Freelance Creative Strategist

Irvine Partners; Cape Town; Remote; ZAR 350,000 - 450,000; Part time

Job summary

Irvine Partners in Cape Town is seeking a Freelance Creative Strategist to contribute to various client projects. This role emphasizes flexibility and collaboration, allowing the strategist to work across diverse sectors, enhancing brands' storytelling abilities.

The ideal candidate will have 3–5 years' experience in creative strategy, strong problem-solving skills, and a collaborative approach. Familiarity with tools like Canva and Google Slides is advantageous. Join us to create compelling strategies that resonate.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years' experience in creative strategy within an agency.
• Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent storytelling and presentation abilities.
• Experience with integrated campaigns across multiple channels.

Responsibilities

• Develop insight-led campaign strategies and creative platforms.
• Conduct audience, market and cultural research.
• Translate business challenges into strategic recommendations.
• Collaborate with creatives to develop integrated campaign ideas.

Skills

Creative strategy

Brand planning

Communications strategy

Research skills

Storytelling

Presentation skills

Collaboration

Tools

Canva

Google Slides

PowerPoint

Keynote

Job description

About Irvine Partners

Irvine Partners is a global communications agency with a creative edge, delivering standout work for brands across EMEA. From Spotify to Google, Uber to Airbnb, we help brands earn attention through ideas that sit at the intersection of culture, commerce and communications.

We're looking for an experienced Freelance Creative Strategist to partner with us on a project-by-project basis. This is a flexible contract opportunity for someone who enjoys working across a variety of clients, sectors and creative challenges.

About the Role

We're looking for a culturally plugged-in, conceptually strong strategist who is equal parts thinker and doer. Someone who can connect business objectives, consumer insight and creative opportunity to develop ideas that resonate across earned, digital and integrated communications.

You'll collaborate with our creative, digital and communications teams to shape campaign strategies, develop compelling creative concepts, contribute to pitches and help brands tell stories that matter. Assignments will vary depending on client needs, with opportunities to work across sectors including technology, tourism, financial services, FMCG and consumer brands.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop insight-led campaign strategies and creative platforms.


• Conduct audience, market and cultural research.


• Translate business challenges into clear strategic recommendations.


• Write inspiring strategic and creative briefs.


• Collaborate with creatives to develop integrated campaign ideas.


• Support new business pitches through strategic thinking and presentation development.


• Identify emerging trends and opportunities relevant to client brands.


• Present strategic recommendations to internal teams where required.

We\'re Looking For

• 3–5 years' experience in creative strategy, brand planning or communications strategy within an agency environment.


• Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving skills.


• Excellent research, storytelling and presentation abilities.


• Experience developing integrated campaigns across multiple channels.


• A collaborative, proactive and adaptable approach.


• Confidence working independently and managing multiple projects.


• Familiarity with AI tools such as ChatGPT, Claude or Perplexity to support research and ideation is advantageous.

Tools & Skills

• Confident using Canva, Google Slides, PowerPoint or Keynote to create compelling strategy presentations.


• Comfortable developing mood boards, strategic frameworks and concept decks.


• Strong understanding of social, digital and earned media.


• Experience with insight or social listening platforms is an advantage.

Working With Irvine Partners

This is a freelance, project-based opportunity, offering flexibility to work with our team across a range of exciting client briefs and pitches. We\'re looking to build long-term relationships with trusted creative strategists who can be brought in as projects require.