Associate Creative Director (Art)

$75,000 - $180,000/Yr

Unclassified - New York, NY

Full-time - Mid Level

New York, NY

10,001+ employees

About the position

At VML, we are a beacon of innovation and growth in an ever-evolving world. Our heritage is built upon a century of combined expertise, where creativity meets technology, and diverse perspectives ignite inspiration. With the merger of VMLY&R and Wunderman Thompson, we have forged a new path as a growth partner that is part creative agency, part consultancy, and part technology powerhouse. Our global family now encompasses over 30,000 employees across 150+ offices in 64 markets, each contributing to a culture that values connection, belonging, and the power of differences. Our expertise spans the entire customer journey, offering deep insights in communications, commerce, consultancy, CRM, CX, data, production, and technology. We deliver end-to-end solutions that result in revolutionary work. VML is seeking an Associate Creative Director, Art for our NY office. The ACD, Art is a visual storyteller who works closely with creative directors, client services leadership, and brand strategists to conceive and create concepts for digital, social, and traditional channels. The entire creative team will work together to translate these ideas from the written tone into a finished ad to meet our clients' business objectives. Our creative teams always strive to create boundary-pushing, award-winning work. As an Associate Creative Director, you will provide creative leadership and vision to the creative staff, managing all aspects of assigned projects including team coordination, creative work, budget management, and presentations. You will demonstrate creativity through efficiently conceptualizing, planning, producing, refining, and leading a diverse range of creative ideas and concepts. Collaboration is key, as you will communicate with client service Account Directors regarding business scopes, financials, schedules, and planning. You will also mentor and train junior team members, fostering a supportive and innovative environment.

Responsibilities

• Provide creative leadership and vision to creative staff.
• Own assigned projects and manage all aspects of the assignment, team, creative work, budget, and presentations.
• Work with Creative Directors to ensure quality and accuracy on all creative products.
• Supervise, mentor, and train junior level teams including Senior Art Directors, Art Directors, Senior Copywriters, Copywriters, Designers, and Interns.
• Demonstrate creativity through efficiently conceptualizing, planning, producing, refining, and leading a diverse range of creative ideas and concepts.
• Present creative rationale during internal and client presentations.
• Drive the creative solution for new business pitches.
• Collaborate with client service Account Directors regarding business scopes, financials, schedules, and planning.

Requirements

• A bachelor's degree, design or writing emphasis preferred.
• Seven-plus years of experience in an agency setting.
• Strong conceptual skills and a solid knowledge of the digital landscape.
• Polished client presentation skills demonstrating a clear vision of how the work addresses the client challenge.
• Ability to lead by example and mentor younger creatives in their development.
• Desire to work collaboratively as part of a larger team in a fast-paced environment.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience with digital marketing and social media campaigns.
• Familiarity with various design software and tools.
• Ability to adapt to changing priorities and work under tight deadlines.

Benefits

• Full spectrum of group health coverage options (medical, dental, vision).
• Generous 401k match (100% dollar-for-dollar match, up to 5% of salary contribution).
• Variety of paid time off offerings that reflect investment in overall life balance and wellness.
• Growth-oriented mindset and plenty of training opportunities through Wunderman Thompson and WPP.