📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Associate Creative Director, Social
🔹 Company: Dentsu
🔹 Location: USA - Remote - California
🔹 Job Type: Full-time
🔹 Category: Advertising & Marketing
🔹 Date Posted: April 4, 2025
🔹 Experience Level: 5-10 years
🔹 Remote Status: Remote OK
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Hands-on art direction for social media, both paid and organic content
- Conceptualizing and creating larger earned-first campaigns
- Overseeing teams and mentoring junior talent
- Navigating interagency relationships and collaborating with clients
- Traveling monthly for productions and art directing social content for high-profile partnerships
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strong balance of creative and leadership skills, with a focus on social media and digital content creation.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Oversee day-to-day paid and organic social work, ensuring high-quality output and consistency with brand guidelines
✅ Conceptualize and create larger earned-first campaigns that connect brands to culture and drive engagement
✅ Manage and mentor junior talent, fostering a collaborative and creative work environment
✅ Navigate interagency relationships and build strong relationships with clients, ensuring their needs are met and expectations are exceeded
✅ Travel monthly for productions and art direct social content for various high-profile partnerships, such as music festivals, Formula One racing, sports events, and celebrity collaborations
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a high level of adaptability, as the candidate will need to manage multiple projects and partnerships simultaneously.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree in a related field (e.g., Fine Arts, Graphic Design, or Marketing) or equivalent experience
Experience: 5+ years of experience in art direction, with a focus on social media and digital content creation
Required Skills:
- Proven expertise in art direction for social media and digital platforms
- Strong conceptual thinking and ability to create groundbreaking campaigns
- Experience managing and mentoring junior talent
- Ability to navigate interagency relationships and collaborate effectively with clients
- Experience working with various high-profile partnerships and managing productions
- Familiarity with the West Coast time zone and ability to collaborate with a Seattle-based client
Preferred Skills:
- Experience working with a national telecommunications company
- Fluency in additional languages
ASSUMPTION: Candidates should have a deep understanding of the internet and how people behave online, as well as a strong dedication to craft and attention to detail.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $94,000 - $152,375 per year. This range is based on market research and takes into account the role's requirements, experience level, and location.
Benefits:
- Medical, vision, and dental insurance
- Life insurance
- Short-term and long-term disability insurance
- 401k
- Flexible paid time off
- At least 15 paid holidays per year
- Paid sick and safe leave
- Paid parental leave
Working Hours: Full-time, with a flexible schedule that may require travel for productions
ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is an estimate based on market research and may vary depending on the candidate's experience and qualifications.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: Dentsu operates in the advertising services industry, focusing on marketing communications, advertising, media planning, and media buying. They are a global leader in people-based marketing, creativity, innovation, and data-driven technology.
Company Size: Dentsu is a large organization with over 10,000 employees worldwide. This size offers opportunities for growth and collaboration with diverse teams.
Founded: Dentsu was founded in 1901 and has since grown into a global network designed for what's next, helping brands predict and plan for disruptive future opportunities.
Company Description:
- Dentsu is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees
- The company offers reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans
- Dentsu is dedicated to providing a safe and inclusive work environment for all employees
Company Specialties:
- Marketing communications
- Advertising
- Media planning
- Media buying
- People-Based Marketing
- Creative
- Innovation
- Data and Technology
Company Website: https://www.dentsu.com/
ASSUMPTION: Dentsu's global presence and extensive experience in the advertising industry make it an attractive option for candidates seeking a dynamic and innovative work environment.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: This role is at the mid-level management stage, with opportunities for growth and advancement within the company.
Reporting Structure: The Associate Creative Director will report directly to the Creative Director and will oversee a team of junior creatives.
