Creative Strategy Manager

📌 Core Information

🔹 Job Title: Creative Strategy Manager

🔹 Company: Mastercard

🔹 Location: Lisbon, Portugal

🔹 Job Type: Full-Time

🔹 Category: Marketing & Advertising

🔹 Date Posted: July 3, 2025

🔹 Experience Level: 4-6 years

🔹 Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Job Overview

Key aspects of this role include:

• Translating research and trends into compelling creative strategies for campaigns
• Working cross-functionally with teams to develop original ideas that align with brand goals and consumer behavior
• Conducting market research, audience analysis, and cultural trend spotting to uncover key insights
• Writing compelling creative briefs that inspire teams and align stakeholders around a strong strategic direction
• Developing big-picture brand and campaign strategies across multiple channels

ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strong balance of creative thinking and analytical skills. Candidates should have a passion for understanding consumer behavior and translating insights into actionable strategies.

📋 Key Responsibilities

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

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

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

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

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

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

ASSUMPTION: The role involves a mix of strategic thinking, creative problem-solving, and cross-functional collaboration. Candidates should be comfortable working in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.

🎯 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: While a specific degree is not always required, candidates should have a proven track record of success in a related field and a strong portfolio demonstrating their strategic and creative capabilities.

💰 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: €50,000 - €70,000 per year (Based on market research for similar roles in Lisbon)

Benefits:

• Health insurance
• Retirement savings plan
• Employee stock purchase plan
• Paid time off and holidays
• Employee discounts on Mastercard products and services

Working Hours: Full-time (40 hours per week) with flexible working hours and remote work options available

ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is an estimate based on market research for similar roles in Lisbon. Actual compensation may vary based on factors such as experience, skills, and performance.

📌 Applicant Insights

🔍 Company Context

Industry: Mastercard operates in the global financial services and technology industry, focusing on digital payments, commerce, and processing

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 and teams

Founded: Mastercard was founded in 1966 and has since grown into a global leader in its industry

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 and commerce
• Technology and innovation
• Innovative mobile payment solutions
• Processing

Company Website: www.mastercard.com

ASSUMPTION: Mastercard's large size and global presence offer opportunities for career growth and exposure to diverse projects and teams. The company's focus on innovation and technology makes it an attractive choice for candidates interested in staying at the forefront of the digital payments industry.

📊 Role Analysis

Career Level: Mid-level. This role offers opportunities for growth and advancement within the marketing and advertising field

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: On-site with flexible working hours and remote work options available

Growth Opportunities:

• Advancement to senior roles within the creative strategy team
• Expansion into related fields, such as brand management or market research
• Opportunities to work on global campaigns and collaborate with international teams

ASSUMPTION: This role offers a unique blend of strategic thinking and creative problem-solving, making it an attractive choice for candidates interested in developing their skills in both areas. The opportunity to work on global campaigns and collaborate with international teams also provides valuable experience for candidates looking to advance their careers.

🌍 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 culture, and growing tech industry
• Lisbon offers a high quality of life, with a low cost of living compared to other major European cities

Work Schedule: Full-time (40 hours per week) with flexible working hours and remote work options available

ASSUMPTION: Lisbon's vibrant culture, historic sites, and growing tech industry make it an attractive location for professionals in the marketing and advertising field. The city's low cost of living also makes it an affordable option for candidates looking to relocate.

💼 Interview & Application Insights

Typical Process:

• Online application submission
• Phone or video screening with the HR department
• In-depth interview with the hiring manager and/or team members
• Final interview with the Head of Creative Strategy

Key Assessment Areas:

• Strategic thinking and problem-solving skills
• Creativity and innovation
• Communication and presentation skills
• Analytical skills and ability to distill complex information
• Cultural awareness and understanding of consumer behavior

Application Tips:

• Highlight relevant experience and achievements in your resume, with a focus on strategic thinking and creative problem-solving
• Prepare a portfolio showcasing your strategic and creative capabilities, including examples of campaign strategies, creative briefs, and market research
• Tailor your cover letter to demonstrate your understanding of Mastercard's business and the specific requirements of 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, Consumer Behavior, Collaboration, Curiosity

ASSUMPTION: Mastercard's recruitment process is designed to assess candidates' strategic thinking, creativity, and analytical skills. Applicants should be prepared to demonstrate their abilities through examples of their work and thoughtful responses to interview questions.

