Creative Strategist

Introducing Zinc Network – for over fifteen years, we help governments and businesses navigate the world’s most complex challenges using communications, technology, and behavioural science. We work on tough briefs such as protecting children online, strengthening democratic resilience, and championing purpose‑driven technologies and organisations. Working with a global network of media outlets, communities, and influencers, we design and deliver behavioural interventions, create compelling campaigns, activate grassroots networks, and evaluate impact. We’re now building Kora – our AI‑powered platform that systematises this expertise into scalable technology, enabling clients to work faster, more impactfully, and more cost‑effectively. We’re looking for people who want to operate at the intersection of geopolitics, security, and technological disruption, and who are committed to building a safer, more secure world.

Outline of the job

Creative Strategist – responsible for translating weekly digital and media insights into clear creative strategies for asset production. The role focuses on developing insight‑led approaches that support resilience to misleading or manipulative narratives across Central and Eastern Europe, ensuring content is culturally relevant and responsive to emerging trends.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Lead the development of creative strategies for campaigns, translating digital, media, and audience insights into clear strategic direction for asset production.
• Turn research, OSINT, and audience insights into compelling narratives, message frameworks, and campaign propositions tailored to specific audiences and contexts.
• Design creative briefs to guide the development of digital content.
• Facilitate creation workshops and working sessions within the team to ensure cultural relevance and contextual accuracy across Central and Eastern European audiences.
• Work closely with the Project Director, Creative Director, and production teams to ensure all outputs align with strategic objectives and creative intent.
• Embed safeguarding, ethical, and security considerations throughout creative development and implementation.
• Support the development of Theories of Change and measurable campaign KPIs, linking creative strategy to behavioural or attitudinal outcomes.
• Provide strategic and creative leadership in client and donor engagements, confidently presenting concepts, insights, and recommendations.
• Collaborate with MEL and research teams to monitor campaign performance, applying learning to refine creative strategies over time.
• Stay informed on best practice in strategic communications and behaviour change.

Requirements

• 4+ years’ experience in creative strategy, communications planning, or campaign design, ideally with a blended background from advertising agencies and international development, social impact, government comms, or public affairs.
• Demonstrated experience developing multi‑channel, insight‑driven campaigns in complex or sensitive environments.
• Strong understanding of influence operations and audience behaviour in fragile or contested information spaces.
• Proven ability to synthesise research, OSINT and behavioural insights into clear creative strategies, narratives and campaign frameworks.
• Excellent writing and conceptual skills, with experience producing creative briefs, messaging frameworks, and strategic propositions.
• Strong collaboration skills, with experience working closely with insights, creative, digital, and production teams.
• Confidence operating in client‑facing settings, including presenting strategic recommendations and creative concepts to senior stakeholders.
• Familiarity with behaviour change models (e.g. COM‑B, EAST) and influence or narrative‑mapping frameworks (e.g. DISARM) is desirable.
• A clear understanding of ethical storytelling, safeguarding, and risk‑sensitive communications, particularly in politically or culturally sensitive contexts.
• SC security clearance preferred.

Area of Selection

We are committed to hiring a diverse workforce from different professional and cultural backgrounds, and we encourage a variety of people to apply.

Conditions of Employment

• Disclose any previous disciplinary action against you resulting from a substantiated safeguarding breach or workplace investigation.
• Undergo background checks including employment verification, sexual offender registry (as available), identity confirmation, and anti‑terrorism vetting.

How to Apply

Please include a cover letter stating how you meet each of the requirements. If you require an accommodation to be made at any point throughout the recruitment process, please let us know.

Location: London, England, United Kingdom

Seniority level: Mid‑Senior level

Employment type: Contract

Job function: Other

Industries: IT Services and IT Consulting