Intern - Creative Strategy

Location: New York metro area preferred
Working pattern: Part-time or full-time internship, hybrid
Duration: Semester-based or 10–12 weeks, with potential to extend based on business need and performance
Reports to: Creative Strategy and Innovation Services Lead

About the role

Grayling is seeking a Creative Strategy & Innovation Intern to support the agency’s creative strategy and innovation services work across client accounts, new business efforts and internal agency initiatives.

This role is designed for someone entering their senior year in college, a recent college graduate or graduate student who is curious, organized and interested in how research, culture, technology and communications come together to shape ideas. The intern will support the Creative Strategy and Innovation Services Lead with research, trend scanning, AI-assisted exploration, creative ideation, presentation support, competitive analysis and internal innovation projects.

The ideal candidate should be AI-fluent in all current generative tools as part of their regular workflow. They should know how to use these tools to support research, summarize information, develop first drafts, pressure-test ideas, compare sources and explore creative directions. They do not need to be an AI expert, but they should be knowledgeably enough to use these tools responsibly, efficiently and with human judgment.

This is a support role. Success means helping the lead and account teams move faster, organize information clearly and bring useful research, references and early-stage thinking into creative and strategic work.

Responsibilities

• Research support: Conduct desk research across industries, competitors, media, culture, social platforms and emerging technologies to inform client work and new business efforts
• AI-assisted exploration: Use generative AI tools to support research, summarize source material, generate thought starters, compare angles and develop early drafts for human review
• Trend scanning: Monitor developments in communications, culture, AI, media, stakeholder behavior, corporate and brand strategy, then summarize the most relevant takeaways
• Creative ideation support: Help prepare for brainstorms by gathering examples, building reference lists, developing prompts and organizing stimulus materials
• Presentation support: Assist with building internal and client-facing slides, including research summaries, visual references, idea territories, competitive scans and discussion materials
• Innovation services support: Help test, document and organize new tools, workflows, templates and AI-enabled processes that may help teams work more effectively
• Writing and copy support: Draft first-pass language for concept descriptions, social copy, headlines, naming options, research summaries and internal recaps
• Competitive analysis: Review how brands, campaigns and competitors are showing up across earned, owned, social and experiential channels
• Meeting and workshop support: Help prepare agendas, readouts, notes, follow-up documents and supporting materials for creative and innovation-focused sessions
• Knowledge management: Organize examples, case studies, research findings and reusable materials so teams can access them quickly
• New business support: Contribute research, idea inputs, trend examples and presentation support for proposals and pitch development

Desired qualifications

• Education: Current undergraduate student entering senior year, graduate student or a recent graduate in communications, marketing, public relations, advertising, journalism, business, liberal arts or a related field
• AI tool proficiency: Working proficiency including the ability to write useful prompts, compare outputs, check sources and refine AI-assisted work
• Writing ability: Strong command of clear, concise writing with the ability to summarize information without overcomplicating it
• Research instincts: Ability to find relevant information, assess credibility and identify what is useful for a communications team
• Creative curiosity: Interest in campaign ideas, brand behavior, culture, storytelling, social content and how communications work in practice
• Technology curiosity: Comfort experimenting with AI tools, research platforms, presentation software and emerging digital workflows
• Organization: Ability to manage several small assignments at once, meet deadlines and keep materials clean, labelled and easy to use
• Collaboration: Willingness to take direction, ask smart questions, incorporate feedback and support multiple teams as priorities shift
• Tools: Familiarity with PowerPoint, Excel, Microsoft Teams and SharePoint, with interest in learning media, social listening, AI and research tools
• Agency interest: Curiosity about public relations, integrated communications, creative strategy and the business of agency work

Pay range

$17.00 - $22.00 per hour

Get to know us

Grayling North America is part of Grayling, a global communications agency with UK roots and offices across major markets worldwide. In North America, we help clients navigate complexity, build reputation and create communications programs that connect business priorities with culture, media, policy and stakeholder expectations.

Our teams work across corporate communications, public affairs, consumer, creative strategy and integrated campaigns, combining a US-centric point of view with the reach of a global agency network.

We are proud to be part of a network recognized by PRovoke Media as one of the 100 Best Public Relations Agencies in the World.

Grayling is an equal opportunity employer.