Creative Strategist

Creative Strategist

SMC Media | Austin, TX | Part-Time

About SMC Media

SMC Media is a growing social media marketing agency focused on building strategic, performance-driven content for brands across a variety of industries. Our team combines creative strategy, content production, and data-driven decision-making to help clients strengthen their digital presence and achieve measurable growth.

We're looking for an analytical, creative, and highly motivated Creative Strategist to lead the development of client content strategies, translate brand objectives into actionable creative direction, and identify opportunities to improve social media performance.

Position Overview

The Creative Strategist is responsible for developing and overseeing the creative direction of assigned client accounts, from initial brand research and strategic planning through pre-production and performance evaluation.

This role serves as the primary architect of each client's content strategy, ensuring that creative concepts are intentional, aligned with brand objectives, supported by research, and structured for successful execution by the production and content management teams.

This is a strong fit for someone who understands social media beyond trends, enjoys researching brands and consumer behavior, can translate insights into compelling content concepts, and thrives in a collaborative, fast-paced agency environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive brand, audience, industry, and competitor research to identify strategic opportunities for assigned client accounts.
• Develop creative strategies that align with client objectives, brand positioning, target audiences, and key performance indicators.
• Build and maintain strategic content direction across platforms including Instagram, TikTok, and other relevant social channels.
• Develop compelling content concepts, creative briefs, scripts, shot lists, and production plans that guide content creation.
• Prepare accurate, thorough, and actionable pre-production deliverables within established deadlines.
• Translate creative concepts into clear production instructions for Videographers, Editors, and other members of the content team.
• Establish content pillars, messaging angles, creative formats, and storytelling approaches tailored to each client's brand.
• Analyze social media trends, competitor activity, audience behavior, and platform developments to inform creative recommendations.
• Evaluate account performance and identify opportunities for creative optimization, structured testing, and strategic adjustments.
• Collaborate with Content Managers to ensure approved creative strategies are accurately translated into content calendars and publishing plans.
• Coordinate with Content Creators and Editors to clarify creative direction, resolve production questions, and maintain alignment with approved concepts.
• Review creative deliverables and provide constructive feedback to ensure consistency with the intended strategy and brand identity.
• Participate in client strategy discussions, internal planning sessions, and production-related meetings as needed.
• Identify underperforming content patterns and recommend data-informed creative pivots to strengthen account performance.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date strategic documentation, research, production materials, and deliverables within internal systems.
• Communicate proactively regarding strategic decisions, production needs, revisions, blockers, and upcoming deadlines.

What We’re Looking For

• Strong understanding of social media strategy, content marketing, and digital storytelling.
• Ability to think both creatively and analytically when developing content strategies.
• Strong research skills and ability to translate findings into actionable recommendations.
• Understanding of brand positioning, audience targeting, consumer behavior, and content performance.
• Familiarity with Instagram, TikTok, and emerging social media trends.
• Ability to develop original content concepts that go beyond replicating existing trends.
• Strong writing skills, particularly in creative briefs, scripting, and strategic documentation.
• Ability to interpret social media analytics and connect performance results to strategic decisions.
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills.
• Exceptional attention to detail and ability to manage multiple client accounts and deadlines.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Comfortable presenting creative ideas, explaining strategic reasoning, and receiving constructive feedback.
• Ability to collaborate across departments while maintaining ownership of assigned strategic responsibilities.
• Proactive, resourceful, and comfortable adapting strategies in response to changing client needs or performance results.
• Accountable, dependable, and committed to delivering thoughtful, high-quality work.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous experience in creative strategy, social media marketing, content strategy, digital marketing, or a related role.
• Experience developing social media strategies for brands, businesses, or organizations.
• Portfolio or examples demonstrating creative concepts, campaigns, strategic planning, or content development.
• Familiarity with social media analytics, performance reporting, and KPI-driven strategy.
• Experience writing scripts, developing shot lists, or preparing creative production briefs.
• Understanding of short-form video production and the creative elements that contribute to audience engagement and conversion.
• Experience working with multiple brands, clients, or accounts simultaneously.
• Agency experience is a plus, but not required.