📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Senior Creative Strategist
🔹 Company: Discover Financial Services
🔹 Location: Riverwoods, IL (Telecommute)
🔹 Job Type: Full-Time
🔹 Category: Marketing
🔹 Date Posted: May 16, 2025
🔹 Experience Level: 2-5 years
🔹 Remote Status: On-site (Remote work is not available for this position)
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Managing the creative strategy and development process for monthly Student direct mail and email campaigns
- Driving continuous improvement of creative strategies and processes to enhance marketing efforts
- Collaborating with cross-functional teams to optimize targeting, contact strategy, messaging, and creative format
- Leading agency management for creative execution and inspiring creative teams to generate innovative ideas
- Staying informed about cultural, social trends, and customer views to ensure a broader lens of the consumer landscape
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strong creative point of view, data-driven mindset, and the ability to work effectively with various teams to drive successful marketing campaigns.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Manage the creative strategy and development process end-to-end for monthly Student direct mail and email campaigns
✅ Partner with business partners to drive development of creative brief inputs and improve the creative testing framework
✅ Lead agency management for the creative execution process and ensure flawless implementation
✅ Facilitate brainstorms and working sessions among key stakeholders to further plan creative campaigns and concepts
✅ Document and evaluate monthly creative campaign performance and results to drive optimizations and extract creative learnings
✅ Manage creative agency budget to ensure projects are managed efficiently and per yearly plan and contract scope
✅ Lead process simplification and optimization to reduce versions and cycle time, increase print efficiency, and obtain proper documentation
ASSUMPTION: This role involves managing multiple campaigns and projects simultaneously, requiring strong organizational skills and the ability to prioritize tasks effectively.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Associate's degree in Marketing or equivalent experience
Experience: 2+ years in a Creative Agency Planner, Creative Strategist, Communications Strategist, or related role (or 6+ years in lieu of education)
Required Skills:
- Proven experience in creative strategy development and execution
- Strong communication and collaboration skills
- Data-driven decision-making and analytical skills
- Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines
- Familiarity with creative testing and optimization processes
Preferred Skills:
- Bachelor's degree in Marketing
- 2+ years of digital and/or print marketing experience
ASSUMPTION: Candidates with a strong background in creative strategy, marketing, and data analysis are most likely to succeed in this role.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $67,000 - $113,000 per year (Based on industry standards for a Senior Creative Strategist role in the United States)
Benefits:
- Paid Parental Leave
- Paid Time Off
- 401(k) Plan
- Medical, Dental, Vision, & Health Savings Account
- Short and Long Term Disability, Life, and Accidental Death & Dismemberment insurances
- Recognition Program
- Education Assistance
- Commuter Benefits
- Family Support Programs
- Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Working Hours: Full-time (40 hours per week)
ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is an estimate based on industry standards and may vary depending on the candidate's experience and negotiation skills.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: Discover Financial Services operates in the financial services industry, offering credit cards, personal loans, student loans, and other financial products and services.
Company Size: Discover has 10,001+ employees, making it a large enterprise with established processes and a diverse workforce.
Founded: Discover was founded in 1986 and has since grown to become one of the most recognized brands in U.S. financial services.
Company Description:
- Discover creates solutions that connect people to commerce in more rewarding ways
- The Discover Network provides card acceptance at millions of businesses and cash access locations
- Discover operates the ATM debit network, PULSE, and Diners Club International has acceptance in more than 185 countries and territories
Company Specialties:
- Credit Cards
- Deposit Products
- Consumer Lending
- Consumer Savings
- Payments
- Payment Technology
- Student Loans
- Personal Loans
- Home Loans
- Home Equity Loans
- Debit and Transaction Services
Company Website: www.discover.com
ASSUMPTION: Working at Discover offers opportunities to collaborate with diverse teams and contribute to a well-established brand in the financial services industry.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: This role is at the senior level, requiring significant experience and expertise in creative strategy and marketing.
Reporting Structure: The Senior Creative Strategist reports directly to the Creative Director or a similar role within the marketing department.
Work Arrangement: This role is on-site, with no remote work options available.
Growth Opportunities:
- Progression to a Creative Director or similar leadership role within the marketing department
- Expansion into related fields, such as brand management or product marketing
- Opportunities to work on high-impact projects and campaigns that drive business growth
ASSUMPTION: This role offers opportunities for career growth and development within the marketing department and the broader organization.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: Discover's headquarters is located in Riverwoods, IL, with additional offices across the United States and internationally.
