- Job Title: Freelance Associate Creative Director OR Creative Director (Copy)
- Company: SALT XC
- Location: Toronto, Canada
- Job Type: Freelance
- Category: Advertising & Marketing
- Date Posted: May 9, 2025
- Experience Level: 10+ years
- Remote Status: On-site (Montréal)
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Leading creative development and execution for campaigns across commercial and social content.
- Collaborating with internal teams and presenting creative work to clients.
- Ensuring brand consistency and alignment with client objectives, budgets, and deadlines.
- Driving non-traditional creative thinking through brainstorming sessions.
- Reviewing and proofing creative work for accuracy and quality.
- Building and maintaining strong, respectful client relationships.
- Staying current with industry trends, technologies, and innovations.
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a high level of creativity, collaboration, and adaptability to manage multiple projects and stakeholders effectively.
📋 Key Responsibilities
- Creative Lead: Lead ideation and execution for campaigns spanning commercial and social content.
- Client Interaction: Attend in-person meetings in Montréal and present ideas and creative work to clients and stakeholders with clarity and confidence.
- Team Collaboration: Collaborate closely with internal teams including strategy, production, and account leads.
- Campaign Development: Develop insight-driven, emotionally resonant creative tailored to diverse Canadian audiences, with a focus on Quebec.
- Creative Review: Review and proof creative work for accuracy and quality.
- Client Relationship Management: Build and maintain strong, respectful client relationships.
- Industry Awareness: Stay current with industry trends, technologies, and innovations.
ASSUMPTION: Successful candidates will have a proven track record of leading creative campaigns and working effectively with diverse teams and clients.
🎯 Required Qualifications
- Education: Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (e.g., Marketing, Communications, or a related discipline).
- Experience: 8+ years of agency experience as a writer, currently at the ACD/CD-level.
- Required Skills:
- Bilingual (French and English) - both written and spoken.
- Strong portfolio showcasing work across TV/video, digital, and social content.
- Familiarity with Canadian and Quebec-specific markets and cultural nuances.
- Proven experience developing bilingual or multicultural campaigns.
- Ability to work independently and jump into projects quickly.
- Highly collaborative, culturally curious, and passionate about great creative.
- Preferred Skills:
- Experience with specific industry tools and software (e.g., Adobe Creative Suite, Google Workspace).
- Familiarity with specific industry trends and best practices.
ASSUMPTION: Candidates with a strong portfolio demonstrating originality, innovation, and multi-disciplinary thinking will be prioritized.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
- Salary Range: CAD 120,000 - CAD 160,000 (Estimated based on industry standards for a freelance ACD/CD role in Toronto)
- Benefits: Not specified (Assumed to be standard freelance benefits, such as per-project or hourly rates, and potential for ongoing work or full-time conversion)
- Working Hours: Full-time (40 hours/week) with flexible scheduling and potential for remote work
ASSUMPTION: Salary range is estimated based on industry standards for freelance ACD/CD roles in Toronto. Benefits may vary depending on the project and client.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
- Industry: Advertising & Marketing
- Company Size: 201-500 employees
- Founded: 2019
- Company Description: SALT XC is an agency driven by the philosophy of Experiential Commerce™, focusing on designing better consumer experiences that earn attention and drive action through integrated approaches connecting online and offline experiences.
- Company Specialties: Advertising & Marketing, Brand Strategy, Creative Services, Digital Marketing, Experiential Marketing, Media Planning & Buying
📊 Role Analysis
- Career Level: Mid-Senior level (ACD/CD)
- Reporting Structure: This role reports directly to the Creative Director or Executive Creative Director.
- Work Arrangement: On-site in Montréal with potential for remote work or full-time conversion.
- Growth Opportunities: This role offers opportunities to work on high-impact campaigns, collaborate with diverse teams, and potentially transition to a full-time position.
ASSUMPTION: This role provides an excellent opportunity for experienced copywriters to showcase their skills, work on high-profile campaigns, and grow within the company.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
- Office Type: On-site office in Montréal with potential for remote work.
