Creative Strategist (Background in Design Required)

Matchnode is seeking a mid to senior level Creative Strategist to join our creative team as a direct report to the Creative Director. This role focuses on developing performance-driven creative strategies across multiple digital channels, including paid social, Google, programmatic, and other acquisition platforms.

You’ll play a critical role in shaping what we make next by analyzing performance data from existing and in-market creative, identifying patterns in what is and isn’t working, and translating those insights into clear hypotheses, concepts, and creative directions. This includes researching audiences and competitors, concepting hooks and angles, and writing clear, actionable creative briefs that guide designers, editors, and UGC creators.

You’ll collaborate closely with media buyers, designers, and clients to ensure creative strategy is aligned with performance goals, channel nuances, and testing roadmaps. This role is ideal for a creative thinker with hands-on performance marketing experience who understands how data, audience insight, and storytelling work together to drive scalable results across channels.

Key Responsibilities

Creative Strategy & Concepting

• Develop short-form, direct-response creative concepts for paid social, including UGC, video, and static ads (5–45 seconds).

• Concept hooks, angles, value propositions, and messaging frameworks designed to perform on Meta and TikTok.

• Write clear, compelling creative briefs that provide strong direction to designers, editors, UGC creators, and production teams.

• Support the Creative Director in developing campaign-level creative strategies and testing roadmaps.

Research & Insights

• Conduct competitive analysis, trend mapping, and audience research to uncover insights and creative opportunities.

• Identify patterns in high-performing creative across industries and platforms.

• Stay current on evolving platform trends, formats, and best practices across Meta and TikTok.

Messaging & Narrative Development

• Develop brand-aligned messaging frameworks and narrative structures for paid social campaigns.

• Translate customer pain points and product benefits into compelling creative angles.

• Help shape tone, positioning, and storytelling approaches across brands and audiences.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with media buyers, designers, and editors to ensure creative aligns with performance objectives.

• Participate and lead in brainstorming sessions with internal teams and clients to generate testable creative ideas.

• Assist in developing creative strategy decks, mockups, and concept presentations.

Performance Optimization

• Review creative performance data to understand what’s working and why and to inform what to make next.

• Recommend new tests, refreshed hooks, and iterative optimizations.

• Help document learnings and apply insights to future creative strategies.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of experience in paid social creative strategy, ideally within direct response or performance marketing environments.

• Strong background in graphic design and asset production, with multiple years of experience designing high-performing paid social ads prior to or alongside a strategist role.

• Ability to independently design and produce polished ad creatives when needed, while primarily operating at a strategic level.

• Deep understanding of Meta and TikTok ad creative best practices, including platform-native formats and rapid iteration.

• Proven ability to identify and develop high-performing hooks, angles, and storytelling structures grounded in design and messaging fundamentals.

• Experience writing clear, actionable creative briefs informed by hands-on production knowledge.

• Comfortable using performance data and creative insights to guide concept development, iteration, and optimization.

• Strong creative instincts paired with strategic, performance-driven thinking.

• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to partner effectively with designers, editors, and media buyers.

• Ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced, remote environment.

Bonus Points

• Experience working at a creative, media, or performance marketing agency.

• Experience with the health industry or digital health platforms.

• Familiarity with UGC workflows, creator sourcing, or production processes.

• Proficiency in Figma and Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator; After Effects a plus) preferred.

• Background in videography, production, or content creation.

Interview Process

The interview process will include a live creative assessment, where candidates will be asked to demonstrate how they approach creative strategy, concepting, and brief development in real time.

Compensation & Benefits

• Compensation commensurate with experience.

• Fully remote role.

• Opportunity to work directly with senior creative leadership.

• Exposure to a variety of brands, verticals, and performance challenges.

How to Apply

Please submit:

• Your resume

• A brief cover letter explaining your interest in creative strategy and paid social

• (Optional but encouraged) Examples of paid social creative, creative briefs, or campaigns you’ve worked on, with context on your role