Office Location(s): 2500 Lake Cook Road, Riverwoods, IL 60015, US
Geographic Context:
- Riverwoods, IL is a suburb of Chicago, offering a mix of urban and suburban living
- The area has a diverse population and a range of housing options
- Discover's headquarters is conveniently located near major highways and public transportation
Work Schedule: Full-time, with standard business hours (Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM)
ASSUMPTION: Working at Discover's headquarters in Riverwoods, IL offers a dynamic work environment with access to a diverse range of cultural and recreational opportunities.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Online application and resume screening
- Phone or video screening with a member of the HR team
- On-site or virtual interview with the hiring manager and/or team members
- Final interview with the Creative Director or a senior member of the marketing department
- Background check and offer extension
Key Assessment Areas:
- Creative strategy development and execution
- Data-driven decision-making and analytical skills
- Collaboration and communication skills
- Problem-solving and project management skills
- Cultural fit and alignment with Discover's core values
Application Tips:
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight relevant experience and skills for this role
- Demonstrate your understanding of Discover's brand and marketing strategies in your application materials
- Prepare examples of your creative strategy work and be ready to discuss them during the interview
- Research Discover's company culture and be prepared to discuss how your values align with the organization
ATS Keywords: Creative Strategy, Marketing, Data-Driven, Campaign Management, Agency Management, Creative Testing, Consumer Insights, Brand Management, Product Marketing, Project Management
ASSUMPTION: The application process for this role is competitive, and candidates should be prepared to demonstrate their qualifications and fit for the position.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign)
- Project management tools (Asana, Trello, JIRA)
- Data analysis tools (Google Analytics, Tableau, Power BI)
- Marketing automation and CRM platforms (Salesforce, Marketo, HubSpot)
ASSUMPTION: Familiarity with industry-standard tools and technologies is essential for success in this role.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Customer-centric
- Collaborative
- Innovative
- Accountable
- Respectful
Work Style:
- Data-driven and analytical
- Creative and strategic
- Collaborative and team-oriented
- Adaptable and responsive to change
- Results-driven and focused on continuous improvement
Self-Assessment Questions:
- How do you incorporate customer insights and data into your creative strategy development process?
- Can you provide an example of a successful creative campaign you've managed, and how you optimized it based on performance data?
- How do you balance creativity and data-driven decision-making in your approach to marketing?
ASSUMPTION: Candidates who demonstrate a strong fit with Discover's core values and work style are more likely to succeed in this role.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Managing multiple campaigns and projects simultaneously may require strong organizational skills and time management
- Working in a large enterprise environment may present opportunities for career growth but also competition for advancement
- The on-site work arrangement may not be suitable for candidates who prefer remote or hybrid work arrangements
- Discover's headquarters is located in a suburban area, which may not appeal to candidates who prefer an urban work environment
ASSUMPTION: Candidates should carefully consider their personal and professional preferences when evaluating this role and its potential challenges.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- Senior Creative Strategist vs. Senior Marketing Manager: Both roles focus on strategic planning and execution, but the Creative Strategist role is more focused on creative development and optimization, while the Marketing Manager role encompasses a broader range of marketing activities
- Industry-specific context: Discover operates in the competitive financial services industry, requiring creative strategies that differentiate the brand and drive customer engagement
- Career path comparison: The Senior Creative Strategist role can lead to advancement into creative leadership or related marketing roles, such as Brand Manager or Product Marketing Manager
ASSUMPTION: Candidates should consider their career goals and preferences when comparing this role to similar positions in the industry.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing and executing a creative campaign to launch a new student credit card product, including direct mail and email components
- Optimizing an existing campaign's performance through A/B testing and data analysis, resulting in a 15% increase in customer acquisition
- Collaborating with cross-functional teams to create a cohesive brand identity and messaging framework for Discover's student lending products
ASSUMPTION: These sample projects illustrate the types of creative strategy and marketing challenges candidates may face in this role.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- Can you describe the team structure and dynamics within the marketing department, and how this role fits into the broader organization?
- How does Discover support the professional development and growth of its employees, particularly in the marketing department?
- Can you provide an example of a recent marketing campaign that was particularly successful, and how the creative strategy contributed to its success?
- How does Discover approach diversity, equity, and inclusion in its marketing efforts and internal culture?
- What are the most significant challenges facing the marketing department in the next 12-24 months, and how does this role contribute to addressing those challenges?
ASSUMPTION: Asking thoughtful questions during the interview demonstrates your interest in the role and the organization, and provides valuable insights into the work environment and company culture.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through this link
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills for this role
- Prepare examples of your creative strategy work and be ready to discuss them during the interview
- Research Discover's company culture and be prepared to discuss how your values align with the organization
- Follow up with the hiring manager or HR representative within one week of submitting your application to express your interest in the position
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
