Brand & Creative Strategist

Location

Dubai, UAE

Employment Type

Full-time, On-site

Industry

Branding & Creative Agency About the Company We are a Dubai-based branding and digital agency working with ambitious businesses across the UAE and wider GCC region. Our work spans brand strategy, visual identity, digital experiences, marketing, content, and creative communications. We combine strategic thinking, creativity, and technical expertise to develop distinctive brands and meaningful customer experiences. We are looking for a Brand & Creative Strategist who combines strong strategic thinking, original ideas, excellent communication skills, and a collaborative approach to creative development. The Role As Brand & Creative Strategist, you will be responsible for developing the strategic foundations and creative concepts behind our branding projects. You will play a key role during the initial stages of client engagement, participating in discovery meetings, asking insightful questions, understanding business objectives, and identifying opportunities for brand development. You will also contribute strategic thinking and creative concepts to new business pitches. Following initial discovery and strategic alignment, the Account Manager will take ownership of ongoing client communication and relationship management. You will work closely with the Art Director, design team, and Project Manager to translate client objectives into clear brand strategies, compelling creative concepts, and actionable design briefs, ensuring alignment between strategic direction, creative execution, and project delivery. The ideal candidate combines analytical thinking with creativity, communicates confidently with clients, and is a strong team player who values collaboration, constructive feedback, and shared creative success. Key Responsibilities Brand Strategy & Research Conduct brand discovery, market research, competitor analysis, and audience research. Develop brand positioning, value propositions, differentiation strategies, brand personalities, and strategic frameworks. Identify meaningful business and consumer insights and translate them into actionable brand strategies. Develop strategic recommendations that align with client objectives and market opportunities. Initial Client Discovery & Strategic Communication Lead or participate in initial client discovery meetings and strategic discussions. Develop structured discovery questionnaires that uncover client objectives, challenges, target audiences, expectations, and opportunities. Confidently engage with clients and senior decision-makers to understand their business vision and branding needs. Ask insightful follow-up questions and identify information gaps that may impact the creative direction. Clearly document strategic findings and communicate them to the relevant internal teams. Support a structured handover to the Account Manager, who will manage ongoing client communication and relationship management. Creative Strategy & Concept Development Develop original creative concepts and strategic directions for branding and identity projects. Translate brand strategy, client insights, and discovery findings into clear, actionable creative briefs for the Art Director and designers. Develop brand territories, narratives, conceptual directions, and creative rationales. Conduct internal briefing sessions to explain the strategic thinking behind each project. Collaborate closely with designers to explore ideas, discuss creative approaches, and refine concepts. Provide strategic feedback throughout the creative development process to ensure alignment with the brand's positioning and objectives. Contribute strategic and creative thinking to naming, rebranding, brand launches, and integrated campaigns. New Business & Strategic Pitches Support leadership and the business development function during the early stages of prospective client engagement. Contribute strategic insights, positioning recommendations, and creative concepts to new business proposals. Participate in initial pitch meetings where strategic expertise is required. Develop compelling strategic presentations that clearly communicate the proposed approach and creative rationale. Confidently present strategic ideas and answer questions from prospective clients. Brand Storytelling & Messaging Develop compelling brand narratives, messaging frameworks, and tone-of-voice guidelines. Translate complex business ideas into clear, relevant, and engaging brand stories. Ensure consistency between brand positioning, messaging, and visual identity. Internal Creative Collaboration & Teamwork Work closely with the Art Director, design team, Project Manager, content team, and Account Manager throughout project development. Coordinate with the Project Manager to ensure strategic deliverables, creative briefs, and internal approvals align with project timelines and milestones. Clearly communicate strategic objectives, creative concepts, and project expectations to the design team. Lead internal creative briefings and participate in brainstorming sessions and concept reviews. Actively contribute to a positive, supportive, and collaborative team environment. Encourage open discussions, exchange ideas, and remain receptive to different creative perspectives. Provide constructive feedback while welcoming input and suggestions from other team members. Support colleagues in solving creative challenges and achieving shared project goals. Ensure a consistent understanding of the client's objectives throughout the creative development process.

Desired Candidate Profile

Requirements Minimum 4 years of relevant experience in brand strategy, creative strategy, or a related role, preferably within a branding or creative agency. Proven experience developing brand strategies, positioning frameworks, and creative concepts. Experience participating in or leading client discovery meetings, strategic workshops, and new business pitches. Excellent communication, interpersonal, and presentation skills, with the confidence to engage directly with clients. Strong ability to ask insightful questions, identify client needs, and translate business challenges into strategic opportunities. Demonstrated ability to develop clear creative briefs and communicate strategic directions effectively to designers. Experience collaborating with Art Directors, designers, and project managers to develop and deliver creative concepts. Strong teamwork and interpersonal skills, with a collaborative mindset and openness to constructive feedback. Strong analytical, conceptual thinking, and storytelling abilities. Solid understanding of visual identity, design principles, and creative development processes. Excellent written and spoken English. Ability to work across multiple projects and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams. Proficiency in presentation tools such as PowerPoint, Keynote, or Google Slides. A portfolio or case studies demonstrating strategic thinking, creative concepts, and completed branding projects. What We're Looking For We are particularly interested in someone who: Is confident and articulate when communicating with clients, particularly during discovery and pitch meetings. Knows how to ask the right questions to uncover the real business challenge behind a brief. Can translate complex client requirements into clear strategic and creative direction. Can confidently brief designers, explain concepts, and engage in constructive creative discussions. Is a genuine team player who enjoys collaborating, sharing ideas, and supporting colleagues. Values different perspectives, welcomes feedback, and understands that great creative work is a team effort. Understands how to balance strategic objectives with creative possibilities. Thinks beyond aesthetics and understands the commercial purpose behind branding. Brings original ideas and fresh perspectives rather than relying on generic concepts or trends. Is proactive, adaptable, and comfortable working across strategic and creative disciplines. How to Apply Please submit your CV and portfolio, including examples of brand strategies, creative concepts, or branding projects you have contributed to. We are particularly interested in case studies that demonstrate your strategic approach, creative thinking, collaborative process, and ability to translate business objectives into successful creative outcomes. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted for the next stage of the recruitment process. Employment Type Full-time