Culture, Trends & Content Specialist

As the Culture, Trends & Content Specialist for Studio X, you will be the strategic brain and champion for exceptional social engagement, spearheading TCCC’s shift to an 'always-on, creator-led, and culturally agile' model across Africa. You will serve as the agency's lead expert on TikTok and emerging cultural platforms, proactively identifying and translating burgeoning trends into brand-safe, platform-native content opportunities. Your role is crucial in informing strategic recommendations, developing creator-led playbooks, and elevating the entire social team's capability to react swiftly and authentically to cultural moments.

What You’ll Do

• Serve as the agency's lead expert on TikTok and emerging cultural platforms, maintaining a deep understanding of algorithms, ad products, user behaviour, and the creator ecosystem to inform all strategic recommendations for TCCC brands.


• Proactively identify, analyse, and report on emerging cultural trends, sounds, memes, and content formats relevant to TCCC brands, providing actionable intelligence to internal teams before trends reach peak saturation.


• Develop and disseminate strategic playbooks that translate cultural trends into clear, actionable creative opportunities and brand-safe activation plans for community management and creative teams.


• Collaborate with creator-led partners to inform the recruitment and vetting strategy for the TCCC Ambassador Programme ("The League"), identifying authentic, up-and-coming creators who align with brand values.


• Lead internal education and upskilling initiatives, establishing and enforcing best practices for platform-native content creation and engagement.


• Act as a thought leader to elevate the entire social team's capability on key cultural platforms and creator-led content strategies.


• Contribute to rapid response efforts and content ideation based on trending topics, ensuring TCCC brands can capitalise on unplanned real-time moments.


• Lead the activation of the planned real-time content calendar and enable unplanned real-time engagement via the Real-Time Amplification Pod, leveraging the ambassador network.


• Ensure rigorous governance and brand safety for all external creator content, from strategic briefing to multi-tiered approval and ongoing training.

Experience Requirements:

• 5-8+ years of specialised experience in cultural trend analysis, creator ecosystem management, and platform-native content strategy, with a strong focus on TikTok and emerging social media platforms.


• Proven expertise in identifying, analysing, and translating cultural trends into actionable creative briefs and strategies for large brands, preferably within FMCG.


• Deep understanding of social media algorithms, content formats, audience behaviours, and the nuances of internet culture across diverse African markets.


• Extensive experience in developing and implementing creator-led content strategies and managing ambassador/influencer programmes.


• Demonstrated ability to develop and disseminate strategic playbooks and conduct internal training sessions to elevate team capabilities.


• Strong communication and presentation skills, capable of acting as a thought leader and educating both internal teams and clients on complex cultural insights.


• Proven ability to work effectively and proactively within an integrated agency team, collaborating across creative, community management, and analytics functions.


• Exceptional foresight and ability to anticipate platform changes and emerging content opportunities.


• Familiarity with brand safety protocols, legal guidelines, and governance in the context of user-generated and creator-led content.


• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment, making rapid, informed decisions regarding cultural moments and content activation.