🛠️ Tools & Technologies

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

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

👔 Cultural Fit Considerations

Company Values:

• Doing the right thing
• Staying curious
• Collaborating openly
• Inventing every day

Work Style:

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

Self-Assessment Questions:

• Do you align with Mastercard's core values, and how have you demonstrated these values in your previous roles?
• How do you stay curious and up-to-date with trends in media, culture, and technology?
• Describe a time when you had to collaborate openly with a diverse team to achieve a common goal
• How do you approach data analysis and interpretation to inform strategic decision-making?

ASSUMPTION: Mastercard values candidates who are curious, collaborative, and adaptable. Applicants should be prepared to demonstrate their alignment with the company's values and work style through specific examples and thoughtful responses to interview questions.

⚠️ Potential Challenges

• Balancing strategic thinking with creative problem-solving in a fast-paced environment
• Working with diverse teams and stakeholders to align around a common vision
• Staying up-to-date with trends in media, culture, and technology to inform campaign strategies
• Managing multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously

ASSUMPTION: The Creative Strategy Manager role presents unique challenges that require a strong balance of strategic thinking, creativity, and adaptability. Candidates should be prepared to manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously and work effectively with diverse teams and stakeholders.

📈 Similar Roles Comparison

• Unlike related roles in market research or brand management, this role requires a strong balance of strategic thinking and creative problem-solving
• Compared to other creative strategy roles, this position offers the opportunity to work on global campaigns and collaborate with international teams
• Career progression in this role may involve advancement to senior roles within the creative strategy team or expansion into related fields, such as brand management or market research

ASSUMPTION: This role offers a unique blend of strategic thinking and creative problem-solving, making it an attractive choice for candidates interested in developing their skills in both areas. The opportunity to work on global campaigns and collaborate with international teams also provides valuable experience for candidates looking to advance their careers.

📝 Sample Projects

• Developing a comprehensive brand strategy for a new product launch, including market research, audience analysis, and creative briefing
• Conducting a cultural trend analysis to inform the creative direction of a global advertising campaign
• Collaborating with cross-functional teams to develop a campaign strategy for a major client, including channel selection, messaging, and tactics

ASSUMPTION: These sample projects demonstrate the range of responsibilities and skills required for the Creative Strategy Manager role. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their relevant experience and achievements in their application and interview.

❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview

• Can you describe the typical workflow and collaboration process between the creative strategy team and other departments?
• How does Mastercard support the professional development and growth of its creative strategy team members?
• Can you provide an example of a recent campaign that the creative strategy team has worked on, and what were the key challenges and successes?
• How does Mastercard approach diversity, equity, and inclusion in its creative strategy and campaign development processes?
• What are the most important qualities and skills for someone to succeed in this role, and how do you see these qualities evolving in the future?

ASSUMPTION: These questions are designed to provide insight into the day-to-day responsibilities, work environment, and cultural fit of the Creative Strategy Manager role at Mastercard. Candidates should be prepared to ask thoughtful and relevant questions to demonstrate their interest in the position and the company.

📌 Next Steps for Applicants

To apply for this position:

• Submit your application through this link
• Tailor your resume to highlight your relevant experience and achievements in strategic thinking, creative problem-solving, and market research
• Prepare a portfolio showcasing your strategic and creative capabilities, including examples of campaign strategies, creative briefs, and market research
• Write a cover letter that demonstrates your understanding of Mastercard's business and the specific requirements of the role
• Follow up with the hiring manager one week after submitting your application 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.