arrangement: This is an on-site position, with the opportunity to work in either the Athens or Lisbon office.

Growth Opportunities:

• Progression to senior roles within the creative strategy team
• Expansion into other areas of the business, such as product management or business development
• International assignments or relocations to other Mastercard offices worldwide

ASSUMPTION: This role offers strong potential for career growth and development within Mastercard's global organization.

🌍 Location & Work Environment

Office Type: Mastercard's offices in Athens and Lisbon are modern, collaborative workspaces designed to foster innovation and creativity.

Office Location(s): Athens, Greece & Lisbon, Portugal

Geographic Context:

• Both Athens and Lisbon are vibrant, multicultural cities with rich histories and thriving business communities
• Each city offers a high quality of life, with a mix of urban and natural environments
• Both locations provide easy access to international travel, with major airports nearby

Work Schedule: Standard office hours (Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM local time) with the possibility of occasional overtime or weekend work to meet project deadlines.

ASSUMPTION: The work environment at Mastercard's Athens and Lisbon offices is dynamic and collaborative, with a strong focus on innovation and creativity.

💼 Interview & Application Insights

Typical Process:

• Online application and resume screening
• Phone or video screening with the HR team
• In-person or video interview with the hiring manager and team members
• Final interview with senior leadership

Key Assessment Areas:

• Candidates' strategic thinking and problem-solving skills
• Communication and presentation skills
• Cultural awareness and understanding of consumer behavior
• Ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams

Application Tips:

• Highlight relevant experience and achievements in your resume, focusing on creative strategy, market research, and campaign development
• Prepare a portfolio showcasing your creative strategy work, including briefs, presentations, and campaign results
• Demonstrate your understanding of Mastercard's business and the role's requirements in your cover letter
• Follow up with the hiring manager or HR team after your interview to express your interest in the role

ATS Keywords: Creative strategy, market research, audience analysis, cultural trend spotting, creative briefing, campaign strategy, brand positioning, innovation, storytelling, writing, presentation skills, analytical mindset, brand-building principles, creative development process, consumer behavior, cross-functional teams, collaboration

ASSUMPTION: Mastercard's application process is competitive, and candidates should be prepared to demonstrate their strategic thinking, creativity, and cultural awareness throughout the interview process.

🛠️ Tools & Technologies

• Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel)
• Google Analytics
• Social listening platforms (e.g., Hootsuite, Sprout Social)
• Brand tracking tools (e.g., Brand24, YouGov)

ASSUMPTION: Familiarity with these tools is preferred but not required. Candidates should be willing to learn and adapt to new technologies as needed.

👔 Cultural Fit Considerations

Company Values:

• Doing the right thing
• Staying curious
• Making a difference
• Partnering at scale

Work Style:

• Collaborative and team-oriented
• Innovative and creative
• Data-driven and analytical
• Adaptable and responsive to change

Self-Assessment Questions:

• Do I align with Mastercard's core values and work style?
• Am I comfortable working in a dynamic, multicultural environment?
• Can I thrive in a role that requires both creative and analytical thinking?

ASSUMPTION: Candidates who demonstrate a strong fit with Mastercard's values and work style are likely to be the most successful in this role.

⚠️ Potential Challenges

• Managing multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously
• Working with diverse teams and stakeholders, each with their own priorities and expectations
• Keeping up with the latest trends and developments in media, culture, and technology
• Adapting to a multinational corporation's complex organizational structure and processes

ASSUMPTION: These challenges can be overcome through strong project management skills, effective communication, and a willingness to learn and adapt.

📈 Similar Roles Comparison

• Unlike other strategy roles, this position requires a strong creative component, focusing on developing compelling campaign strategies
• Mastercard's global presence and diverse product offerings provide unique opportunities for career growth and development
• This role is well-suited for candidates with experience in agency environments, looking to transition into an in-house role with a global brand

ASSUMPTION: Candidates should consider their long-term career goals and how this role fits into their desired career path when evaluating this opportunity.

📝 Sample Projects

• Developing a creative strategy for a global brand launch campaign
• Conducting market research and audience analysis to inform a targeted advertising campaign
• Creating a brand positioning framework for a new product or service offering

ASSUMPTION: These sample projects illustrate the range of responsibilities and the strategic nature of the Creative Strategy Manager role.

❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview

• Can you describe the team structure and dynamics within the creative strategy department?
• How does this role contribute to Mastercard's overall business strategy and growth objectives?
• What opportunities are there for professional development and career growth within this role?
• How does Mastercard support work-life balance for its employees?
• What is the company's approach to innovation and staying ahead of industry trends?

ASSUMPTION: These questions demonstrate a candidate's interest in the role and their understanding of the company's culture and values.

📌 Next Steps for Applicants

To apply for this position:

• Submit your application through the Mastercard careers portal
• Customize your resume to highlight relevant experience and achievements in creative strategy, market research, and campaign development
• Prepare a portfolio showcasing your creative strategy work, including briefs, presentations, and campaign results
• Write a cover letter expressing your interest in the role and how your skills and experience make you a strong fit
• Follow up with the hiring manager or HR team after your interview to reiterate your interest in the role and address any remaining questions

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