Associate Design Director

We Are Social•Toronto, ON

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

We Are Social is looking for an Associate Design Director to join their growing team. This role involves overseeing the design lifecycle, ensuring projects meet high standards of nuance and sophistication. The Associate Design Director will act as a strategic partner to clients and a champion for the team, fostering a culture of innovative problem-solving and pushing creative boundaries. The ideal candidate will have a deep understanding of what resonates with social audiences, be energetic, innovative, and forward-thinking, and stay ahead of social trends and cultural moments to guide brands.

Requirements

7+ years of experience in a design, motion, or editing role, with a portfolio showcasing an understanding of short-form content best practices and channels
Experience working in a fast paced environment, and managing multiple projects at a time
Ability to inspire, influence, and motivate junior team members to be innovative and push creative boundaries
Expert-level mastery of the Adobe Creative Suite and advanced knowledge of motion/video workflows
Comfortable collaborating across departments, build relationships and navigate team dynamics

Nice To Haves

Traditional agency experience is not required, but it’s a plus.

Responsibilities

Oversee the work of designers and editors, by delegating tasks strategically to ensure all projects are executed to a high standard while maintaining the original creative integrity
Lead design for client work and agency new business efforts, generating innovative and visually compelling ideas that align with client objectives and resonate with target audiences
Guide and inspire the creative team, by fostering a collaborative environment where feedback is constructive, and individual performance is actively nurtured through professional development
Contribute to the foundational strategy of major campaigns, translating abstract client needs into actionable, sophisticated creative tasks that resonate with target audiences
Confidently defend complex design choices to senior stakeholders and decode client feedback into clear, executable directions for the team
Juggle multiple high-complexity projects under pressure, navigating budget constraints and evolving scopes without sacrificing creative excellence
Design visually engaging presentations, create mockups & do light retouching as needed that help sell creative ideas to top clients in the industry
Build trusted relationships and navigate team dynamics by being an active listener for your team members and provide constructive feedback on work and performance
Master a diverse AI tools and implement them to help accelerate every phase of the design lifecycle
Proactively leverage AI to create unexpected work, such as highly personalized ad creative or AI-driven brand experiences that push traditional creative boundaries

Benefits

Passport program allowing work from other global offices
Celebration of wins and losses
Focus on making a difference through initiatives like carbon offsets and community kitchens
Hybrid work models
Flexible hours
Work from anywhere policy for short-term stays in other regions
Generous vacation starting at 3 weeks + 1 extra week during the summer and over the holidays
Agency summer days
Modern, open co-working spaces with coffee & snack bars
Dogs allowed
Dedicated private wellness room (in select offices)
Regular team social events (holiday parties, seasonal gatherings, weekly happy hours, inspiring speakers)
In-house learning & development sessions
Annual career and growth conversations
Access to internal network of opportunities across all agencies
Focus on developing and recruiting BIMPOC Talent
Internal EDI group(s), programs & initiatives
Flexible benefits to support individual lifestyle and life stage
Personal wellness spending account for various wellness expenses (gym membership fees, pet care, education expenses, etc.)
Comprehensive mental health support including access to a virtual mental health therapy clinic, guided iCBT programs, live therapy, 24/7 access to health clinicians, and other health and wellness resources