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Creative Strategy Director
Job Location:
Job Location:
Detroit, MI - USA
Monthly Salary:
Not provided by the employer
Monthly Salary:
Posted:
24 September 2026 (2 days ago)
Posted:
Application Deadline:
22 December 2026
Application Deadline:
Vacancies:
1 Vacancy
Vacancies:
Job Summary
This is an opportunity to play a key creative role in one of Imaginations longest-standing client
relationships: Ford Motor Company and other Imagination clients.
Were looking for a creative thinker storyteller and writer who can move comfortably between
strategy and ideas. Someone who can take a complex client challenge find the opportunity within it and turn it into a clear creative direction that a team can get excited about.
You are part Creative Director part strategist and part writer.
Youll work closely with Ford and other Imagination clients to understand their business their brands their audiences and the stories they want to tell. Youll challenge and unpack briefs identify the real opportunity and translate them into clear strategic and creative briefs for our teams. Youll also be hands-on in the work. Depending on the project you might lead the creative response develop initial territories and thought starters write a manifesto name an experience shape positioning develop a film treatment or work alongside a Creative Director to turn a strategic idea into something bigger.
Some projects youll own. On others youll be the strategic and creative partner who comes in at the right moments to make the work sharper clearer and more compelling.
This isnt a traditional strategy role. Its a creative role with a strong strategic point of view.
Were looking for a high performer who thrives in a fast-moving collaborative environment.
Someone adaptable resourceful and comfortable moving between different kinds of challenges
projects and teams. Our best people take ownership move quickly when needed and arent afraid to roll up their sleeves and get into the work. You should be energized by variety comfortable with
ambiguity and able to adapt as the brief the team or the opportunity changes.
relationships: Ford Motor Company and other Imagination clients.
Were looking for a creative thinker storyteller and writer who can move comfortably between
strategy and ideas. Someone who can take a complex client challenge find the opportunity within it and turn it into a clear creative direction that a team can get excited about.
You are part Creative Director part strategist and part writer.
Youll work closely with Ford and other Imagination clients to understand their business their brands their audiences and the stories they want to tell. Youll challenge and unpack briefs identify the real opportunity and translate them into clear strategic and creative briefs for our teams. Youll also be hands-on in the work. Depending on the project you might lead the creative response develop initial territories and thought starters write a manifesto name an experience shape positioning develop a film treatment or work alongside a Creative Director to turn a strategic idea into something bigger.
Some projects youll own. On others youll be the strategic and creative partner who comes in at the right moments to make the work sharper clearer and more compelling.
This isnt a traditional strategy role. Its a creative role with a strong strategic point of view.
Were looking for a high performer who thrives in a fast-moving collaborative environment.
Someone adaptable resourceful and comfortable moving between different kinds of challenges
projects and teams. Our best people take ownership move quickly when needed and arent afraid to roll up their sleeves and get into the work. You should be energized by variety comfortable with
ambiguity and able to adapt as the brief the team or the opportunity changes.
Key Responsibilities
Turn briefs into opportunities
Youll work closely with our account and client teams to understand what Ford is really asking
for not simply what the brief says. Youll:
Youll work closely with our account and client teams to understand what Ford is really asking
for not simply what the brief says. Youll:
- Deconstruct client briefs and identify the underlying business brand and audience and challenges
- Reframe briefs into clear strategic and creative opportunities
- Develop internal creative briefs that give teams a clear direction and something meaningful to respond to
- Identify the key thought tension insight or cultural opportunity that can unlock the work
- Bring clarity to complex challenges and help teams understand what were trying to achieve and why
Shape ideas and creative territories
Youll be an active contributor to the creative process not simply the person who briefs the
creatives. Youll:
Youll be an active contributor to the creative process not simply the person who briefs the
creatives. Youll:
- Develop creative territories thought starters and early-stage ideas.
- Work with Creative Directors and creative teams to evolve ideas into compelling concepts.
- Bring a strong point of view to the work while knowing when to step back and let others build.
- Help connect strategy to experiences content live events digital and broader brand storytelling.
- Develop the narrative architecture behind major Ford programs and brand moments.
- Present and sell creative thinking internally and to clients.
Write the story
- Words will be an important part of your craft. Youll be comfortable writing and developing:
- Creative briefs
- Positioning statements
- Brand and experience narratives
- Manifestos
- Concept descriptions
- Experience and event names
- Campaign and platform names
- Audience propositions
- Objectives and strategic frameworks
- Presentation narratives
- Film and content treatments
- Scripts and voiceover
- Pitch and presentation decks in Google Slides
- Case-study and award language when required
Youll have a strong instinct for how a story should flow knowing how to structure and
organize a deck what belongs on the page what belongs in the room and how to build a
clear narrative that takes an audience from challenge through opportunity to the idea.
Youll know how to make complex thinking simple compelling and easy to buy into whether
youre writing a manifesto shaping a presentation for an executive audience or helping a
creative team articulate an idea.
You dont need to be a traditional copywriter. But you do need to know when an idea needs
fewer words better words or a completely different story.
Youre not expected to be a graphic designer but you should have a strong eye for
presentation craft and be comfortable working with designers and creatives to make the
thinking look as good as it sounds.