- Office Location(s): 5455 De Gaspe Ave, Suite 710, Montreal, Quebec H2T 3B3, CA
- Geographic Context: Montréal is a multicultural city with a strong French influence, offering a vibrant arts and culture scene, and a high quality of life.
- Work Schedule: Full-time (40 hours/week) with flexible scheduling and potential for remote work.
ASSUMPTION: Candidates should be comfortable working in an on-site environment with potential for remote work and be familiar with the French language and culture.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
- Typical Process: Phone/Video screen, in-person interview, and portfolio presentation.
- Key Assessment Areas: Creativity, cultural fluency, communication skills, and industry knowledge.
- Application Tips:
- Tailor your resume and portfolio to highlight relevant experience and skills.
- Prepare a strong portfolio showcasing your best work across various media.
- Be ready to discuss your creative process, industry insights, and cultural understanding.
ASSUMPTION: The interview process will focus on assessing your creative skills, cultural fluency, and ability to work effectively with diverse teams and clients.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects)
- Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel)
- Google Workspace (Google Docs, Sheets, Slides)
- Project management tools (e.g., Asana, Trello, JIRA)
ASSUMPTION: Proficiency in industry-standard creative tools and project management software is essential for this role.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
- Company Values: SALT OF THE EARTH, DO WHAT IS RIGHT, EARN IT, MAKE THINGS BETTER, SEEK DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES
- Work Style: Collaborative, culturally curious, solutions-oriented, and passionate about great creative.
- Self-Assessment Questions:
- How do you embody the company's values in your daily work?
- How do you approach seeking different perspectives and embracing diversity?
- How do you ensure that your creative work aligns with client objectives and brand guidelines?
ASSUMPTION: Candidates should be able to demonstrate a strong cultural fit with the company's values and work style, as well as a commitment to embracing diversity and seeking different perspectives.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Workload: The role may require managing multiple projects and tight deadlines, potentially leading to increased workload.
- Language Barrier: Candidates may face language barriers when working with French-speaking clients or team members.
- Remote Work: The role may require occasional remote work, which could present challenges for candidates who prefer an on-site work environment.
ASSUMPTION: Successful candidates will be able to manage their workload effectively, navigate language barriers, and adapt to remote work arrangements as needed.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- Creative Director (Copy) vs. Art Director: This role focuses more on copywriting and conceptual development, while an Art Director role would emphasize visual design and art direction.
- Freelance vs. Full-Time: This role is freelance, offering flexibility and potential for ongoing work or full-time conversion, whereas a full-time role provides more job security and benefits.
- Agency vs. In-House: This role is based in an agency setting, which may offer more varied project exposure and faster-paced work, compared to an in-house role with a single brand focus.
ASSUMPTION: Candidates should consider their preferences for copywriting vs. art direction, freelance vs. full-time work, and agency vs. in-house environments when evaluating this role.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing a bilingual campaign for a Quebec-based client, targeting both French and English-speaking audiences.
- Creating a social media content series for a national brand, showcasing their unique value proposition and engaging with diverse audiences.
- Conceptualizing and executing a brand activation event, bringing a brand's story to life through immersive experiences.
ASSUMPTION: Sample projects should demonstrate the candidate's ability to develop creative campaigns tailored to diverse audiences, manage multiple projects, and work effectively with clients and internal teams.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- What are the key priorities for this role in the first 30-60-90 days?
- How does this role fit into the overall creative department structure and strategy?
- What are the most challenging aspects of working with French-speaking clients, and how can I best prepare for them?
- What opportunities are there for growth and development within the company?
- How does the company support work-life balance, especially for freelance employees?
ASSUMPTION: Asking these questions will help candidates better understand the role's expectations, challenges, and growth opportunities, as well as the company's culture and support for employees.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
- To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through [this link](https://boards.greenhouse.io/saltxc/jobs/4731740007).
- Tailor your resume and portfolio to highlight relevant experience and skills.
- Prepare a strong portfolio showcasing your best work across various media.
- Be ready to discuss your creative process, industry insights, and cultural understanding.
- Follow up with the hiring manager one week after submission to confirm receipt of your application.
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
