Summary of the Associate Creative Director, Art (Commerce/Shopper) job at VML

Who we are looking for:

VML is seeking a dynamic and experienced Associate Creative Director (Art) with a killer attitude and infectious energy to join our creative team. If this sounds like you and you’re a next-level designer, conceptual thinker and collaborator with some retail/shopper expertise and experience with large global clients, please read on and reach out.

In this role, you’ll be in our New York City office on the creative commerce team for one of our largest and most important CPG clients. This role is part of a multi-agency model called WPP Unite, working hand in hand with sister agencies at WPP.

You’ll work collaboratively with end-to-end commerce, brand, social, strategy and media teams as a creative commerce leader, translating full-funnel ambitions into unmissable commerce campaigns. You’ll oversee and execute visual and strategic concepts, tactics, toolkits and breakthrough activations across multiple markets for multiple brands.

You should be able to lead and own an array of client projects with minimal oversight, bringing executional excellence, conceptual savvy and dynamic presentation skills together to make award-worthy work.

What you’ll do:

• Concept and collaborate on creative commerce activation and campaign ideas that can be executed in markets across North America
• Provide a strong, expert POV on design elements including messaging hierarchy, typography, layout and color
• Guide the development of exploratory concept boards, leveraging diverse insights and references to inspire fresh ideas on proactive pitches
• Adapt brand platform ideas into commerce tactics and toolkits seamlessly, with application to retailer needs and strategies
• Champion a social-first approach to creative, staying ahead of cultural trends and platform innovations to ensure campaigns resonate with modern audiences
• Serve as a visionary mentor and creative powerhouse to inspire and guide creative team members
• Clearly articulate big ideas in client-facing pitch decks and finesse revisions under tight deadlines with an eye for detail
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams across the agency to ensure timely deliverables
• Anticipate team and client needs, project risks and participate in driving resolution
• Inspire clients and co-workers through strong work, a collaborative spirit and excellent communication

Who you are:

• A Designer | An innovator with a design-eye and taste that can communicate an idea simply, yet with the subtleties and nuance that elevates good to great.
• Open and collaborative | Our team is close-knit and supportive and we’re working with a lot of unknowns – you must be a champion of team environments that are comfortable and encouraging, especially working across disciplines.
• Optimistic and resilient | Dig in and figure out how to work around problems. Provide a balance needed to maintain stamina and positivity.
• Ego-less | We all wear the hats that need wearing, it’s a mentality that makes the team successful.

What you’ll need:

• Experience: A minimum of 7 years of design experience in an agency and/or design environment, with a preference for background in brand, trade or shopper marketing.
• Portfolio: A compelling online portfolio showcasing professional work that demonstrates proven experience in creating unmissable, strategic creative work, with a strong emphasis on design, not just direction.
• Industry Knowledge: Solid understanding of CPG shopper marketing and an elevated understanding of the retail trade environment, including omnichannel and physical/digital retail integrations.
• Leadership: Demonstrated team leadership experience preferred, with a proven ability to mentor and inspire creative talent.
• Strategic Acumen: Creative strategy experience preferred.
• Presentation Skills: Proven experience presenting work to decision-makers to successfully sell complex creative concepts and design.
• Problem-Solving: Solutions-oriented mindset, with an ability to lead and deliver results effectively through ambiguity and utilizing AI effectively.

What we offer:

• Passionate, driven people | We champion a culture of people that do extraordinary work.
• Consciously cultivated culture | We aim to embody the behaviors to build an inclusive community that is in it together, bringing both positivity and active listening into the workplace as we simultaneously strive to empower creative bravery.
• Competitive benefits | What we offer full time hires ranges from the full spectrum of group health coverage options (medical, dental, vision) to a generous 401k match (100% dollar-for-dollar match, up to 5% of salary contribution), and a variety of paid time off offerings that reflect our investment in all aspects of your overall life balance and wellness.
• Growth-minded opportunities | We aim to nurture a culture of real-time feedback, growth-oriented mindset and plenty of training opportunities through VML and WPP, so you can continue to grow personally and professionally.