Own creative projects
organize a deck what belongs on the page what belongs in the room and how to build a
clear narrative that takes an audience from challenge through opportunity to the idea.
Youll know how to make complex thinking simple compelling and easy to buy into whether
youre writing a manifesto shaping a presentation for an executive audience or helping a
creative team articulate an idea.
You dont need to be a traditional copywriter. But you do need to know when an idea needs
fewer words better words or a completely different story.
Youre not expected to be a graphic designer but you should have a strong eye for
presentation craft and be comfortable working with designers and creatives to make the
thinking look as good as it sounds.
Own creative projects
- On selected projects youll act as a creative lead taking responsibility for the thinking and storytelling from brief through to delivery. That could include:
- Establishing a creative direction
- Leading internal creative teams and freelance talent
- Working closely with production to make sure the ambition can become reality
- Partnering with digital and content producers on film social and digital storytelling
- Guiding the development of decks treatments and client presentations
- Presenting work and facilitating creative conversations with Ford
- Maintaining a clear creative point of view throughout the project
- On other projects youll plug into the team at key moments providing strategic thinking writing and creative development where its needed most
Know the Ford brand
Ford is a significant part of our business and this role requires someone who can quickly
understand and contribute to the brand conversation.
- Youll develop a deep understanding of Fords brands products audiences culture and ways of communicating.
- Youll be able to recognize what feels authentically Ford while also knowing when the opportunity is to push the brand somewhere new.
- Youll bring an understanding of how Ford can show up across culture entertainment automotive sport technology and peoples everyday lives.
Skills Knowledge and Expertise
What Makes You Right For This Role:
Youre a creative thinker who knows how to turn strategy into ideas.
You probably have a background in creative direction copywriting creative strategy brand
storytelling or some combination of all four.
Youre equally comfortable staring at a blank page challenging a client brief writing a manifesto
shaping a presentation or sitting with a creative team working out what the idea should actually be.
Youre:
Youre a creative thinker who knows how to turn strategy into ideas.
You probably have a background in creative direction copywriting creative strategy brand
storytelling or some combination of all four.
Youre equally comfortable staring at a blank page challenging a client brief writing a manifesto
shaping a presentation or sitting with a creative team working out what the idea should actually be.
Youre:
- A natural storyteller who can make complex ideas simple and compelling
- A strong writer with an instinct for language tone and narrative
- Strategically minded with the ability to move from business challenge to creative opportunity
- Comfortable developing ideas and thought starters rather than waiting for fully formed creative concepts
- Confident structuring and building presentations in Google Slides with a strong understanding of how to organize information and create a compelling narrative
- Able to turn strategic thinking into presentations that are clear persuasive and visually engaging
- Curious about culture audiences brands and the world around them
- Able to understand a clients business and translate that understanding into creative work.
- Confident presenting to senior clients and defending a point of view
- Comfortable collaborating with Creative Account Production and Digital teams
- Able to lead when the project requires it and contribute when someone else is leading
- Comfortable managing freelance creative talent when required
- Rigorous enough to know when an idea is interesting and when it is actually useful
- Generous in collaboration and able to make the people around you better
Experience using AI image-generation tools or other rapid visualization tools to create concept
visuals moodboards storyboards or early-stage creative explorations is a bonus. Youre not
expected to be an AI specialist but you should be curious about emerging tools and know how to
use them to help make an idea tangible quickly.
Most importantly you dont see strategy and creativity as separate disciplines.
You see them as two parts of the same process.
What Success Looks Like:
Success in this role means making the work better.
It means Ford trusts you to help them articulate what theyre trying to achieve.
It means our creative teams receive briefs that give them clarity inspiration and room to make great work.
It means our ideas have a strong strategic foundation without feeling like strategy documents.
And it means the final work is distinctive relevant creatively ambitious and unmistakably right for
the client.
Youll be successful when you can move fluidly between the client conversation the strategic
challenge the creative idea and the words that bring it all to life.
visuals moodboards storyboards or early-stage creative explorations is a bonus. Youre not
expected to be an AI specialist but you should be curious about emerging tools and know how to
use them to help make an idea tangible quickly.
Most importantly you dont see strategy and creativity as separate disciplines.
You see them as two parts of the same process.
What Success Looks Like:
Success in this role means making the work better.
It means Ford trusts you to help them articulate what theyre trying to achieve.
It means our creative teams receive briefs that give them clarity inspiration and room to make great work.
It means our ideas have a strong strategic foundation without feeling like strategy documents.
And it means the final work is distinctive relevant creatively ambitious and unmistakably right for
the client.
Youll be successful when you can move fluidly between the client conversation the strategic
challenge the creative idea and the words that bring it all to life.
Benefits
What we can offer you:
- Work with a state-of-the-art product and deliver it to exciting and innovative brands
- Learning and development opportunities that contribute to professional growth
- A fun engaging work culture
- Be part of a mission-driven team that values agility integrity and excellence
- Opportunity to contribute to large-scale high-impact projects from day one
- Dedicated personal growth & development through our GrowForward programme
Benefits and perks offered:
- Comprehensive paid time off benefits
- Hybrid work model where our team comes into the office a minimum of 3 days per week
- Generous parental leave
- Up to 4% safe harbor company 401k match
- Comprehensive low-cost health benefits
Required Experience:
Director
About Company
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