Associate Creative Director

Who We Are

VML is a global creative company that combines brand experience, customer experience, and commerce to create connected brands that drive growth. Guided by a Human First philosophy, VML is known for its innovative work for brands and consistently ranks among the world’s leading creative companies, including the WARC Creative 100. VML’s global network spans 55+ markets with principal offices in Buenos Aires, Kansas City, London, New York, São Paulo, Shanghai and Singapore.

VML is part of WPP, the trusted growth partner for the world's leading brands. Powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform WPP Open, WPP unites cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, creativity, production, enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel.

For more information, please visit www.vml.com and follow along on LinkedIn #WeAreVML.

The opportunity:

VML is seeking an Associate Creative Director, Social (Art Director) to join its New York creative team. This role will help lead social-first creative across several key products within an iconic beverage brand portfolio, developing distinctive visual ideas across always-on content, paid and organic social, creator partnerships, activations and broader campaigns.

You will establish and evolve the visual expression of each brand, identify culturally relevant opportunities and guide work from concept through production and final delivery. The role combines creative leadership with hands-on execution: you should be equally comfortable making quick-turn mobile content and art-directing larger-scale lifestyle productions.

What you’ll do:

• Lead visual concept development and art direction for social-first work across relevant platforms.
• Define and evolve distinctive visual approaches for each brand, ensuring the work is both platform-native and consistent with brand strategy.
• Translate youth culture, emerging trends and social behaviors into proactive, brand-appropriate creative ideas.
• Develop a range of strong creative routes for each brief and help identify the most effective direction.
• Create and finish assets hands-on, including editing, retouching and preparing polished content for publication.
• Produce or direct quick-turn content using mobile capture, stop-motion and other lo-fi techniques.
• Art direct lifestyle productions and content capture days, helping build versatile brand content libraries.
• Collaborate with copywriters, strategists, producers, account teams and creative partners to deliver integrated work.
• Present creative work and lead client conversations as needed, exercising sound judgment and discretion.
• Mentor and support junior and mid-level creatives.

What you’ll need:

• Experience as an Associate Creative Director or Senior Art Director, or equivalent experience demonstrating readiness to lead at this level.
• A portfolio that demonstrates social-first thinking, a distinctive visual point of view and strong executional craft.
• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Photoshop and Premiere Pro, including the ability to edit, retouch and finish assets independently.
• Experience creating mobile-first content and art-directing larger-scale productions.
• A strong understanding of social platforms, youth culture and emerging formats, with the judgment to identify opportunities that are relevant to the brand and audience.
• The ability to manage multiple assignments, feedback cycles and deadlines while maintaining a high standard of work.
• Confidence presenting creative work and leading client discussions with appropriate independence.
• A collaborative approach and an interest in guiding the development of other creatives.
• Photography and/or video-shooting experience.

We believe the best work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That's why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office an average of four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.

WPP (VML) is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.

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