Freelancer - Creative Strategist
gradient Open · verified Sep 24, 2026 At a glance
Mid-level Creative role at gradient. New York · contract · no salary stated · we estimate $83,125–$121,875.
gradient has not published a salary for this role. The figure below is our estimate, not theirs.
Growth Roles summary, based on the employer's posting.
What you'll do
- Lead proposal work from brief through delivery, grounding concepts in research and strategy
- Turn market, cultural, audience, and brand research into insights for experiential ideas
- Shape brainstorms, narratives, and polished decks that make creative proposals clear and persuasive
- Own first-round concept decks, refining big ideas into feasible direction for execution teams
- Present ideas to clients and internal teams while coordinating with creative and technical partners
What you bring
- Bring at least five years in a creative or experiential agency across strategy, concepting, and storytelling
- Analyze trends, audience behavior, and brand positioning to generate useful creative insights
- Write engaging copy and organize decks into compelling, easy-to-follow narratives
- Present confidently and sell ideas with clear strategic reasoning
- Work quickly across multiple projects with strong time management
Who this fits
This contractor role is located in New York. You’ll suit the work if you combine strategic thinking, storytelling, research, presentation ability, and creative concept development.
From the employer
About Us:
We are a dynamic experiential marketing agency that transforms brand stories into unforgettable experiences. Our Concepting Team is responsible for crafting bold, strategic, and visually compelling ideas that inspire and engage. We are seeking a Creative Strategist who excels in storytelling, idea generation, deck creation, and insight-driven research—someone who can seamlessly blend logic and creativity to develop winning proposals and first-round concepting decks.
About the Role:
This role is for a sharp thinker and strong storyteller who thrives on developing insight-driven creative strategies, crafting persuasive narratives, and leading concept development from research to execution. If you’re a hybrid creative-strategic thinker who loves uncovering insights, shaping ideas, and setting the creative foundation for execution teams, we’d love to hear from you.
Key Responsibilities
Pre-Sale: Process, Research, Strategy & Proposal Development
- Lead the pre-sale proposal process, from briefing to delivery, ensuring that all creative ideas are backed by strong strategic thinking.
- Conduct market research, trend analysis, and audience insights to inform and inspire creative development.
- Develop sharp, actionable insights that guide the team in crafting compelling experiential concepts.
- Lead brainstorms and ideation sessions, ensuring all creative proposals are both innovative and strategically sound.
- Craft compelling narratives and storytelling, shaping the flow and structure of each deck.
- Build and refine visually impactful proposals, ensuring clarity, creativity, and strategic alignment.
Post-Sale: Concept Development & Execution Strategy
- Own the development of V1 concepting decks, establishing the creative foundation for execution teams.
- Refine big ideas into actionable, executable creative concepts, ensuring they are both visionary and feasible.
- Continue to research and analyze cultural trends, audience behaviors, and brand landscapes to evolve creative thinking.
- Collaborate closely with art directors, designers, producers, and technical teams to translate concepts into tangible experiences.
- Define the creative red thread, ensuring a clear narrative from ideation to execution.
- Provide strategic rationale and creative direction to execution teams, ensuring alignment with the original concept vision.
Presentation, Leadership & Collaboration
- Act as the lead presenter, delivering ideas with confidence, clarity, and strategic reasoning to both internal teams and clients.
- Serve as the deck leader, ensuring all proposals and concepting decks are polished, structured, and aligned with the agency’s creative vision.
- Work efficiently under tight deadlines, managing multiple projects while maintaining quality and creativity.
- Balance left- and right-brain thinking, using research and logic to shape bold, imaginative creative ideas.
Qualifications:
- Experience: 5+ years in a creative or experiential agency, with experience in strategy, concepting, and storytelling.
- Research & Insights: Strong ability to analyze trends, audience behaviors, and brand landscapes to develop insights that guide creative work.
- Storytelling & Copywriting: Exceptional ability to craft compelling narratives, structure decks, and write clear, engaging copy.
- Presentation Skills: Strong public speaking abilities, with the confidence to sell ideas persuasively.
- Strategic Thinking: Ability to develop insights that inform and shape creative directions.
- Speed & Organization: Fast worker with strong time management skills, able to handle multiple projects simultaneously.
- Creative Vision: Strong understanding of cultural trends, brand positioning, and experiential marketing.
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