Creative Strategy Intern

Smartlyio; New York (NY); On-site; USD 28,000 - 33,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid internship at $20/hour, ~30h/week

Job summary

Smartly is seeking a Creative Strategy Intern for Fall 2026 in New York. You will help identify emerging cultural trends and translate insights into strategic narratives for leading brands across social media platforms.

Work with Creative Technologists and Global Creative Services to keep brands ahead of the cultural curve. This paid internship offers hands-on experience in research, presentations, and scalable materials.

Qualifications

• Pursuing a degree in Marketing, Communications, Design, Media Studies, Technology, or a related field.
• Deeply curious about internet culture, social media, creators, and emerging trends.
• Able to turn observations into clear, meaningful insights.
• Strong storyteller with an eye for visually compelling presentations.

Responsibilities

• Research emerging trends across TikTok, Instagram, Pinterest, Snapchat, Reddit, and other platforms.
• Develop platform- and industry-specific trend reports highlighting current and upcoming developments.
• Turn cultural insights into compelling presentations, narratives, and creative frameworks.
• Support creation of scalable materials to help multiple brands stay trend-forward.
• Conduct creative audits and identify actionable best practices.
• Curate standout content and campaign examples to inspire new ideas.
• Partner with Creative leaders to develop presentations and strategic positioning.
• Present findings or shadow key customer meetings.

Skills

Trend research

Storytelling

Presentation design

Creative collaboration

Education

Marketing or Communications (pursuing)

Design or Media Studies (pursuing)

Job description

Smartly is excited to kick off applications for our Fall 2026 Internship Program!

Do you know what’s about to blow up on TikTok before it hits your FYP? Can you spot the next big thing brewing in niche Reddit communities or emerging from underground creator collectives?

As a Creative Strategy Intern at Smartly, you’ll help uncover emerging cultural and social trends before they become mainstream—and turn those insights into strategic narratives for some of the world’s leading brands. You’ll collaborate with our Creative Technologists and Global Creative Services team to help brands stay ahead of the cultural curve across social media platforms.

As a Creative Strategy Intern, you will…

• Research emerging trends across TikTok, Instagram, Pinterest, Snapchat, Reddit, and other platforms


• Develop platform- and industry-specific trend reports highlighting what’s happening now and what may be coming next


• Turn cultural insights into compelling presentations, narratives, and creative frameworks


• Support the creation of scalable materials that help multiple brands stay trend-forward


• Conduct creative audits and identify actionable best practices


• Curate standout content and campaign examples to inspire new ideas


• Partner with Creative leaders to develop presentations and strategic positioning


• Present findings or shadow key customer meetings

We are looking for you if you are…

• A full-time rising junior, senior, or recent graduate from an accredited four-year college or university


• Pursuing a degree in Marketing, Communications, Design, Media Studies, Technology, or a related field


• Deeply curious about internet culture, social media, creators, and emerging trends


• Able to turn observations into clear, meaningful insights


• A strong storyteller with an eye for visually compelling presentations


• A proactive self-starter who is excited to try new things


• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, collaborative environment


• Legally authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship

This internship is paid at $20 per hour and will be approximately 30 hours per week from October 6 through December 17, 2026.

About Smartly

Smartly is the AI-powered advertising technology company transforming ad experiences for brands and their consumers. Our comprehensive advertising platform seamlessly integrates the capabilities of media, creative, and intelligence to power more than 800 billion impressions and generate more than 300 billion creatives annually, delivering tangible business outcomes for brands and advertisers.

Smartly is the only company in the industry recognized as a Leader in The Forrester Wave: Creative Advertising Technologies with PwC validating the results it delivers for brands. We manage creative and media for 700+ brands worldwide and $6B in ad spend across the largest media platforms, including Facebook, Google, Instagram, Pinterest, Snap, and TikTok. Our end-to-end technology, unmatched access to media platforms, and exceptional customer service help Fortune 500 brands to reach and engage consumers and learn what performs best.Smartly is a multinational and diverse team of 750+ Smartlies from 60+ nationalities, working in 13 countries. Together, we want to create and maintain an inclusive environment where everyone feels respected and heard. Our Diversity, Equity & Inclusion approach is at the heart of it.

Visit Smartly to learn more.
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