Content Strategist (Contract), AI Marketing & Strategy

Formative • Seattle, WA

4d • Hybrid

About The Position

Formative is seeking freelance Content Strategists who are plugged into how AI is reshaping the way people find, consume, and trust content. We're building a bench of trusted freelancers we can call on as projects come in. There's no specific role open today, but we expect to need support soon, and we'd like to get to know great people before that happens. When you reach out, please share your typical hourly or project rate and roughly how many hours a week you could take on within the next few months. You need a content specialist's instincts and a demonstrated habit of tracking how the information landscape is changing in real time — not just using AI tools well yourself, but understanding how AI is changing audience behavior more broadly. This is initially positioned with an emphasis on content, but broader interest in how AI is changing consumer behaviors is also a plus. Formative is a Seattle-based agency of professionals who are passionate about helping to solve society’s most pressing challenges by connecting with audiences in deep, meaningful ways. We operate in the arenas of social good and purpose-driven brands, working to design and launch campaigns, programs and platforms that maximize impact on behalf of clients including Gates Ventures, Allen Family Philanthropies, National Geographic Society, and Amazon Sustainability to name a few. Our people are relentless seekers, problem solvers, thoughtful collaborators and sector experts. We’re inspired by doing work that matters in the world and delivering powerful solutions that solve our clients’ biggest priorities. We're looking for someone who can dive into ambiguous, complex problems and help us define them clearly, investigate them rigorously, and shape a strategic path forward. This work is inherently iterative — pathways get refined as new input, expert perspective, and guidance come in, and we're looking for someone energized by that process rather than someone who wants a fixed brief and a straight line to the end.

Requirements

• Minimum 3+ years in a content strategy, content specialist, or related content-focused role, with an emphasis on information gathering and synthesis to inform program design.
• Experience supporting or performing topic, audience, and channel research in pursuit of a program/campaign strategy — a genuine interest and enjoyment of perpetual learning is a must in this role.
• Experience framing and researching a problem from the ground up, including topic, audience, competitive landscape, and market research in service of a strategy or solution.
• Experience with go-to-market planning — helping position a solution or program relative to its competitive and market circumstances.
• A demonstrated, active habit of tracking how AI is changing content discovery and consumption — for example, how large language models source and surface material from platforms like YouTube and Reddit, or how on-platform user experiences are evolving as AI becomes embedded in them — and the ability to translate those shifts into strategic implications for clients.
• Ability to synthesize insights from diverse data sources into clear problem definitions and potential solution pathways.
• Hands-on experience using AI tools in your own research, synthesis, or strategy work, and excitement about applying AI to evolve how you personally work.
• Ability to take input from multiple collaborators and iterate on a work product through multiple rounds of refinement.
• Foundational understanding of measurement and evaluation approaches sufficient to support building measurement plans.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including competency with PowerPoint

Nice To Haves

• Experience supporting or developing user journeys, use cases, and user requirements.
• Foundational media understanding and how communications fits into a broader program or solution strategy.
• Ability to apply frameworks to distill inputs into organized and comprehensible findings.
• Experience in education, climate, and/or health sectors.
• Broader interest in how AI is changing consumer behaviors is also a plus.

Responsibilities

• Frame and execute research in pursuit of program design — including topic, audience, and channel research.
• Apply expertise in the AI-driven content consumption landscape to inform strategy and client recommendations — tracking how LLMs source and surface content, how platform experiences are evolving, and what that means for how clients should position themselves.
• Map user journeys to understand how audiences discover, evaluate, and engage with content across a changing landscape.
• Conduct third-party/secondary research to fill gaps where direct expert or stakeholder access isn't available.
• Work collaboratively as a client service team member to deliver strategic programs and solutions

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed