Creative Copywriter (12 Month Fixed Term Contract)

Burson; Johannesburg; Hybrid; ZAR 300,000 - 480,000; Full time

Job summary

Burson, a WPP group agency, is seeking a Creative Copywriter in Johannesburg. You will craft compelling copy for campaigns, social, scripts, and long‑form content, working with designers and account teams to deliver integrated campaigns.

You’ll contribute bold ideas, refine briefs, and help win new business while maintaining high editorial standards in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a copywriter or creative within a PR, communications, advertising or marketing agency
• A strong portfolio showcasing campaign concepts, copywriting craft and range across formats and tones
• Exceptional writing, editing and storytelling skills, with impeccable spelling and grammar
• Ability to generate original ideas quickly and articulate them clearly to teams and clients
• A good understanding of social media platforms, trends and what drives engagement
• Comfortable working to tight deadlines, managing multiple projects and remaining calm under pressure
• A collaborative mindset, with experience working alongside design, strategy and account teams
• Confidence presenting and selling ideas to both colleagues and clients

Responsibilities

• Write clear, compelling and original copy across channels – campaigns, social, digital, scripts, press materials and long‑form content
• Generate bold creative ideas and concepts, contributing to brainstorms and campaign development from the ground up
• Partner with designers and art directors to develop integrated creative that pairs words and visuals seamlessly
• Adapt tone of voice to suit different brands, audiences and platforms, while maintaining quality and consistency
• Interrogate and challenge briefs to sharpen the thinking and strengthen creative output
• Contribute concepts and copy to new business pitches, helping to win and grow client relationships
• Edit and proofread to a high standard, ensuring accuracy, clarity and on‑brand messaging
• Stay close to cultural, social and industry trends to keep ideas fresh, relevant and timely

Skills

Portfolio

Copywriting

Editing

Storytelling

Deadline management

Collaboration

Presenting ideas

Job description

Who We Are

Burson, part of WPP, is the global communications leader built to create value for clients through reputation. With highly specialized teams, industry-leading technologies and breakthrough creative, we help brands and businesses redefine reputation as a competitive advantage so they can lead today and into the future. When you work at Burson, you are part of a global community of lifelong learners who thrive at the edge of innovation.

WPP (LSE/NYSE: WPP) is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands. We unite cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, world-class creativity, next-generation production, transformative enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel in a single company – powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform, WPP Open, to help our clients navigate change, capture opportunity and deliver transformational growth. For more information, visit WPP.com

For more information visit bursonglobal.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram.

More About The Role

As a Creative Copywriter, you will craft the words and ideas that bring brands to life. From big campaign concepts to sharp social copy, headlines, scripts and long‑form content, you’ll write with an earned-first mindset that earns attention and drives conversation. Working alongside designers, strategists and account teams, you’ll concept and write across channels for a range of clients – and play a key role in pitching fresh, original thinking for new business.

What You’ll Do

• Write clear, compelling and original copy across channels – campaigns, social, digital, scripts, press materials and long‑form content
• Generate bold creative ideas and concepts, contributing to brainstorms and campaign development from the ground up
• Partner with designers and art directors to develop integrated creative that pairs words and visuals seamlessly
• Adapt tone of voice to suit different brands, audiences and platforms, while maintaining quality and consistency
• Interrogate and challenge briefs to sharpen the thinking and strengthen creative output
• Contribute concepts and copy to new business pitches, helping to win and grow client relationships
• Edit and proofread to a high standard, ensuring accuracy, clarity and on‑brand messaging
• Stay close to cultural, social and industry trends to keep ideas fresh, relevant and timely

Experience That Contributes To Success

• Proven experience as a copywriter or creative within a PR, communications, advertising or marketing agency
• A strong portfolio showcasing campaign concepts, copywriting craft and range across formats and tones
• Exceptional writing, editing and storytelling skills, with impeccable spelling and grammar
• Ability to generate original ideas quickly and articulate them clearly to teams and clients
• A good understanding of social media platforms, trends and what drives engagement
• Comfortable working to tight deadlines, managing multiple projects and remaining calm under pressure
• A collaborative mindset, with experience working alongside design, strategy and account teams
• Confidence presenting and selling ideas to both colleagues and clients

You Belong At Burson

Our vision is for Burson to be the leading ‘academy company’ for creative communications professionals and emerging leaders. We provide a dynamic environment where ambitious colleagues come to elevate their skills, expand their networks, and ultimately, produce the best solutions for today’s leading brands. Our commitment to your growth is reflected in our robust benefits and people programs, which include professional development opportunities, mentorship programs with industry leaders, a vibrant and inclusive company culture fostering collaboration and innovation and packages designed to reward and retain top talent. We invest in our people because we believe their success is our success.

At Burson, we’re an agency of learn-it-alls. We recognize that the things we do best, creativity and communications, require a level of nuanced understanding. That’s why it’s imperative for us to hire extraordinarily talented people of all backgrounds and identities. Without that we can’t do the essential work of inspiring bold ideas, fostering constructive dialogue, cultivating meaningful experiences, and driving innovation and creativity for our partners. Your unique point of view—your talent—is what makes you a #BursonPerson, and it’s how we deliver exceptional results for our clients, together.

We believe the best work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That's why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office around four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.