Creative Copywriter (12 Month Fixed Term Contract)
Burson
Salary undisclosed
Need a reasonable accommodation to apply or interview? Contact us.
JobMinglr uses automated technology to recommend jobs based on profile information and job preferences. Match Score does not determine eligibility for a position, prevent a user from viewing or applying to a job, or make hiring decisions on behalf of an employer.
Description
Who we are:
Burson, part of WPP, is the global communications leader built to create value for clients through reputation. With highly specialized teams, industry-leading technologies and breakthrough creative, we help brands and businesses redefine reputation as a competitive advantage so they can lead today and into the future. When you work at Burson, you are part of a global community of lifelong learners who thrive at the edge of innovation.
WPP (LSE/NYSE: WPP) is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands. We unite cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, world-class creativity, next-generation production, transformative enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel in a single company – powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform, WPP Open, to help our clients navigate change, capture opportunity and deliver transformational growth. For more information, visit WPP.com
For more information visit bursonglobal.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram.
More about the role:
As a Creative Copywriter, you will craft the words and ideas that bring brands to life. From big campaign concepts to sharp social copy, headlines, scripts and long-form content, you’ll write with an earned-first mindset that earns attention and drives conversation. Working alongside designers, strategists and account teams, you’ll concept and write across channels for a range of clients – and play a key role in pitching fresh, original thinking for new business.
What you'll do:
- Write clear, compelling and original copy across channels – campaigns, social, digital, scripts, press materials and long-form content
- Generate bold creative ideas and concepts, contributing to brainstorms and campaign development from the ground up
- Partner with designers and art directors to develop integrated creative that pairs words and visuals seamlessly
- Adapt tone of voice to suit different brands, audiences and platforms, while maintaining quality and consistency
- Interrogate and challenge briefs to sharpen the thinking and strengthen creative output
- Contribute concepts and copy to new business pitches, helping to win and grow client relationships
- Edit and proofread to a high standard, ensuring accuracy, clarity and on-brand messaging
- Stay close to cultural, social and industry trends to keep ideas fresh, relevant and timely
Experience that contributes to success:
- Proven experience as a copywriter or creative within a PR, communications, advertising or marketing agency
- A strong portfolio showcasing campaign concepts, copywriting craft and range across formats and tones
- Exceptional writing, editing and storytelling skills, with impeccable spelling and grammar
- Ability to generate original ideas quickly and articulate them clearly to teams and clients
- A good understanding of social media platforms, trends and what drives engagement
- Comfortable working to tight deadlines, managing multiple projects and remaining calm under pressure
- A collaborative mindset, with experience working alongside design, strategy and account teams
- Confidence presenting and selling ideas to both colleagues and clients
You belong at Burson:
Our vision is for Burson to be the leading ‘academy company’ for creative communications professionals and emerging leaders. We provide a dynamic environment where ambitious colleagues come to elevate their skills, expand their networks, and ultimately, produce the best solutions for today’s leading brands. Our commitment to your growth is reflected in our robust benefits and people programs, which include professional development opportunities, mentorship programs with industry leaders, a vibrant and inclusive company culture fostering collaboration and innovation and packages designed to reward and retain top talent. We invest in our people because we believe their success is our success.
At Burson, we’re an agency of learn-it-alls. We recognize that the things we do best, creativity and communications, require a level of nuanced understanding. That’s why it’s imperative for us to hire extraordinarily talented people of all backgrounds and identities. Without that we can’t do the essential work of inspiring bold ideas, fostering constructive dialogue, cultivating meaningful experiences, and driving innovation and creativity for our partners. Your unique point of view—your talent—is what makes you a #BursonPerson, and it’s how we deliver exceptional results for our clients, together.
We believe the best work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That's why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office around four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.
When you click the "Submit Application" button below, this will send any information you add below to Burson. Before you do this, we think it's a good idea to read through our Recruitment Privacy Policy. California residents should read our California Recruitment Privacy Notice. This explains what we do with your personal data when you apply for a role with us, and, how you can update the information you have provided us with or how to remove it.
About this role
Burson, part of WPP's global communications network, is looking for a Creative Copywriter to join their Johannesburg office on a 12-month fixed-term contract. You'll write across the full spectrum of communications work—from campaign concepts and social copy to scripts, press materials and long-form content—always with an eye toward earning attention and driving real conversation. This role sits at the intersection of creative ideation and craft, requiring you to generate bold concepts in brainstorms while also sweating the details of tone, clarity and on-brand consistency across different platforms and audiences.
The day-to-day involves close collaboration with designers, strategists and account teams to develop integrated creative work, as well as contributing to new business pitches that help win client relationships. You'll need to move quickly between projects, adapt your voice to suit different brands, and be comfortable interrogating briefs to strengthen the thinking behind the work. A strong portfolio demonstrating campaign concepts and range across formats is essential, as is a solid grasp of social platforms and what actually drives engagement.
This is suited to someone with proven agency experience in copywriting, PR, advertising or marketing—someone who writes with precision, generates ideas under pressure, and thrives in a collaborative environment. Burson emphasizes growth and development, offering mentorship, professional development and a culture built around ambitious, curious people. The role is in-office based in Johannesburg, though the company operates on a hybrid model with teams in around four days a week.
This role's local market on JobMinglr
Pay for this role
The employer didn't post a pay range for this role. That usually means pay is set in negotiation, which favors whoever arrives with numbers. Check ranges on comparable Creative Copywriter (12 Month Fixed Term Contract) postings in Johannesburg, and analyze any offer before you accept it.
Before you apply, worth reading
How JobMinglr reads this job
Every listing here is scored against your profile before you apply: skills overlap, experience level, location and work arrangement, each weighted and explained. You see the score and the reasons, not just a list. How the matching works.