Work Arrangement: This role is remote-friendly, with a flexible schedule that may require travel for productions. The candidate should be comfortable working in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
Growth Opportunities:
- Advancement to a Creative Director role
- Expansion into other areas of the business, such as account management or strategy
- Opportunities to work on diverse and high-profile campaigns
ASSUMPTION: This role offers a unique blend of creative and leadership responsibilities, providing an ideal opportunity for candidates seeking to grow their careers in the advertising industry.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: Remote-friendly, with a flexible work-from-home arrangement
Office Location(s): The candidate will be expected to work in the PST/West Coast time zone and collaborate with a Seattle-based client
Geographic Context:
- The candidate will be working remotely, with the flexibility to choose their work environment
- The role requires collaboration with a Seattle-based client, so the candidate should be comfortable working with teams across different time zones
- The candidate may be required to travel for productions, with expenses covered by the company
Work Schedule: Full-time, with a flexible schedule that may require travel for productions
ASSUMPTION: The remote-friendly nature of this role allows for a high degree of flexibility and work-life balance, while also offering opportunities for collaboration and growth within the company.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Online application submission
- Phone or video screen with the HR department
- Creative portfolio review and presentation
- In-person or video interview with the Creative Director and other team members
- Final interview with the Executive Creative Director
Key Assessment Areas:
- Creative portfolio and conceptual thinking
- Leadership and management skills
- Collaboration and communication skills
- Adaptability and problem-solving skills
- Cultural fit and alignment with Dentsu's values
Application Tips:
- Tailor your resume and portfolio to highlight your relevant experience and skills for this role
- Prepare a strong creative brief that demonstrates your understanding of the role and your ability to create compelling social media campaigns
- Be ready to discuss your experience with high-profile partnerships and productions, and how you've managed them successfully
- Research Dentsu's company culture and values, and be prepared to discuss how your personal values align with theirs
ATS Keywords: Art Direction, Social Media, Creative Leadership, Mentoring, Interagency Relationships, Conceptual Thinking, Campaign Development, Cultural Connection, Accountability, Team Collaboration, Production Management, Client Relationship Management, Detail Orientation, Fast-Paced Work, Digital Content Creation, Earned Media Strategy
ASSUMPTION: The application process for this role is likely to be competitive, so it's essential to tailor your application materials and be prepared to demonstrate your unique qualifications and skills.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects)
- Social media platforms (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, etc.)
- Project management tools (Asana, Trello, JIRA, etc.)
- Communication and collaboration tools (Slack, Microsoft Teams, Google Workspace, etc.)
ASSUMPTION: The candidate should be proficient in using industry-standard creative software and social media platforms, as well as comfortable working with project management and collaboration tools.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Creativity
- Collaboration
- Integrity
- Diversity
- Innovation
Work Style:
- Fast-paced and dynamic
- Collaborative and team-oriented
- Adaptable and responsive to change
- Results-driven and focused on delivering high-quality work
Self-Assessment Questions:
- Do you thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment?
- Are you comfortable managing multiple projects and partnerships simultaneously?
- Do you have a strong dedication to craft and attention to detail?
- Are you comfortable working with a diverse range of clients and stakeholders?
- Do you align with Dentsu's company values and cultural fit?
ASSUMPTION: Candidates should be comfortable working in a fast-paced, collaborative environment and be able to adapt to the unique challenges and opportunities that this role presents.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- The role requires a high level of adaptability and the ability to manage multiple projects and partnerships simultaneously
- The candidate may be required to travel for productions, which could disrupt their work-life balance
- The role involves working with high-profile clients and partners, which can present unique challenges and expectations
- The candidate should be comfortable working in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and be able to manage their time effectively
ASSUMPTION: These challenges are inherent to the role and require a candidate with strong leadership, adaptability, and time management skills.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- This role is similar to a Senior Art Director or Creative Director role, but with a stronger focus on social media and digital content creation
- Unlike other roles in the industry, this position requires a unique blend of creative and leadership skills, with a focus on earned-first campaigns and high-profile partnerships
- This role offers opportunities for growth and advancement within the company, with the potential to move into a Creative Director or other leadership position
ASSUMPTION: Candidates should be aware of the unique requirements and opportunities presented by this role and be prepared to demonstrate their qualifications and skills.
📝 Sample Projects
- Conceptualizing and executing a large-scale earned-first campaign for a national telecommunications company
- Managing a team of junior creatives to develop and implement a comprehensive social media strategy for a high-profile music festival
- Art directing a production for a Formula One racing event, ensuring brand consistency and high-quality output
ASSUMPTION: These sample projects demonstrate the candidate's ability to manage multiple projects and partnerships simultaneously, as well as their expertise in art direction and digital content creation.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- Can you describe the team structure and dynamics for this role?
- How does this role fit into the broader creative department and the company as a whole?
- What are the key priorities for this role in the first 30, 60, and 90 days?
- How does Dentsu support the growth and development of its employees?
- What are the most challenging aspects of this role, and how can I best prepare for them?
ASSUMPTION: These questions demonstrate the candidate's interest in the role and their commitment to understanding the unique challenges and opportunities it presents.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through the provided link
- Tailor your resume and portfolio to highlight your relevant experience and skills for this role
- Prepare a strong creative brief that demonstrates your understanding of the role and your ability to create compelling social media campaigns
- Be ready to discuss your experience with high-profile partnerships and productions, and how you've managed them successfully
- Research Dentsu's company culture and values, and be prepared to discuss how your personal values align with theirs
- Follow up with the hiring manager within one week of submitting your application to express your interest and reiterate your qualifications
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
